France defeated Australia 4-1 in Al Wakrah thanks to goals from Adrien Rabiot, Olivier Giroud (2), and Kylian Mbappe, who overcame Craig Goodwin's early opener.
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At the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar, in their opening Group D matchup against Australia, the defending champions France are raging with a 4-1 lead in the second half. France, coached by Didier Deschamps, will attempt to join Italy (1934–1938) and Brazil as the third team to win consecutive World Cups (1958-1962). As the previous three defending World Cup champions have been eliminated in the group stages, they will also need lady luck on their side (Italy 2010, Spain 2014, Germany 2018). The attention will be on PSG attacker Kylian Mbappe, who will be expected to lead the frontline, as the French club will be without star striker Karim Benzema, who has been ruled out of the competition due to injury.
Following their goalless draw earlier in the day, the outcome places France at the top of the group, ahead of Denmark and Tunisia. It will also be a big boost for team manager Didier Deschamps after injury absences dominated the lead-up to the defence of the championship they won in Russia in 2018.
Australia would have been aware of the magnitude of their task before beginning, but they did so with great poise, and they achieved their goal. Harry Souttar’s brilliant switch of play enabled Matthew Leckie to cross, finding Goodwin, who finished skillfully at the far post. Injuries to France players in the lead-up to Australia’s goal, including Lucas Hernandez, may have given France the impression that things were working against them. They did not look back after his replacement, brother Theo, helped Rabiot score the equalizer.
After quickly pulling his nation level with a goal, the superb midfielder changed roles, latching onto Mbappe’s lovely flick to set up Giroud. For his 50th international goal, the seasoned striker only needed to put the ball in the goal. Mbappe, however, took over in the second half and tormented the defence as France pushed to increase their lead. Griezmann’s attempt was blocked by a defender, but Mbappe was unstoppable and headed in Ousmane Dembele’s right-wing cross off the post. Soon after, Mbappe switched to being the provider, and Giroud headed in his cross from the opposing flank. With current Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema out, much has been said about the players who aren’t playing. But in 2018, France was still strong without him. They now also appear powerful.
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