The French beat Australia in their World Cup opener for the second successive time, winning 2-1 four years ago. The defending champions won their opening match for the first time since 2006. The French, who have won for only the second time in their last seven games, will face Denmark in their next group stage match on Saturday. The Australians will face Tunisia.
France, who are missing Ballon d’Or winner Benzema through injury, started brightly but the Australians surprisingly opened the scoring. In the ninth minute, Leckie sent a cross from the right, the ball crossed the area and Goodwin shot under the crossbar. He scored his second international goal and has so far taken care of the fastest goal of the league in Qatar. French defender Lucas Hernandez was injured in defensive play and was replaced by his brother Théo after just 13 minutes.
Cut from the World Cup match Denmark – Tunisiavideo: Czech television
In the 22nd minute the Australians could shock the favorite even more, Duke narrowly missed with a fine shot from behind the goal. It was equalized in five minutes. Rabiot runs into Hernandez’s cross in the box and heads past Ryan. He immediately imposed himself on his first start in the World Cup.
Over the next five minutes, the French turned the tide. After a big mistake from an Australian set piece, Rabiot struck the ball and created an easy position in front of an open goal for Giroud. Even from the third throw, a goal fell between the posts.
In the 44th minute Mbappé could have lifted the ball but headed in a great chance from close range. The French were almost very sorry until the interval. At the opposite end, in the six-minute setup, Irvine jumped into him and was inches away from a goal in his 50th jubilee international start with a header into the crossbar.
Shortly after the break, Giroud could have equalized through Henry but sent an acrobatic finish wide. After switching sides, the French controlled the course and secured the advantage. In the 67th minute Behich deflected Griezmann’s shot just before the goal line, but from the next play Mbappé headed in from the center from the right with the help of his stick.
In the next three minutes, the golden defenders scored for the fourth time. This time Mbappé crossed and Giroud didn’t hesitate with a header from close range. The Milan striker equaled French record holder Henry with his 51st international goal, and it only took him eight games fewer to do so.
The Gaelic World Cup squad have scored at least four goals in back-to-back matches for the first time, a feat achieved only by Brazil and Germany since 2000. The Australians are locked in a deep depression and may be glad they didn’t suffer the fifth time. At the world championship they lost for the sixth time in the last seven duels.
| Qatar FIFA World Cup – Group D (Vakra): |
|---|
| France – Australia 4:1 (2:1) |
| Goals: 32nd and 71st Giroud, 27th Rabiot, 68th Mbappé – 9th Goodwin. Referee: Gomes – Siwela (both South Africa), Phatsoane (Lesotho) – Fischer (video, Kan.). ŽK: Duke, Irvine, Mooy (all Australian). Spectators: 40,875. |
| France: Lloris – Pavard (89. Koundé), Konaté, Upamecano, L. Hernandez (13. T. Hernandez) – Tchouaméni (77. Fofana) – Griezmann, Rabiot – Dembélé (77. Coman), Giroud (89. Thuram) , Mbappe. Trainer: Deschamps. |
| Australia: Ryan – Atkinson (85. Degenek), Souttar, Rowles, Behich – Mooy – McGree (73. Mabil), Irvine (85. Baccus) – Leckie, Duke (56. Cummings), Goodwin (73. Kuol). Coach: Arnold. |
| 1. | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
| 2. | Denmark | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 |
| Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0:0 | 1 | |
| 4. | Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
