Summary
Right, that’s enough for me for one morning/evening/night. Emma Kemp has filed her match report from the Al Janoub Stadium. Expect plenty more coverage to follow today, tomorrow, and for the rest of this tournament.
I’ll see you again for Australia v Tunisia on Saturday.
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Allez! Benjamin Clark with the email zinger. “It’s probably fair to say that this France team could win the SPFL.” Probably fair Benjamin, probably fair. BUT CAN THEY DO IT ON A WET AND WINDY NIGHT AT TANNADICE!?
Australian TV analysis is, as ever, depressingly negative following defeat. Before the first ad-break Mark Bosnich has asked why Australia doesn’t have its own Clairefontaine, and decried the now universal norm of playing out from the back (that led to France’s second goal).
“That’s why they’re world champions,” replied Graham Arnold with a wry smile on his face when asked a couple of quick questions by Australian TV. Clearly the message is going to be to put that result to one side and claim it was never a realistic source of points. Game two against Tunisia was always going to be pivotal but now it is massive for the Socceroos after Tunisia’s point earlier today.
For Australia it’s back to the drawing board but they’ll fancy their chances against Tunisia on Saturday in the hopes of keeping everything alive against Denmark.
Deschamps can now plot his course though the remainder of the group phase with confidence. Denmark are up next in the clash likely to determine the group winners, followed by an encounter with Tunisia.
France enjoyed two-thirds of possession and had 23 shots to Australia’s four. The 4-1 scoreline does not flatter them.
Australia scored early and started promisingly to raise hopes of an upset but the final hour was all France. The World Cup holders denied the curse of the defending champions (and their own dubious history) to carve the Socceroos open time and again. Mbappe, Dembele, and Griezmann all look in fine fettle, and Giroud bagged a couple to bring him level with Thierry Henry on France’s all-time scorer’s list. An ideal opening hit-out for Didier Deschamps, soured only by the injury to Lucas Hernandez.
Full-time: France 4-1 Australia
The defending champions are up and running in style.
90+4 mins: Mooy gets his name taken by the South African referee, no doubt adding to the 7 (seven) minutes of injury time. That’s in addition to the 6 (six) added minutes at the end of the first half.
Very much in favour of the obscene amounts of added time … but why not just stop the clock? Like in all the other sports?
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) November 22, 2022
90+ 3 mins: While Jeremy Nash supersizes the equation. “France might be about to hit four+ twice in a row but they’ve a way to go to match Hungary in 1954 who followed up hitting nine against South Korea with eight against West Germany.”
Most dominant side never to lift the World Cup?
90+2 mins: Adam Berry brings the four-goal knowledge. “I remember Germany following up their 4-1 destruction of England in 2010 with a 4-0 hammering of Diego Maradona’s Argentina. Surely the most high-profile consecutive 4-goal haul in World Cup history (regardless of how shambolic the opposition were)?”
90 mins: Another header, another Ryan save, this time more routine from Hernandez’s effort.
89 mins: Back to the fourth official we go. This time Giroud’s number is up – no hat-trick for him tonight – but a big bear hug nonetheless from Deschamps. Pavard is also removed. Marcus Thuram is one of the players to come on and he almost scores with his first touch but Ryan makes an excellent save diving to his left after the sub gets his head to a corner.
87 mins: This game ran out of steam a long time ago, but it’s still a joy to watch Griezmann’s movement behind the frontline and his ability to find space and give-and-go to fashion openings. If he remains in sync with Dembele and Mbappe for the next month France will be difficult to stop.
84 mins: More subs. Irvine and Atkinson making way for Keanu Baccus and Milos Degenek.
83 mins: Mbappe could have scored a stack tonight but another chance goes begging. Again it’s the vision of Griezmann that creates the opportunity but after he picks out the 2018 Golden Boy, Mbappe miscontrols and Ryan can pounce.
82 mins: Giroud’s sniffing a hat-trick but Mbappe can’t find him at the far post with his dinky cross.
80 mins: Justin Caouette with an excellent question: “How often do teams score 4+ goals in consecutive games at the World Cup? I feel like it has to be...not that often? Granted it’s been 4.5 years (which feel like eons in pandemic time) since France’s 4-2 title win, but the stat checks out.”
Have at it hive mind.
79 mins: Australia attack! It ends with a free-kick in a dangerous area but Mooy’s delivery is easily headed clear by Konate. Harry Souttar has not threatened so far in the air.
Meanwhile, Jackson Irvine is finally handed a yellow card, long after he was due.
77 mins: Youssouf Fofana and Kingsley Coman come on for Dembele and Tchouameni.
75 mins: “Just wanted to mention how nice it is to see Giroud, who didn’t have a single shot at target on Russia 2018, scoring two goals for France’s starter game this tournament,” emails Daniel Gurfinkiel.
It’s just always nice to see Giroud, isn’t it? Such a handsome man. And to think, if Benzema was fit…
Kyliaaaaaaaan Mbappéééééééé! 😍
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 22, 2022
A goal that puts him in the 𝐓𝐎𝐏 1️⃣0️⃣ of the greatest scorers in Les Bleus history 🇫🇷🙌
🇫🇷3-1🇦🇺 | #FRAAUS | #FiersdetreBleus | @KMbappe pic.twitter.com/Or1UisPZ3s
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72 mins: A nice moment for Australia amidst the gloom with Awer Mabil and Garang Kuol coming on for Goodwin and McGree. Both subs have excellent stories.
GOAL! France 4-1 Australia (Giroud, 70)
Those boots are getting filled alright! Mbappe takes the Michael down the left and does Atkinson twice with his dropped shoulder and change of pace. Is there an end product to match? You bet there is. A perfect stand-up left-footed cross for Giroud to head home and equal Thierry Henry as France’s record goalscorer.
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69 mins: It’s hard to see the result changing now. France have turned the screw for the past 40 to 45 minutes without really going through the gears. The key has been the overlapping runs of the substitute Hernandez on the left, allied with the close control of Mbappe, Dembele, and especially Griezmann.
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GOAL! France 3-1 Australia (Mbappé 68)
Australia can’t clear their lines, France continue to attack, and from broken play Dembele stands up a tempting cross from the right and Mbappe gets between the two central defenders to be in the perfect position to head home his side’s third. It was coming.
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68 mins: Off the line from Behich! Yet again Hernandez gets in behind on the left and after his cross is knocked out of the area Griezmann drills a low shot destined for the back of the net but it’s repelled on the line.
66 mins: Irvine again gets away with a bookable challenge leading to Deschamps having a word with fourth official Salima Mukansanga.
64 mins: Australia are playing in quicksand now, losing the ball in midfield and struggling to keep up with France’s ball movement. If France click in the final third they could fill their boots.
62 mins: France come again and the latest incursion from Hernandez down the left leads to a corner. Konate rises highest from Griezmann’s delivery but he can’t get enough purchase on his header.
61 mins: Mbappe has a decent sniff but Rowles just gets a toe to the ball to send his shot wide after glorious interplay from the French attack and Giroud in particular. Their ability to knock the ball around confidently in tight spaces is so good to watch.
60 mins: Some rare action! Rabiot, not for the first time tonight, pounces on a loose ball. He darts around the outside of Atkinson and lofts a cross to the far post but nothing comes of it.
58 mins: Les Bleus are in no hurry this half and the Socceroos are not busting a gut to rush them into changing pace. It is attack v defence in Australia’s half with little urgency from either side.
56 mins: First change of the night and the Cumdog is on! Jason Cummings makes his World Cup debut in place of spearhead Mitch Duke.
Let’s do this. 🐶 https://t.co/jbB3z4v1jN pic.twitter.com/6v4bHUJPAv
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 22, 2022
Updated
54 mins: Now an Australian is booked, and it’s Mitch Duke for diving in on Dembele after losing possession following some neat interplay by the Socceroos in build-up play. France are dictating the tempo this half, and it is walking pace with the occasional faster vertical pass. Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.
52 mins: Irvine is lucky to escape a booking after leaving a foot in on Hernandez. Mbappe’s free-kick delivery from deep is garbage.
50 mins: France carve open Australia and they do so at walking pace. Upamecano lofts a simple ball over the top for Hernandez to get in behind, the fullback pulls the ball back to the penalty spot but there’s nobody there to pull the trigger. Hernandez gets another go with the second ball and this time he lofts his cross and Giroud acrobatically volleys wide. The technique? Think a left-footed version of Mark Hughes’ volley for Manchester United against Manchester City in 1989.
49 mins: Goodwin takes it but he can’t beat the first man. Unforgivable. Graham Arnold must be doing his nut in the dugout.
48 mins: Early corner for Australia, their first of the night, after industrious work on the right by Atkinson. Can they find the head of Souttar?
47 mins: Cumdog is trending in Australia on Twitter. What a world.
46 mins: The second half is underway.
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As for France, there will be concerns about the volume of cheap turnovers at the base of midfield. Better teams will have punished them in transition in that half.
Deschamps will also must wonder about his luck after losing another starter to injury when Lucas Hernandez limped off early.
Australia might still end up on the wrong side of a hiding, but I think Graham Arnold deserves credit for how he set up his side. The talent disparity between the two squads is immense, but for the opening quarter they were even on the pitch and tactically the Socceroos were ahead. The decision to start Goodwin paid dividends, and the structure was solid.
“What great play in the build up to that goal from Bill… Leckie Bill. I tried this four years ago but it hasn’t really caught on,” emails Sean Boiling. “We go again.”
God loves a trier, but Leckie bills are no laughing matter right now Sean.
The good: France getting the ball often to the feet of Mbappe and Demebele in wide areas. They look so dangerous so quickly with both able to go outside or in, using Griezmann as a foil.
The bad: Australia running out of gas following a bright start, highlighted by Atkinson getting caught in possession for France’s second goal.
Half-time: France 2-1 Australia
Australia started well and threatened to do a Saudi Arabia with an early goal, but France didn’t panic, gained control, and the defending champions are now in control on the pitch and on the scoreboard.
45+1 mins: Now Australia hit the post! A rare attack builds down the left, Goodwin lofts a cross over, Irvine climbs well at the far stick and his header back across Lloris glances the post and behind.
45 mins: Sacré bleu! Mbappe has to score – but blazes over. A long diagonal unleashes Griezmann on the inside-right channel. His ball into the box is superb but Mbappe elects not to head a ball at an awkward height, instead slicing a gilt edged chance wide.
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44 mins: France are forcing turnovers at will in midfield. Mooy simply doesn’t have anywhere to go when he gets on the ball and looks up. Arnold needs a Plan B after halftime.
42 mins: It’s all France now. Mbappe down the left, Dembele the right, and Griezmann through the middle. They all link to set up Griezmann on the edge of the box but he drags his left-footed effort wide. They need more opportunities to find the boot (or head) of Giroud.
Leading Goalscorers for @equipedefrance
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 22, 2022
51 - Thierry Henry
50 - Olivier Giroud
Closing in on the top spot 🇫🇷#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/2PeTYcIsMu
38 mins: The Socceroos finally get a hold of the ball after ten minutes or so of French domination. Unlike the early phases though there’s no ambition with the wide men holding their defensive shape instead of darting forward. France are happy to bide their time and enjoy the extra space on the counter. In the blink of an eye they go coast to coast and Mbappe has time and space to pick out the onrushing Demebele on the penalty spot but his effort skews over. He should have done better.
35 mins: France are patient around the edge of the box with all the blue jerseys looking for Griezmann to unpick the lock. A nice move gains momentum with Griezmann nipping in the tight spaces but just as the shooting chance opens the Atletico schemer takes the ball off Giroud’s boot. The latter does get a shooting opportunity soon after but his half-volley flies wide after Demebele sprints past Behich on the right wing. Avenues opening up all over the place for the defending champions.
33 mins: France have turned the screw in the past five minutes or so with Griezmann becoming more influential in midfield. Australia are dropping deeper and deeper and those long spells of possession early in the game now seem like a distant memory.
Updated
GOAL! France 2-1 Australia (Giroud, 30)
Disaster for Australia, joy for Giroud. The Socceroos try to play out from the back, Atkinson’s first touch is Sunday league, Rabiot picks his pocket and rolls the ball across the face of goal for Giroud to tap into an empty net.
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29 mins: Another France header almost goes in, this time it’s Giroud glancing wide after stealing in on the shoulder of the last defender.
28 mins: France scoring with a set-piece header probably wasn’t in the script but Hernandez did well with his delivery and Rabiot gambled.
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GOAL! France 1-1 Australia (Rabiot, 27)
Down the right this time from France but Dembele can’t get beyond Goodwin. The ball returns to the Barcelona speedster and this time he looks inside for Griezmann who forces a corner. The set-piece delivery doesn’t clear the first defender but the ball lands at the feet of Hernandez and his second ball is superbly curled in for Rabiot to climb onto and nod beyond Ryan.
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26 mins: Even when Mbappe gets behind his man, Atkinson, there’s cover in the massive frame of Souttar.
24 mins: Mbappe remains France’s attacking outlet but this time Leckie tracks back and Atkinson executes the interception. This has been an outstanding display so far from the Socceroos. Disciplined, hard-working, and full of belief.
22 mins: Duke wellies one from range after Rabiot again coughs up cheap possession in his own half but the Al Rihla whistles past Lloris’ left-hand upright. That was a fierce snapshot. France are not purring.
20 mins: France look threatening with the rondos in central areas with Griezmann orchestrating a couple of dazzling spells with Mbappe and Dembele but the ball breaks Australia’s way. Irvine then executes an old fashioned reducer on Tchouameni which is a delight to watch waved play-on. That was a bone cruncher.
18 mins: France again find an outlet wide on the left, Hernandez this time, but as is becoming a pattern, there is no penetration from the touchline and Australia get bodies behind the ball.
16 mins: Rabiot concedes a cheap turnover in midfield, Australia pounce, force the turnover, earn a free-kick, and settle the game down again. Rabiot again is at fault, this time for bringing down the charging Behich on the left.
The Socceroos look extremely composed and mature so far.
14 mins: Mbappe again gets the ball to his feet on the left but despite his regular threat there’s been no end product with Australia managing to crowd out the French when they get into the box.
@JPHowcroft re your advice "Good luck keeping up with Dembele and Mbappe on the break.", is that specifically aimed at Giroud? Dig in and keep chugging Olivier!
— Neil McGwyre (@neilmcgwyre) November 22, 2022
13 mins: Going back to the goal, that was a brilliant long pass form Souttar, superb control and skill from Leckie, then the dream winger’s cross. Goodwin’s finish was decisive and clearly the outcome of a pre-planned routine. All in all excellent football.
12 mins: Lucas Hernandez is replaced by brother Theo as Mbappe breaks again on the outside down the left. The resulting corner is dealt with eventually by Australia.
11 mins: To add injury to insult, France’s injury curse has struck yet again! Hernandez looks to have done himself a serious mischief, landing awkwardly as Leckie went through him in the lead-up to the goal. He limps off the pitch with the help of the physios, but that does not look good at all.
10mins: Is it opposite day?
GOAL! France 0-1 Australia (Goodwin, 9)
What was I saying? That route is a long diagonal from Souttar to Leckie from left to right. On the touchline the Melbourne City flyer brings the ball down superbly, goes past Hernandez and clips a perfect teasing cross along the six-yard line for his opposite winger Goodwin to arrive onto and smash into the roof of the net. What a start!
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8 mins: France are happy to sit off and defend in a mid-block, giving Australia’s defence and Mooy plenty of time to pad their passing and pass completion stats. The Socceroos are comfortable in this holding pattern but don’t appear to have a clear idea of a route to goal.
6 mins: That is until Mbappe skins Atkinson on the left. The first Tasmanian to appear at a World Cup doesn’t give up though and he has enough green and gold support to smuggle the ball clear.
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5 mins: Australia have settled nicely, winning a series of second balls and looking composed recycling possession through Mooy. A lack of incision is inevitable but good signs nonetheless.
4 mins: Australia get a feel for the ball but it’s a bit congested in midfield and McGree tries a snapshot from 35m out that is dragged horribly wide. A good press wins the ball back high up the field but Goodwin can’t escape down the left.
2 mins: France on top from the kick-off. They enjoy 45 seconds of possession before Australia get a touch, and that includes Dembele skinning Behich down the right and clipping a cross over from which Mbappe earns a corner. The set-piece is flicked on dangerously but the Socceroos clear. Ominous start from the French.
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Kick-off!
Here we go, the defending champions are off and running.
“Let’s get down to business” booms over the speakers as the players huddle. This is the real sound of Qatar, isn’t it?
SHOWTIME! #AUSvFRA pic.twitter.com/TiRKYiFCRX
— Adrian Arciuli (@Adrian_Arciuli) November 22, 2022
Anthem time. France already with the early advantage.
Here they come, out of the tunnel, France in their beautifully crafted tricolour uniform of dark blue, white and red. Australia alongside them in gold jerseys, green shorts and white socks.
Conditions:
Have a guess? Go on. That’s right, it’s warm and dry in Al Wakrah with temperatures in the low to mid 20s. Fans and players will be cooled by the in-stadium air conditioning.
“As someone who grew up on Tim Cahill’s reliable World Cup magic, and tries hard to forget the 2018 version of the Socceroos, I think the best I can expect from the boys is some fighting spirit and to frustrate the world champions for as long as we can contain them.” Ezra Finkelstein there with an email that I reckon sums up the feelings of many Australian fans.
On Australian TV the two lead analysts are former internationals John Aloisi and Craig Foster and they have just delivered an excellent tactical package detailing Graham Arnold’s game plan. Expect a very low block, long diagonal balls to Duke standing in one of the channels to allow for his supporting attackers to feed off him, and a reliance on Souttar from set-pieces.
In case you’re just waking up in Australia and easing into the action, a quick recap of what’s already happened in Qatar. In short: six teams, three goals, one penalty save, and the upset of upsets.
Simon McMahon has got in touch with some tangerine pride, telling me “Australia’s Aziz Behich joined Dundee United in the summer and will tonight become the first current United player to start a game in the World Cup finals for, well, a wee while probably. It’s not quite Malpas, Gough, Narey, Bannon and Sturrock at Mexico 86, but still. Harry Souttar also started his professional career at Tannadice, so go United, and go Australia!”
The Socceroos’ links with Scotland go deep, very deep.
Referee: South Africa’s Victor Gomes will blow the whistle today. He oversaw the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Egypt, and received plaudits for reporting bribes in a CAF Confederation Cup match.
Also worth noting is fourth official Salima Mukansanga, one of the six female officials at this tournament.
South African 🇿🇦 referee Victor Gomes will be in charge of the last game today between the reigning champions France 🇫🇷 & Australia 🇦🇺. He’ll be assisted by countryman Zakhele Siwela & Lesotho’s Souru Phatšoane.
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) November 22, 2022
Rwandan 🇷🇼 Salima Mukansanga has been named as the fourth official. pic.twitter.com/KY4qtJBK47
France and Australia and sport, you say? That can only mean Richie Benaud chewing the fat in Île-de-France, wearing his iconic cream/bone/white/off-white/ivory/beige jacket. And some elephants.
Of course it’s only fair to share some France content as well.
Emma Kemp is our Australian eyes and ears on the ground in Qatar and she’s been busy filing reports on all things Socceroo.
Australia XI
There are fewer household names in Australian gold but Graham Arnold has named an experienced spine starting with former Arsenal goalkeeper Mat Ryan, Stoke City centre-half Harry Souttar, Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy, and the combative, line-leading Mitchell Duke.
Quite how this XI threatens such a formidable opponent remains to be seen but expect set-pieces to be important. 198cm Souttar has six goals in his 10 internationals and he will be the focal point whenever Australia get a corner or attacking free-kick.
And for those who would just like a graphic... pic.twitter.com/t9IxEjuwGO
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 22, 2022
France XI
France’s injury woes have been well reported but even without, deep breath: Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Karim Benzema, Rafael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, and Christopher Nkunku, Didier Deschamps has named an imposing starting XI.
He’s gone for a youthful and attacking 4-2-3-1 set-up with pace to burn. Good luck keeping up with Dembele and Mbappe on the break.
The first 1⃣1⃣ of this World Cup 🫡🔥
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 22, 2022
🇫🇷🇦🇺 | #FRAAUS | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/YZIAbizDOq
Tonight’s match offers our first glimpse of Al Janoub Stadium in the city of Al Wakrah, a smidgen south of Doha CBD. The ground holds 40,000 fans and was designed by the late Zaha Hadid.
“The Qatari stadium’s resemblance to a woman’s private parts may be unintentional, but I for one applaud it,” wrote Holly Baxter a few years ago. “With its shiny, pinkish tinge, its labia-like side appendages and its large opening in the middle, the supposedly innocent building (based upon the design of a traditional Qatari dhow boat) was just asking for trouble.”
For her part, Hadid dismissed such suggestions as “ridiculous” and “embarrassing”.
I mean…
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the eighth match of the 2022 World Cup, France v Australia from Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah. Kick-off in this group D clash is 10pm local time (6am AEDT/7pm GMT).
For the second successive tournament France and Australia open their campaigns against one another. In Kazan four years ago the eventual champions ground out a 2-1 victory with a late deflected winner. They will expect a more routine three points tonight.
There will be few more striking mismatches all tournament, on paper at least. France are holders of the World Cup and winners of the 2021 UEFA Nations League. Even without some notable absentees Les Bleus boast a squad as deep and talented as any in the competition, with a long-serving coach able to blend a side featuring proven campaigners and the brightest prospects in the game.
By contrast, Australia are ranked 38th by FIFA and required a 20-game odyssey to qualify, one ending in a penalty shootout victory over Peru. Only four members of Graham Arnold’s squad have more than 50 caps (half the group have 10 caps or fewer), and only two are signed to clubs in any of Europe’s top-five leagues. “I don’t know any of the players individually,” Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté said on Sunday.
France will look to Kylian Mbappé for inspiration, a man valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars with proven World Cup pedigree; Australia to Celtic journeyman Aaron Mooy, one of six Scotland-based Socceroos.
“You can say our players aren’t playing in the top leagues in the world and all their players are,” Arnold said this week. “But it’s about team spirit, it’s about connecting 11 players – and 26 players – together in a family environment, making sure they’re mates and they’ve got each other’s backs. That’s when you can get special results.”
But as guaranteed as the result looks ahead of time it still has to be earned, and France know from bitter experience how a World Cup campaign can unravel – especially as defending champions. Besides, it suits Arnold’s character to tap into the “little Aussie battler” trope. “We have got the Aussie DNA,” he said. “We will go out there and have a fight, kick and scratch, do whatever is required.”
There’s an hour or so before kick-off so feel free to spend that time sending me an email. Or, if you haven’t yet jumped ship, tweet me @JPHowcroft.
