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“We were surprised by the performance, but we’re not too surprised that France won because they are the title-holders,” he said.

“We know the littlest details of the performance of the Australian team because we have analysed all of their previous matches; this is why we’re not surprised by the score. We know that they even excelled in some parts, such as when it comes to their stamina and their fitness.”

Tunisia has never made it out of their World Cup group in five previous attempts, and Kadri said this was their chance to “make the Tunisian dream come true” and to “protect our heritage” in front of what will feel like a home crowd for them. The huge Tunisian expat community in Qatar packed the stands for their scoreless opening draw with Denmark, creating a raucous, intimidatory atmosphere.

“That’s what you want, that’s what football is all about,” Socceroos defender Aziz Behich said. “I’m excited to get out on that pitch and hear the hostile environment – it kind of puts fire in my belly a bit more, to be honest.”

The Socceroos have three players on yellow cards – Mitch Duke, Aaron Mooy and Jackson Irvine – who will be automatically suspended for their final match against Denmark if they receive another caution, but Arnold said that would not influence his team selection, hinting that Duke and Jamie Maclaren would both see minutes.

The match will kick off at 9pm AEDT, a rare primetime viewing slot on a weekend for an Australian match at a World Cup, and in light of the almost winner-takes-all stakes, it makes this one of the team’s most hotly anticipated games in many years.

“We all saw the footage back home after [Craig Goodwin] scored. It gives you goosebumps that you do that to the nation back home,” Behich said.

“It’s a perfect time for everyone back home, our family, friends that will be watching. We’re going to go out there all guns blazing. When that final whistle goes, we want to see more footage of everyone at Fed Square going crazy again – that’s our main goal.”

Meanwhile, Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said the result of the Socceroos’ match would influence how they approached their showdown with France. Denmark and France will be played six hours after the Australia-Tunisia game, which could shape the machinations in Group D.

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Hjulmand put Australia’s loss into perspective by hailing the immense strength in depth of Les Bleus, and was hopeful – but not exactly confident – that Goodwin’s early goal had exposed weaknesses in France’s defensive that Denmark could exploit.

“It’s an opponent who belongs at the very, very top of world football – they’re the reigning champions, and the quality of the talent they have in France at the moment is spectacular,” he said.

“France has a lot of injuries, but they have an unbelievable amount of top players. Hopefully, we can do something.”

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