France won against Australia (2-1) in their first match of the World Cup 2018 which is played in Russia.
France won on Saturday 16th June 2016 against Australia (2-1) in their first match of the World Cup-2018 that opened Thursday in Russia.
Thank you the technology and thank you Paul Pogba : France beat Australia for its entry into the World Cup 2018, helped by video refereeing, a first World Cup, then worn by Paul Pogba for the winning goal Saturday in Kazan.
Antoine Griezmann received a penalty after viewing images on the VAR (58th minute). Then Paul Pogba gave the victory to the Blues (81) while Mile Jedinak (62) had equalized for Australia, also by a penalty.
#FRAAUS 2-1 pour les Bleus sur un but de Paul Pogba #AFP #CM2018 pic.twitter.com/uKIp4sYF4o
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) June 16, 2018
In Pool C, Peru and Denmark have to face each other at 5pm. Les Bleus will face the South Americans next Thursday in Yekaterinburg, then the Scandinavians on June 26th in Moscow .
This match was fitting with spitting music in the stadium or Russian restaurants, very techno, especially for the Blues. It was Antoine Griezmann who first cleared the match on penalty (58), a historic goal: it was the first time that video assistance Referee (VAR) was used in World Cup opportunity of the fifth match of this Russian tournament.
Pogba’s Atlético striker was hit by Josh Risdon, and Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha, four minutes later, gave France a penalty after watching the action on the edge of the field.
But a Samuel Umtiti’s aerial hand in the box immediately offered a penalty to the Australians, converted by captain Mile Jedinak (62) …
With a bit of luck
The specter of a new underperformance at the start of a World Cup haunted France (before 2014: 0-0 against Uruguay in 2010 and against Switzerland in 2006, and 1-0 defeat to Senegal in 2002), decidedly in the tough against the team supposed to be the most modest of the group.
And it is on an innocuous action, a little lucky all the same, that Pogba put les Bleus back in the spot, with a flick extended in his cage by Aziz Behich (81st). The ball hit the bar, behind the line and out. The referee’s watch vibrated, the French could exult, and the “Pickaxe” highlight the cock of his shirt. Goal-line technology (GLT) confirmed the goal on a giant screen.
As expected, the match was a fight at all times. Les Bleus have dominated, but mostly on a false rhythm, facing a dense block or opaque. The Socceroos also had the clearest opportunity of the first period, when Corentin Tolisso extended a free kick and Hugo Lloris released the ball that would die near his post (17th).
Was it the tension of an entry in the running, while the Australian fans reveled in the draw that lasted so long?
Or the flip side of the youth medal? This team from France had an average age of 24 years and a half at kickoff: nothing less than the youngest to start a World Cup since … 1930, the year of the first edition (23 years and eleven months )!
Tense youth
Didier Deschamps, more pragmatic than conservative for the coup, had privileged the ardor of Tolisso in midfield and Ousmane Dembélé in attack, and Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez in the corridors. The coach has overturned the table and some statutes, dismissing the thirties thirty years old Blaise Matuidi and Olivier Giroud, as well as the usual regulars, Djibril Sidibé and Benjamin Mendy.
But the problem was the lack of change of pace among French attackers, it is true little served.
Relayers Pogba and Tolisso strove to protect their backs well, so they fed little attackers. This is the reverse of the new tactical system pointed by former coach Jacques Santini to AFP before the match, evoking “a small break between the defenders-midfield with the attackers.” Even Kylian Mbappé said he wanted to prevent the team from being “cut in half”.
The 19-year-old nugget could not exist, except for an eccentric strike by the goalkeeper (2nd). Griezmann either, just saved by his penalty, and surprisingly designated man of the match. Deschamps has also made a strong choice by replacing his attack leader in the 70th by Nabil Fekir …
After stopping in the quarter-finals at the previous edition in Brazil, then in the final at Euro-2016 (0-1 against Portugal), Didier Deschamps’ Bleus officially aim for the final four. But obviously dream of the “second star” after that of 1998. The rooster will have to beef up his game.
First use of video arbitration at France-Australia
The Video Assisted Referee (VAR) was used for the first time in World Cup history, when referee Andres Cunha interrupted the game and viewed the images on the edge of the field to give penalty to France against Australia, Saturday in Kazan.
This allowed Antoine Griezmann, who had been touched in the box, to open the score with a penalty (58th minute). The Australians equalized in the wake, also penalty, by Jedinak (62).
The composition of the French team against Australia
France: Lloris (Captain) – Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez – Tolisso, Kante, Pogba – Mbappé, Griezmann, Dembélé
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Australie: Ryan – Risdon, Sainsbury, Milligan, Behich – Mooy, Jedinak (cap.)- Kruse, Rogic, Leckie – Nabbout
Sélectionneur: Bert van Marwijk (NED)
Arbitre: Andres Cunha (URU)
