World Cup 2018: Socceroos actually beat France when they were world champions back in 2001

THE Socceroos have conquered World Cup Group C rivals France before. It came back in 2001 at the Confederations Cup in South Korea and featured a winner from an unlikely source.

The Socceroos celebrate Clayton Zane’s winner back in 2001 against France.

FRANCE has already provided two of the most significant moments of Australia’s football history, and Les Bleus are set to add a third after the Socceroos were paired with the 1998 World Cup winners at the 2018 tournament.

France were pulled out of the hat to join Australia in Group C in Russia next year, along with Denmark and Peru.

Didier Deschamps’ side is jam-packed with elite talent.

The Socceroos celebrate Clayton Zane’s winner back in 2001 against France.

They boast two of the world’s three most expensive signings; Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.

World football’s most expensive teenager is French, United’s Anthony Martial. And Benjamin Mendy broke the transfer record for a defender when he moved to Manchester City earlier this year.

France spelled the end for then-Australian coach Holger Osieck four years ago. Osieck took an experimental team to the Parc de Princes and were belted 6-0, getting the sack as a result.

Ange Postecoglou took over and led the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and an Asian Cup crown the next year.

But the Socceroos have conquered France before.

In 2001, Australia defeated the then-world champions at the Confederations Cup with a sole goal from Clayton Zane.

Brett Emerton tries to evade the challenge of Olivier Dacourt in 2001.

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Socceroos great Mark Schwarzer, who was in goal that day, took great pleasure in reminding the French captain of that fact while in Moscow for the World Cup draw on Saturday (EDT).

“We interviewed Marcel Desailly tonight and I reminded him off camera of that game,” he said.

“I said you might have beat us 6-0 but before that we beat you 1-0 when you were world champions.

“He was involved in that. He’d forgotten about that of course. Selective memory they say.

“We were far, far lesser known back then and it was an incredible achievement.

“It was only the fourth defeat they’d had in four years. That alone was a remarkable accomplishment and we didn’t even have our strongest side.”

Schwarzer - who will return to Russia next year as a commentator for World Cup broadcaster Optus Sport - said he would have preferred to see Australia face the hosts but he saw a pathway out of Group C.

“In the ideal world you could have had Group A (instead of Saudi Arabia, with Russia, Egypt and Uruguay) ... if Australia were in that group, they’d make more of it than Saudi Arabia will,” he said.

“There are lessons to be learned from 2010 when we lost 4-0 to Germany in the first game and it effectively ruled us out of qualifying.

“It was why we didn’t qualify in the end.

“The lesson is stay in contention. No matter what happens against France, stay in contention to make sure you can still get out of the group.”

Socceroos team that beat the world champs

Socceroos 2001 vintage

Mark Schwarzer, Kevin Muscat, Craig Moore, Paul Okon, Tony Vidmar, Tony Popovic, Josip Skoko (79min - Marco Bresciano), Stan Lazaridis, Brett Emerton, Steve Corica, Clayton Zane (88min - John Aloisi)