France eventually overcame a resolute Australia side 2-1 in the opening Group C game thanks to Paul Pogba’s winner, following a controversial match that included the first-ever VAR-assisted goal at a World Cup.
Antoine Griezmann scored the opener from the penalty spot after that VAR decision, before Mile Jedinak equalized for Australia following a bizarre handball from Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.
Australia will feel incredibly unlucky that Aziz Behich’s tackle on Paul Pogba nine minutes from the end resulted in a deflected goal which went in via the crossbar and was confirmed by goal-line technology.
Paul Pogba Breaks Australian Hearts
Controversy in Kazan
The major talking point in the match was the opening French goal, which came after a laboured first hour.
Uruguayan referee Andrés Cunha awarded Les Bleus a penalty when Antoine Griezmann was brought down by Josh Risdon’s tackle, but only after originally overlooking the decision and consulting the VAR after the phase of play had finished.
Risdon had appeared to get the very faintest of touches on the ball with his last-ditch slide, but it did not take the ball out of Griezmann’s possession and the tackle then subsequently tripped up the French attacker’s trailing foot as he bore down on goal.
Cunha had appeared to overlook the spot-kick claims, but stopped play at the earliest natural opportunity to review VAR and subsequently overturned his own decision, allowing Griezmann to step up and rifle the ball past Mat Ryan.
The Socceroos were only behind for four minutes though. Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy swung in a free-kick at the other end and Umtiti raised both arms above his head mid-jump, handling the ball and giving Cunha a much simpler decision. Aston Villa midfielder Jedinak cooly sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way to make it 1-1.
For long periods, France looked devoid of ideas and struggled to break down a hard-working and well-organized Australia side who were happy to keep most of their players behind the ball.
Unlucky Australia
But the French eventually got their winner with nine minutes to play. Paul Pogba played a series of high-tempo one-twos on the edge of the Australia box, leading to a tackle by Behich that looped off the left-back’s shin and over the helpless Ryan.
It hit the crossbar and bounced down over the line, confirmed by goal-line technology in a much quicker fashion than the opening goal.
Australia huffed and puffed in the search for a late equaliser but despite a few hopeful balls into the French penalty area, were largely without creativity.
It was only the second time in France’s last five World Cup opening games that they had managed to win it, although the result was certainly better than the overall drab performance. Australia showed courage and willingness – they won’t be judged on this result against one of the world’s elite, but will instead handle their own fate in games against the much more beatable Denmark and Peru.
France: (4-3-3) Lloris; Pavard, Umtiti, Varane, Hernandez; Pogba, Kante, Tolisso (Matuidi 78); Griezmann (Giroud 70), Dembele (Fekir 70), Mbappe.
Australia: (4-2-3-1) Ryan; Risdon, Sainsbury, Milligan, Behich; Jedinak, Mooy; Leckie, Kruse (Arzani 84), Rogic (Irvine 72); Nabbout (Juric 64).
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