How the Aussies rated: The Socceroos’ player ratings against France
Related Story: Socceroos give France a massive scare in gutsy 2-1 World Cup loss Related Story: As it happened: France edge brave Socceroos 2-1 in Kazan
Australia completed their opening fixture at the 2018 World Cup with no points but plenty of credit, a resolute and disciplined performance against one of the fancied teams offering hope for further battles to come.
The fine margins of the game went against them, a tough VAR call resulting in a penalty for France's opening goal and the ball crossing the line by inches for the decisive goal in a 2-1 loss.
The defeat is hard to take but collectively and individually there were performances to make all Socceroos fans proud.
Mat Ryan – 7
In the opening exchanges it looked like it was going to be a busy night for the Australian goalkeeper.
Called on to make a smart save at his near post from Kylian Mbappe after just 90 seconds, regulation stops from a Paul Pogba free kick and an Antoine Griezmann effort from distance swiftly followed. He had little to do, though, for the rest of the first half as France failed to land a shot on target from then until after the break.
Could do little to repel Griezmann's penalty, nor France's winner after a cruel deflection off the boot of Aziz Behich. Was alert in the second period when acting as a sweeper keeper on occasion. Distribution with his feet was mixed but a solid performance when called on.
Josh Risdon – 6.5
Booked more than any other player in the A-League season just gone, his sloppy foul on Griezmann in the opening 10 minutes, when Australia was on the back foot, didn't auger well. But he recovered to contribute to an impressive effort from the defensive unit, as well as getting forward at times to support the forwards.
Conceded the contentious VAR assisted penalty, but was painfully unlucky doing so, getting to the ball but then catching the already falling Griezmann's back leg with the follow through.
Trent Sainsbury – 8.5
External Link: Trent Sainsbury: tweet
Australia's man of the match. His positional sense, distribution and general leadership at the back against some of the most expensive players on the planet was heroic at times, and set the tempo throughout for a fully functioning back line.
Always in the right place at the right time in first half when France tried to thread balls in to the box, including a fantastic last man intervention on Griezmann as France briefly threatened to overwhelm the Socceroos.
One tackle on Ousmane Dembelle on the half hour was so hard it burst the ball.
Mark Milligan – 7.5
Concerns over Milligan's lack of pace were dispelled by his consistent display of defensive intelligence. Took his cues from Sainsbury next to him and was solid for the most part.
Always keen to get the ball forward and launch attacks through the midfield, but he did at times struggle to find the feet of teammates in decent positions.
Aziz Behich – 7
Exposed by the pace of Mbappe in the first minutes of the game, but shook that off and put in a typically industrious performance both in defence and going forward. Combined well with Robbie Kruse down the left wing and regularly overlapped.
Was booked late on after being put in trouble by Ryan and losing the ball, but did more good work than bad throughout.
He was unfortunate to see Pogba's effort spoon off his outstretched foot to loop in to the net — just — for France's winner, with no real blame attached to him for that.
Aaron Mooy – 8
Put in an incredible shift against France's much vaunted midfield, especially the metronomic consistency of N'Golo Kante. Always willing to put his body on the line, he also managed to produce moments of quality with his deliveries from dead ball situations, most notably when he drew the handball from Samuel Umtiti that resulted in Australia's equaliser from the penalty spot.
Kept things ticking over in the middle of the park without producing any defence splitting interventions. But once again showed he is the glue that holds things together between defence and attack for Australia.
Mile Jedinak – 7.5
External Link: Mile Jedinak: tweet
Restored to the starting line-up — despite reports he was to miss out after being scrubbed from a pre-match press conference — Jedinak put in a customary captain's performance, offering an effective shield to the back four.
Showed nerves of steel to despatch the penalty that had Australian fans dreaming of an historic result. But then for a man who has the best conversion rate from 12 yards of any player at this competition (including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo), you wouldn't expect anything different.
Mathew Leckie – 7
Booked in the first half for a late lunge on Lucas Hernandez (the Frenchman who appeared to be playing on ice, he hit the deck that often) Leckie's evening was one of graft and endeavour.
Expended most of his first half energy involved in physical tussles with opponents, and was harshly treated by both them and the referee at times.
Nonetheless, he did get in to dangerous positions on occasion, most notably when his flick on from a Mooy free kick nearly drew the opening goal via a French touch, Hugo Lloris saving his defender's blushes when an own goal looked likely.
Tom Rogic – 5.5
Australia's great hope for unlocking the defence of one of the pre-tournament favourites, Rogic was unable to bring his form from Celtic in to a match that passed him by much of the time — through a combination of being marshalled by France and his team-mates' inability to find him often enough.
When he did get the ball he was neat and tidy with it, and for a moment looked like he was going to find a route to goal with one mazy run through a crowded scene on the half-hour mark.
Enough blue shirts arrived to snuff out the danger, though, a constant theme for Rogic's night. A tough day at the office, but more will be needed from him against Denmark and Peru.
Robbie Kruse – 6
A lightning rod for Socceroos fans' criticism over the last couple of years, often unfairly, Kruse was a willing worker until his second half substitution. Used his pace well to get Australia up the field and make territory, often the subject of some robust attention from the French.
His willingness to come again – and again – after numerous fouls on him was to his credit, though that probably won't stop the online judgement over his lack of meaningful end product raging.
Andrew Nabbout – 6.5
After scoring his first international goal in a warm up friendly against Czech Republic, Nabbout found the French back line rather less accommodating. But did exactly the job he was asked to do, chasing lost causes and keeping the French defence honest.
Often found himself outnumbered when given possession and unable to maintain momentum because of that. But never stopped running for the whole hour he was on the pitch. He will be better for the experience, even if it probably doesn't feel like it just now.
SUBS:
Tom Juric (63 mins) – 6
After replacing Nabbout, Juric did little to encourage the coach to restore him to the starting line up for the remaining group matches. Was unlucky to be cynically fouled after a smart turn and burst of pace had him getting away from Corentin Tolisso, who took a yellow card as punishment for his act of 'professionalism.'
External Link: Van Marwijk: tweet
Jackson Irvine (70 mins) – 5
Brought on in place of Rogic for his size and his legs as the game became stretched in the final 20 mins and put himself about as instructed. Though lacked composure on the ball when gaps opened up both before and after France's second goal.
Daniel Arzani (84 mins) – 6
Australia's youngest ever World Cup player showed no nerves at all when introduced for a late cameo in place of Kruse, but had little chance to affect things.
A loose touch with his first possession didn't faze him. And he offered a glimpse of what he might bring to this team in this tournament and for years to come when, picking up ball that Irvine had nicked from Pogba, he sent a searching long pass forward that was just shy of its mark, but hinted at both vision and ambition.
COACH RATING:
Bert van Marwijk – 8
After a gutsy, mature performance during which Australia was always competitive, there can be little question that the team has taken the Dutch coach's methods fully on board, even in the short time they have been together.
Aside from the final few hectic moments, the team kept its shape and belief throughout, was defensively compact but also keen to get forward through swift transition: all hallmarks of a van Marwijk team.
It is a noticeable step away from Ange Postecoglou's high pressing attack minded philosophy, but one that, perhaps, the players available are better suited. It gives reason for optimism going in to the remainder of the campaign.
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