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Big year not done for Socceroo Genreau

3 minute read

Socceroo Denis Genreau is eyeing off more success in 2022 at the World Cup play-offs after a season - and pitch invasion - to remember in France with Toulouse.

The celebrations may not match Toulouse's promotion party but if Australia can beat the United Arab Emirates in their World Cup play-off, Socceroo Denis Genreau's season to remember will only get bigger.

The 23-year-old has not only made his Socceroos debut and represented Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in the past 12 months, but he also starred as Toulouse won France's Ligue 2 title and promotion to the country's top flight.

That success created a memorable moment for Genreau, however, when he found himself semi-naked and barred from his team's dressing room after a pitch invasion by fans.

"There were two pitch invasions. There was one for when we got promoted and then like two weeks later, when we won the title," Genreau told AAP.

"The first one, because I didn't really know what was happening, I just sort of ran towards the fans and then I ended up being on the other side of the change room.

"I had to walk back through all the fans towards the change room and there was so many people, it took about like 30 minutes to get back to the change room.

"And there's just people trying to take off your shirt, trying to take off your shoes, get little bits of your clothes.

"I rocked up and somebody had taken my top and I'd got back to the change room and there was a security guard who was like, 'nah, you're not coming in' because he didn't recognise me."

Toulouse's promotion has the former Melbourne City and Macarthur FC midfielder set to face the likes of Paris St Germain's ridiculously star-studded line-up including Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi.

If that wasn't exciting enough, Genreau knows if he can help Australia qualify for this year's World Cup another clash with Mbappe and his world champion France team lies in wait.

Standing in the Paris-born player's path are the UAE in Tuesday's (Wednesday AEST) play-off and then, if they can be overcome, Peru in a winner-takes-all match in Qatar on June 13.

"The last 12 months for me personally were amazing with the Olympics and Socceroos debut and everything but the next 12 months as well are even more exciting with the World Cup coming up, Ligue 1 and everything," he said.

"It'll be awesome (to play France) and I've had really a lot of banter with the boys in the change room because they want to see Australia qualify so they can see me come up against them."

The absence of Tom Rogic for personal reasons puts an added layer of responsibility on Genreau's shoulders despite having just three caps under his belt.

If called upon by coach Graham Arnold however, Genreau is confident he is ready to deliver for his country.

"We're all ready," he said.

"It's not like it's our first cap or first camp.

"We're ready to play if Arnie calls upon us."

Australia will continue their preparations for Tuesday's game with another training session in Qatar on Sunday evening.

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