In case the scale of the challenge wasn't already evident to the Socceroos, the billion-dollar valuation of World Cup opponents France should make it clear.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The transfer costs of a likely XI to face Australia on June 16 in their tournament opener value France at more than one thousand million Australian dollars.
The stomach-churning figure will top the billion-dollar mark should Antoine Griezmann complete a much-anticipated move from Atletico Madrid this summer.
Reports suggest a 100 million euro price tag has been slapped on the 27-year-old forward, one of the favourites for the golden boot in Russia.
Kylian Mbappe tops the list for eye-watering transfer fees, having spent a year on loan from Monaco at Paris St Germain.
The French champions have agreed to retain the 19-year-old on a longer-term deal for $279 million.
That dwarfs the $163m fee for Ousmane Dembele paid by Barcelona last year, and the similar amount deposited by Manchester United to Juventus' bank account for Paul Pogba in 2016.
The total sum would be even higher if Raphael Varane were to move.
The 25-year-old Real Madrid defender is rated as one of the best central defenders in the world, but last switched clubs in 2011 from Lens.
By contrast, the highest transfer fee concluded for a member of Bert van Marwijk's Socceroos belongs to Aaron Mooy.
The midfielder left Manchester City for Huddersfield Town last year on a $19 million deal after spending a year with the minnows, helping them to earn promotion to the English Premier League.
BILLION DOLLAR BLEUS: FRANCE'S MEGA-MONEY SIDE
ST: Olivier Giroud - $32m move from Arsenal to Chelsea, 2018
AM: Antoine Griezmann - $155m move likely, 2018
LW: Ousmane Dembele - $163m move from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017
RW: Kylian Mbappe - $279m move from Monaco to Paris St Germain, 2018
CM: N'Golo Kante - $56m move from Leicester City to Chelsea, 2016
CM: Paul Pogba - $159m move from Juventus to Manchester United, 2016
LB: Benjamin Mendy - $92m move from Monaco to Manchester City, 2017
CB: Samuel Umtiti - $39m move from Lyon to Barcelona, 2016
CB: Raphael Varane - $17m move from Lens to Real Madrid, 2011
RB: Djibril Sidibe - $26m move from Lille to Monaco, 2016
GK: Hugo Lloris - $23m move from Lyon to Tottenham Hotspur, 2012
TOTAL: $1.044 billion
* All figures translated to Australian dollars from Euros and British pounds.
Australian Associated Press
