Of the 32 teams that qualified for the World Cup Australia was the 31st team to make it. As a result, they are a prohibitive World Cup betting underdog. Lack of quality players on the roster add to their challenges. Historically they rank as a weak pretender. France on the other hand is a respected contender. Roster depth and history give them a clear advantage. Picked to make a deep run they are expected to dominate most matches. As a result, the French will carry a hefty price tag most games. Conversely, Aussie backers will get enhanced prices.
2018 FIFA World Cup
Date and Time: Saturday, June 16, 2018, 5 a.m. ET
Location: Russia
World Cup Betting Online Odds at your favorite sportsbook: Australia +1 ½ (+115), France -1 ½ (-130), Over 2 ½ (-102), Under 2 ½ (-113), Australia +1950, France -470, Draw +560.
2018 FIFA World Cup TV Coverage: Check Listings
Australia
Australia’s history makes them unappealing for World Cup sportsbook betting. With a best finish of 14th in 1974 they lack marquee presence. It took 22 games against 11 different opponents to get here. Not to mention over 250,000 kilometers of travel. To qualify they had to play four playoff matches. Failure for automatic qualification was because of too many draws. Defeating Honduras 3-1 at home saved their bid. Ange Postecoglou quit as coach. The process drained him. Bert van Marwijk is the new man in charge.
Bert van Warwijk
Head coach Bert van Warwijk is 65 years of age. He is best known for getting the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup Final. Taking the Australia job in January 2018 he has had little prep time. Among the multitude of challenges, he faces is lack of scoring depth. Forward Tim Cahill at age 38 remains the top threat. Cahill has 50 goals and 105 caps for the Australian national team.
France
Comparatively France has an embarrassment of riches. Erratic history shows they can be great as well as frustrating overlays. France finished second in 2006 but fell to 29th in 2010. In Brazil for 2014 they improved to seventh. Current skill depth makes them a popular sportsbook online betting choice. Stacked with World Class players they are capable of overwhelming opponents. Antoine Griezmann is a supreme attacker. Teen striker Kylian Mbappe is a young phenom. Hugo Lloris brings excellence and skill as goalkeeper. N’Golo Kante is considered the best midfielder in the Premier League.
Didier Deschamps
France head coach Didier Deschamps is 49 years old and took the job in 2012. He was captain of the 1998 World Cup championship team. Deschamps does not suffer fools and is a task master. Fearless about making tough decisions he has little tolerance for the media. Inconsistency plagued France in qualifying. As a result, the coach was often frustrated. To his credit the French excel at breakouts. Attack wise few teams are more thrilling to watch.
Matchup to Watch
Seems like its hard to find a bigger World Cup sportsbook betting mismatch. Australia went to all that trouble to qualify. Now reality hits. France is likely to overpower them as the match wears on. Australia has nowhere near the skill and depth of France.
World Cup Betting Odds Picks
The price tag is big for a reason. Australia hasn’t a chance.
World Cup Betting Online Pick: France
World Cup Betting Online Score Prediction: France 3, Australia 0
