France 2-1 Australia: Deflected Paul Pogba effort gives France narrow win
France needed a spot of VAR help and a late deflected Paul Pogba effort to get the better of Australia 2-1 in their World Cup opener.
Today's games
Despite a bright start it was a largely lacklustre performance from Les Bleus who struggled to break down a well-disciplined Australian side who worked tirelessly to restrict the space for their high-profile opponents.
France needed the help of VAR to take the lead when Antoine Griezmann scored from a penalty only awarded after referee Andres Cunha asked for a replay of the incident and decided a penalty should be awarded.
Australia levelled quickly, Mile Jedinak scoring from the spot also after Samuel Umtiti's bizarre handball.
But France got the win as Pogba scored with 10 minutes to go - his deflected effort looping over Matt Ryan and in off the crossbar and the goal given after goal-line technology confirmed the ball had crossed the line.
It was a narrow escape for France's youthful side - their youngest World Cup line-up since 1930 in fact - who'll need to improve to prove themselves as one of the tournament favourites.
Didier Deschamps' men are now odds-on favourites to qualify from Group C as winners, as they prepare to take on Peru next on Thursday - the same day as Australia, who are 9/2 to go through, face Denmark.
Opta Stats
- This is the fourth successive World Cup that France have started the tournament unbeaten (W2 D2 L0), last losing in 2002 against Senegal.
- Australia have lost four of their five opening World Cup games, with their only win coming against Japan in 2006.
- France have only managed to keep one clean sheet in their last seven international games, against Republic of Ireland in May.
- All four of Australian Mat Ryan’s saves vs France came in the opening eight minutes, with the keeper conceding the next two shots on target faced.
- The two penalties scored in the game between France and Australia were only four minutes, seven seconds apart - the shortest period of time between two penalties being scored by different sides in a World Cup match.
- France v Australia became the first World Cup match since Senegal v Uruguay in World Cup 2002 to see both teams score a penalty in normal time.
- France are unbeaten in the 18 games that Antoine Griezmann has scored in (W16 D2 L0).
- Antoine Griezmann has been directly involved in nine of France's last 13 goals in major tournaments (World Cup and European Championships), with seven goals and two assists.
- The average age of France’s starting XI (24y 196d) was their youngest in a World Cup match since July 1930 vs Chile.
- At 19 years and 178 days old, Kylian Mbappe is the youngest player to make an appearance at a major tournament for France (World Cup and European Championships).
- Daniel Arzani has become the youngest player to ever make a World Cup appearance for Australia (19y 163d).
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