According to the calculations of Australia coach Bert van Marwijk, the Socceroos will probably lose their World Cup opener against France today and will need “luck” as well as team spirit to emerge with a result.
Australia have been written off by pundits and bookmakers, with most betting agencies rating them a 10-1 shot or worse of upsetting star-studded France, one of the tournament’s most favoured sides.
Van Marwijk, himself, was not about to sugar-coat things on the eve of the match at Kazan Arena, but said his side had worked tirelessly to improve the odds.
“Normally, we play 10 times against France, maybe we lose eight, nine times,” the 66-year-old Dutchman told reporters at the stadium.
“We have worked hard to get a situation that maybe we lose five, six times (out of 10) but we also can win a few times and a few times draw.
“That’s important. When you’re well organised and you believe in something and everybody knows exactly from each other what to do and you have the guts to play and be yourself, then we have a chance.”
For the record, Australia have won once and drawn a match in their four previous clashes against France.
However, the Socceroos were hammered 6-0 in their last match-up, a friendly in Paris in 2013, which triggered the immediate dismissal of former boss Holger Osieck.
A solid start in Russia will be key for Australia, who were thrashed by Chile at Brazil four years ago and Germany at the 2010 finals in South Africa.
Saudi Arabia’s 5-0 demolition by hosts Russia underlined that point for Van Marwijk, who steered the Green Falcons through qualifying before parting ways.
“We’d better not come tomorrow if we think like that,” said the Dutchman of the prospect of a first-up rout.
“We’ve worked four weeks now very hard and you must believe in something. We also have to have a little bit of luck.”

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