Despite being all too aware of the firepower at French disposal, the Socceroos had hoped to catch them on an off-day and just maybe nick a point. It would still have required luck (like the kind the Saudis had against Argentina with all those marginal offsides) and us playing out of our skins, but if all the ducks lined up then… who knows.

Alas, the French were not having an off-day.

In fact, they probably put on their best performance in a long while and ripped the Aussies to shreds. In that kind of mood they’d do that to almost any team. I did feel sorry for Atkinson up against the brilliant Mbappe. Mbappe had a blinder but why did Atkinson leave him so much space? He must have been instructed to do so, to keep it narrow at the back, but the French Plan A was clearly to get the ball to Mbappe and he filled his boots with aplomb.

From a positive perspective, it could’ve been far worse. They missed some chances (but so did we).

Leckie’s and Goodwin’s combination for the first goal was outstanding, but all it did was wake them up. After weathering an initial onslaught, we scored against the run of play and continued to press for a while – but Les Bleus gradually turned the screw and we couldn’t hold on.

After Atkinson lost the ball to Mbappe’s challenge (for the second goal) it was all over. And if Irvine’s header against the post at the end of the first half had gone in… all it would have done is really piss them off.

I don’t blame any of our players. I think we played as well as we were allowed to play by an utterly rampant France.

I do, however, query some of Arnie’s selections and strategy. And I would certainly have brought on Cummings and Kuol before the game was effectively over!

We needed pace, pace and more pace against the French, plus the aggression to get in their faces and unsettle them. That never happened – not least as the likes of Mooy and Irvine just don’t have enough in the legs now.

Arnie should’ve left one of them on the bench and started either Devlin or Baccus at #6. With (say) Mooy at #8 and McGree at #10. I’d also have started Deng and Goodwin as the fullbacks. Deng has a lot more pace and defensive acumen than Atkinson (or Karacic) and might’ve coped better with Mbappe. Goodwin also has played LB and can certainly run. We’d still get his left foot and attacking prowess from there.

Mooy, Duke and Irvine now have yellow cards, which will feature in Arnie’s thinking for Tunisia. I suspect he’ll start only one of them and if it were up to me, I’d leave Mooy on the bench. He had a good first 20-odd minutes but after that struggled – his usually impeccable touch and ball retention let him down and too often his second touch was a tackle – that’s more or less how he got his card.

He could definitely make a contribution off the bench and do what he does for Celtic – come on late to control the final phases – but we need pace and aggression in the opening.

I think McGree did fairly well – certainly competed and got into some good positions. He deserves to hold his place but Hrustic will see some time against Tunisia if fit.

None of the attackers can be blamed for the result. Duke got little service and Cummings even less. Cummings did at least come deep for the ball a couple of times – one of which led to a decent attack – but needs his partner in crime (Kuol) on earlier to make chances for him.

My side for Tunisia would be:

                        Ryan

Deng   Souttar            Rowles   Goodwin

            Devlin (or Baccus)      Irvine

                        McGree

            Leckie  Cummings       Mabil

 

With Kuol, Hrustic, Duke and Mooy to come on.

It’s a side with pace and a bit more bite, protects most of those on yellows and rotates a little after a torrid time against France.

I think we’ll need all of that against Tunisia, who did well against Denmark and will be another stern test for the Socceroos.

 

Adrian's books can be purchased at any good bookstore or through ebook alchemy. His first sci-fi novel (Asparagus Grass) will be published by Hague Publishing in early 2023.