Soccer: Australian side to meet France is 'strongest ever'

The Australian soccer team plays world champions France in a friendly international in Melbourne tonight, and the home side's coach is talking up his charges' chances.

Socceroos coach Frank Farina says the team set to face the current World Cup and European Cup holders in tonight's friendly at the MCG is the strongest Australian side ever assembled.

Farina named his starting 11 yesterday, and is likely to use Harry Kewell in an attacking role, instead of the midfield position he usually plays for English Premier team Leeds.

He says the team is likely to continue improving until it meets the fifth-placed South American team on November 20 for a place in next year's World Cup.

Farina says the players' short preparation time will not stop them from playing at their best, with Kewell and Mark Viduka to bolster their attack significantly.

"It's not a real concern ... we look at the back four and the midfield and it's pretty much the same formation that we had throughout the Confederations Cup and the World Cup qualifier in New Zealand.

"The boys have played in a lot of games together and slotting in Mark and Harry is not difficult," he said.