Australia vs France - Women's World Cup preview: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction

Australia and France are battling for a place in the Women's World Cup semi-finals, with every chance that the winner of this quarter-final tie will make a it all the way through to the final.

Australia came into their home World Cup with huge expectations, only to lose star player Sam Kerr to injury and struggle in their opening two group games. But things have finally clicked in more recent outings, with more polished performances against both Canada and Denmark.

Now, they have the oportunity to reach the semi-finals for the first time, having been knocked out at the quarter-final stage in 2007, 2011 and 2015. The Matildas have already outperformed their 2019 efforts when it was a disappointing last 16 exit.

France have scored 10 goals across their last two games at this tournament against Panama and Morocco, but they have long been international football's great underachievers.

Les Bleues usually start fast and end up fading, as at Euro 2022 a year ago, although it has been the reverse of that so far in 2023 after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica to begin with last month.

Where to watch Australia vs France on TV/live stream

• When is kick off? Saturday 12 August, 08:00 (BST), 17:00 (local), 03:00 (EST)
• Where is the match being played? Lang Park, Brisbane
• What time does TV coverage start in the UK? 07:30 (BST)
• Referee? Maria Carvajal (CHI)
• VAR? Nicolas Gallo (COL)

Australia vs France H2H record

Australia and France played a warm-up game in Melbourne a few days prior to the tournament starting, which the hosts won 1-0 thanks to a single goal from Mary Fowler.

Games between them haven't been all that freuqent, with only three others in that last 10 years - each winning a friendly, while France edged a Cyprus Cup clash in 2014.

Australia were unbeaten across their first three meetings with France, all played in the space of a single week in January 2001 at the invitational Australia Cup.

Women's World Cup 2023 - Australia & France results so far

READ THE LATEST 2023 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & PLAYER RATINGS

Australia team news

Despite having been declared fit before the end of the group stage, Sam Kerr finally got her first minutes of this World Cup off the bench against Denmark. Australia had managed to find their feet without her, so it lies with Tony Gustavsson how to integrate her back in.

Emily van Egmond is the most likley to make way if Kerr is deemed ready to start, with Caitlin Foord staying on the left and Mary Fowler the other striker in Gustavsson's 4-4-2.

France team news

Herve Renard looks to have a fully available squad. The boss has been tinkering with his starting XI throughout in a bid to keep players fresh but will be expected to keep largely the same side that that comfortably saw off Morocco in the last round.

Australia vs France score prediction

That Australia have found a rhythm, have Sam Kerr back and are backed by the home crowd as football (soccer) fever increasingly grips the country, are three significant advantages.

France are the best team they will have faced so far by a distance, but there is a growing feeling that the Matildas are coming good on their potential in what could actually be a last World Cup for many of their more experienced players. It has to be now or never.

Prediction: Australia 2-1 France

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