G'day sports fans,

Matchday motivation: “Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.” – Pelé

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

⚽️ France and Australia are familiar foes at the World Cup having met in the group stage four years ago too, which France won 2-1 thanks to Antoine Griezmann's penalty and an Aziz Behich own goal, and the Socceroos have only ever won one of their five meetings with Les Bleus, which came all the way back at the 2001 Confederations Cup.

The Socceroos can take some encouragement from their winning streak and France's ongoing injury woes, but Les Bleus' lineup is still intimidating to say the least.

We've put the Green & Gold tinted glasses on and have backed the Socceroos to at least score one at a whopping $5.0 on Dabble (you'll need to be quick but you can jump on here).

📺 06:00 - World Cup - France v Australia (SBS)

🏏 David Warner and Travis Head combined to break a 19-year record as Australia thrashed England in a 221-run win to secure a one-day series whitewash.

Warner and Head joined forces for 269 runs to beat the highest ODI partnership by an Australian pair at the MCG, eclipsing the 225 posted by Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting against England in December 2002.

England never threatened to get close and were bowled out for 142, with Australia securing a 3-0 series sweep.

The crowd number of 10,406 is the lowest Australia have played in front of in an ODI at the MCG.

⛳️ Cameron Smith is hopeful his enhanced pulling power can secure a LIV Golf event for his native Queensland.

The world No.3 and Open winner will aim for a third Australian PGA Championship this weekend at the event's new Brisbane home at Royal Queensland. (GET ON $4.75 on Dabble)

🏅 After winning a thrilling count last night, Brisbane's Ally Anderson has been named the AFLW's Best and Fairest for season seven.

Anderson finished on 21 votes, two ahead of Richmond's Mon Conti, with Adelaide's Ebony Marinoff a further vote back.

🎾 Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt has backed in Alex de Minaur to guide his team to a first Davis Cup semi-final since 2017 in the continued absence of national No.1 Nick Kyrgios.

Efforts across both singles and doubles in 2022, which included making the Wimbledon finals in singles and winning the Australian Open doubles, helped Kyrgios finish the season at 22 in the rankings, two spots ahead of de Minaur, who will lead the team in the quarter-final, against the Netherlands in Spain.

Hewitt named Jordan Thompson, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Max Purcell, and Matt Ebden to round out the five-man team.

🤝 AUSSIE SPORTS BIZ

• Breakaway golf series LIV Golf has added Adelaide to its calendar for 2023 after agreeing to a 'multi-year' deal to host events. Adelaide's The Grange Golf Club will host the first LIV tournament in Australia next April 21-23

• Seven has renewed its agreement for free-to-air coverage of the World Surf League ahead of the 2023 season.

• The AFL has confirmed that beverage sponsor Coca-Cola has ended its 30-year relationship with the sports property.

🌍 World Sport

🌏 A bold and brilliant Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as they came from behind to stun two-time winners Argentina (2-1) in a fantastic Group C opener in Lusail.

🌏 Denmark were held to a 0-0 draw by Tunisia in their World Cup opener in a raucous atmosphere at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan - presenting an opportunity for the Socceroos to capitalise.

🌏 Robert Lewandowski had a penalty saved as Poland and Mexico played out a goalless World Cup draw at a fervent Stadium 974.

⚽️ Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United with immediate effect.

The decision follows a controversial interview in which the 37-year-old criticised the club and said he had "no respect" for manager Erik ten Hag.

Both parties stated that Ronaldo's exit was "mutually agreed".

"The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford," said a Manchester United statement.

They wished "him and his family well for the future" and added, "everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team's progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch".

Ronaldo is with Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar and is set to captain them in their opening Group H game against Ghana on Thursday.

He had just over seven months remaining on his £500,000-a-week contract with United, and his departure leaves him free to sign for another club when the transfer window opens in January.

"Following conversations with Manchester United, we have mutually agreed to end our contract early," said a statement from Ronaldo.

🏉 World Rugby Awards

• World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year: Ruahei Demant (New Zealand)

• World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year: Josh van der Flier (Ireland)

🏀 Joel Embiid will miss at least the next two games -- including Tuesday's reunion with former co-star Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets - with a left midfoot sprain he suffered in Saturday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

🏎 China's return to the Formula 1 schedule will be cancelled next year as a result of the country's Covid policies.

The key sticking point is that F1 staff would not be given exemptions from quarantine requirements if suffering a Covid-19 infection.

⚽️ Liverpool will monitor Declan Rice's performances for England at the World Cup before a possible summer bid for the 23-year-old West Ham United midfielder. (Football Insider)

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