How Australia could line up against France

Australia have lost Hibernian attacker Martin Boyle ahead of their World Cup 2022 Group D opener with France at the Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday.

Boyle has been sidelined with a knee injury during Australia's preparations for the first matchday and has now been forced to withdraw, but Graham Arnold should otherwise have everyone fit and raring to go.

Mitchell Duke will expect to spearhead the charge for the Socceroos in Boyle's absence, as Mathew Leckie and Craig Goodwin provide support to the 31-year-old.

Hellas Verona midfielder Ajdin Hrustic has also been training normally recently but will start on the bench, so Riley McGree could get the nod in a three-man midfield alongside Aaron Mooy and Jackson Irvine here.

However, Stoke City defender Harry Souttar has only played one game for the Potters since recovering from ACL surgery, but Arnold has affirmed that he is ready to begin the match.

Souttar and Kye Rowles may therefore feature at the heart of the backline, while Nathaniel Atkinson and Aziz Behich - who scored an own goal against France at the 2018 World Cup - occupy the full-back roles.

Arnold's decision to bring on Andrew Redmayne for the AFC-CONMEBOL playoff final penalty shootout against Peru was a masterstroke, but Mathew Ryan will unquestionably begin in goal here.

Australia possible starting lineup: Ryan; Atkinson, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; McGree, Mooy, Irvine; Leckie, Duke, Goodwin

> Click here to see how France could line up for this match