‘He was absolutely minging’: Jason Cummings savaged by Zeljko Kalac

Former Australia goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac has delivered an absolutely brutal assessment of Jason Cummings’ performance.

Nathaniel Atkinson (L) loses possession before a goal for France. Pic: Getty

The Socceroos fought valiantly in a 4-1 loss to France - but one player has come in for savage criticism from former Australia goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.

There was a clear mismatch between the two teams, with Australian World Cup squad valued at about $59 million while France’s team is worth about $1.6 billion.

But Kalac singled out Jason Cummings, who replaced Mitch Duke up front late in the game and barely touched the ball.

“He was minging, he was absolutely minging,” Kalac said at a live event for betting agency Neds.

“The bets should have been ... is he going to touch the ball more than three times? He was non-existent. We basically played with 10 men when he came on.”

Read on to see our player ratings from Australia’s opening game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

5 - Mat Ryan: Can’t blame the captain for any of the four goals conceded, but he still let four goals in. He made a couple of saves in the final minutes to avoid further embarrassment.

5 - Aziz Behich: Saved a sure goal with a goal line block in the second half but France scored seconds later. Not a great performance, but not Australia’s worst in defence.

5 - Kye Rowles: Lost his man for France’s first goal, and was out of place for the third. His night got tougher as it wore on.

6 - Harry Souttar: His cross-field pass set up the opener, and was solid in the back as Australia was put under more pressure.

3 - Nathaniel Atkinson: Lost the ball that led to France’s second goal, and had a horror night marking superstar Kylian Mbappe. He’ll have nightmares about Mbappe for years. Subbed off in the final 10 minutes.

Nathaniel Atkinson (L) loses possession before a goal for France. Pic: Getty

6 - Riley McGree: Almost set up Irvine for an equaliser late in the first half, and got through a mountain of work in midfield. More ineffective as France took control.

5 - Aaron Mooy: Steady is probably the nicest way to describe his game. Mooy was never a fast player but is getting slower and slower in midfield. Got a late yellow for a frustrated challenge.

6 - Jackson Irvine: Header hit the post just before halftime, worked hard in midfield. Grew more frustrated as the game wore on and got a late yellow.

7 - Craig Goodwin: Scored Australia’s opener, and got back to help out in defence as France took control.

6- Mathew Leckie: His cross set up Goodwin for the first goal, but was forced to come back deeper and deeper to defend.

Craig Goodwin of Australia celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between France and Australia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

4 - Mitchell Duke: Worked hard by hassling the France defence, but was largely ineffective upfront. Got a second half yellow after a sliding challenge after losing the ball. Subbed off for Jason Cummings.

5 - Jason Cummings: Came on for Duke but barely got as a touch as France ran away with it.

No score - Awer Mabil: Came on as a winger in the second half when the damage had already been done.

No score - Garang Kuol: Teen sensation came on at the same time as Mabil, and was barely sighted as Australia was starved of possession.

No score - Milos Degenek: Replaced Atkinson late in the game.

No score - Keanu Baccus: Late sub in midfield