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Josh Risdon was at the centre of attention during Australia’s 2018 World Cup campaign, having to nullify some of the best players in the world as the Socceroos aimed to upset the odds from a tough group.
Risdon was tasked with defending Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappe against France, two of the fastest and most skilful players in the world for much of the match, but it was a tackle on Antoine Griezmann that made its way into the history books.
A through-ball cut Australia’s defence in half and Risdon had to slide to try and direct the ball away from Griezmann bearing down on goal. He flicked the ball, causing Griezman to lose control, but also caught the Frenchman’s leg. While play was initially waved on, VAR was used for the first time in World Cup football to go back and award the penalty.
“Yeah, look, it’s probably not the part of history that I’d want to be involved in,” said Risdon talking to SBS Sport's David Basheer. “When the incident happened, I knew I’d won the ball, obviously I’ve won it into Griezmann’s leg and it’s carried forward where he can’t get it. Afterwards, I’ve followed through and my trailing leg’s clipped him.
“Obviously, there’s contact, but I felt I’ve won the ball cleanly first and the ref didn’t give it, so I thought I was in the clear. Then VAR stepped in, and I still thought I’d be in the clear as VAR is there to overturn obvious errors and the ref’s obviously seen it and hasn’t given it.
“When the ref came over and pointed to the spot, it’s a moment I’d like to forget, particularly in a game where we were holding our own against them. It’s disappointing, but we grabbed one back, I think a few minutes after that. It’s a bit of history I can say I’m a part of, the first use of VAR at a World Cup, one to tell the grandchildren.”
Australia ultimately went down 2-1 after a Mile Jedinak penalty and an unlucky deflection from Aziz Behich that saw the ball loop over Mat Ryan in goal. However, the majority of fans and pundits were encouraged by the performance that saw the underdog Australians push the eventual World Cup champions all the way, particularly with their hard press in defence.
“Bert van Marwijk really drilled that into us,” said Risdon. “We knew that France had world-class players that can destroy teams really, on their day they’re the best in the world.
“Obviously, on the edges there with players like Dembele and Mbappe, the pace and the skill that they have was something for us fullbacks to be worried about. But we kept them pretty quiet, we knew that they were frustrated.
“As a first game, and against the team that ended up being champions, we definitely held our own. It was disappointing that we didn’t get a point out of that game, which I thought we deserved.”
Risdon currently plays for A-league champions Western United, returning from an ankle injury mid-season to play in their successful finals run. For a player who has played his entire career in the A-league, the World Cup was an entirely different level of play and expectation.
“I remember lining up in the tunnel and looking across to see who we were coming up against,” said Risdon. “The names we mentioned before, Mbappe, Griezman, Pogba… especially Pogba, he’s huge in stature. Not only are they quality, they’re quite big players.
“I’m just playing in the A-League, and looking across at these guys playing in the French Ligue, the Premier League and the biggest leagues in the world. My motivation was that ‘I’m the underdog here, I’m a boy from country Western Australia and I’m coming up against the best players in the world’. That underdog status is what really gets me up for a fight.”
Risdon gave his opinion on how the Australian team should approach the match against the defending champions in their opening fixture against the defending champions.
“There’s got to be a bit of a balance,” said Risdon. “You have to pay respect to the players that you’re coming up against, they’re the best in the world.
“With someone like Mbappe, it’s about getting there on his touch and not allowing him to run at you with the ball, because that’s when he’s dangerous.”
