France 2-1 Australia: World Cup highlights and recap

France beat Australia 2-1 in World Cup Group C on Saturday. Here are all the highlights from the match.

France beat Australia 2-1 in the first match of Group B at the World Cup on Saturday. The match was scoreless in the first half, but the second half brought two VAR-assisted penalties and a deflected Paul Pogba strike that just snuck over the line.

Les Bleus started the better — Matthew Ryan made three (comfortable) saves within the first five minutes — but Australia grew into the match and had the only good chance of the game’s first hour, Mathew Ledickie’s header forcing Hugo Lloris into an excellent save after 17 minutes.

The first goal came in controversial circumstances, as Antoine Griezmann, streaking through on goal, went down following a challenge by Josh Risdon. The referee initially waved play on, but awarded the penalty after being told by the VAR to review the play.

The replay showed clear contact between Griezmann and Risdon, though the ball was beyond the Frenchman’s reach, and the contact was probably not enough to force Griezmann down — exactly the sort of grey-area VAR can do little about.

Australia got back in it shortly after, however, as Samuel Umtiti bizarrely handled in his own box while defending a free-kick. Mile Jedinek rolled the ball to Lloris’ left to draw the Socceroos, deservedly, level.

France retook the lead with probably the best move of the match in the 81st minute. Paul Pogba charged forward, exchanged passes with Olivier Giroud and took a shot that, after a big deflection, looped over Ryan and into the goal.

Next: The best player on every team at the World Cup

Highlights

France’s next match comes against Peru on Thursday. Australia play Denmark earlier the same day.