You saw Ronaldo’s heroics yesterday. Let’s see it Lionel Messi can match that as his Argentina side face World Cup debutants Iceland. Catch live updates here.
Australia might have had fewer attempts but statistics don’t show how good Bert van Maarwijk’s team were at the back. There is another Group C game later in the day as Peru take on Denmark.
FULL TIME: FRANCE 2-1 AUSTRALIA
It was a historic day in World Cup history with goal-line technology and VAR being used during the game. Pogba may not have had a great game by any means but made an impact with a gorgeous through ball to Griezmann that led to the penalty. The Manchester United midfielder might have been lucky with his winning goal but his surging run from deep was a treat to watch. But France need to show more bite upfront to show that they are a force to be reckoned with in this World Cup. Encouraging signs for Australia, who won’t be facing a side with as much attacking talent as France in the next two games.
90+5’ Australia attack through Leckie from the right but the clock is running down to the full time whistle. The Australians players have given everything and deserved to come away with a point.
90’ There are five minutes of added time and the French are doing a fine job with keep-ball football. The blue shirts are content with taking it to the corner flag, though.
87’ Fekir’s first telling contribution in the game was smashing a free-kick straight into the Australian wall. That was poor from a promising position from the substitute.
84’ Now, it’s France who look comfortable on the ball as the clock ticks towards the full-time whistle. Hernandez is having an inspired game at left-back.
Arzani, the 19-year-old prodigy comes on for Australia.
That was majestic from Pogba. He got the ball 25 yards from goal, played a quick one-two and had a shot with the ball still bobbing in the air. Unfortunately for the Aussies, a wicked deflection took the ball over goalkeeper Ryan and just about crossed the goal-line. Technology was called into action once again. This time, it is goal-line technology.
80’ GOAL! PAUL POGBA PUTS FRANCE IN THE LEAD
Last throw of the dice from France. Matuidi comes on for Colisso
75’ Pogba continues to drop deep in his own half and is unable to link-up play with his forwards. Corentin Tolisso goes into the book for a cynical tackle during an Australia break.
72’ No luck for France, who have now taken to long-range shooting. Pavard goes for glory a la Nacho and sends the ball into orbit from a half-volley.
Olivier Giroud and Nabir Fekir come on for France. Dembele and Griezmann give way. Irvine comes on and off comes Rogic for Australia.
66’ It’s Australia who are dictating play and the goal has certainly come as a shot in the arm for them. Mbappe was nearly clear on goal from a fatal back-pass but Ryan reacted on time to come out of his lines and clear.
It was a cool penalty that send Lloris the other way. The Australia fans roar in delight. It was an gift from Umtiti and Australia take it with both hands. Australia, to be fair, didn’t deserve to go behind in the game. Game on!
61’ GOAL! Mile Jedinak scores from the spot
AUSTRALIA HAVE A PENALTY. Umtiti handles the ball inside the box from a free-kick
Drama at Kazan and Australia would have been hard done by. Risdon’s legs clipped Griezmann’s trailing leg. It looked like a penalty at first glance. The wonders that technology can do!
57’ GOAL! Antoine Griezmann scores from the spot. Ryan didn’t even bother moving as the Atletico forward thumped the ball to the keeper’s right, and into the roof of the net.
54’ The VAR is used for the first time in World Cup history. France HAVE A PENALTY. Griezmann steps up.
53’ Pogba for the first time in the match and makes an impact. He slips in a gorgeous through ball to Griezmann, who goes down in the box after a tackle by Risdon.
52’ Nabout got a half-chance in the box after a right-wing cross was floated in. Varane, though, was calm and cleared it out of harm’s way.
46’ The second-half has kicked off. The Australians continue from where they left before the break. The yellow shirts continue to see out the danger with minimum fuss.
Half-time: It has been a frustrating half for the French. Pogba has disappointed while Mbappe and Griezmann have flattered only to decieve.
44’ Ooooh! Australia come close on the counter through a Leckie shot. That wasn’t far away from Lloris’s left. That will be the last bit of action of the half.
42’ The story continues. French are trying everything: treading balls through, going long but there is no way past the yellow shirts. Outstanding stuff from the Aussies.
38’ Nabbout clatters into Hernandez near the corner flag. The French left-back goes down in a heap. Australia look to chip the ball past the French backline. It hasn’t worked so far.
34’ More frustration for France as Australia once again show how well-drilled they are at the back. Mbappe on the left gets the beating of Mooy but the later recovers to make a fine tackle and dispossess the ball.
30’ Sainsbury is on fire. A ball was chipped into the box to Griezmann, who controlled it but the Australian, once again, stayed close to his man to clear the ball.
28’ Sainsbury has been terrific at the back. Hernandez bombs forward with purpose and outpaces his opponent but the Australian recovers to steal the ball. Frustrating time for the French.
24’ Australia taking out no prisoners with their challenges. France’s play, though, has become erratic and are not able to get past the defenders.
20’ How the tide has changed. They are looking comfortable on the ball and are attacking down the flanks through Mooy and Leckie.
16’ CLOSE! Australia nearly take the lead from a free-kick. Mooy’s free-kick was met with the head by Lekie from the edge of the box. The ball takes a deflection off the French defenders and Lloris had to dive full length to push the ball behind for a corner with Sainsbury lurking in from two yards out.
12’ Mathew Leckie becomes the first player to go into the book. Australia have been generous in giving away fouls so far and the referee has had enough.
9’ Australians hold the ball but do little with it. France have lived dangerously with their back-passing. France continue to look frightening on the counter.
5’ The shots keep raining in. Ryan, this time, has to dive to his left to snuffle a shot off Griezmann. France blazed away on the counter following a glorious first-touch from Dembele on the left flank.
4’ Ryan is called into action once again. This time, from a free-kick from 30 yards out that is taken by Pogba. The midfielder couldn’t bend it past the keeper.
1’ Mbappe gets the first shot on target and it palmed away for a corner by Ryan from the near post. Australians should be watchful here. The PSG forward blitzed his way past the Australian backline with ease. France are having a bulk of the possession in these early stages.
We are done with the national anthems. The players are shaking hands and we are all set to get underway. This match, from Kazan, is the first of four matches today.
Australia coach Bert Van Marwijk paid for own coaching staff while defender Josh Risdon put his honeymoon on hold for World Cup glory.
There are there some interesting stories from the Australian camp: Tim Cahill is playing im his fourth World Cup.
Another fun fact: France have never won a fixture on June 16. They lost their two previous games. This is also their 60th World Cup encounter.
Fun fact: France have won two games to Australia’s one in head-to-head meetings. Les Blues ran out with a resounding 6-0 win in the last game in 2013. Giroud scored a brace there.
The squads have been announced. Olivier Giroud starts from the bench,
02:15 pm: The last time France and Australian met was in a friendly in 2013. The Les Bleus won 6-0. Olivier Giroud netted twice and he is still around. The bigger star, though, has to be Griezmann.
02:00 pm: Hello all and welcome to The Field’s live blog of Match no. 4 at the Fifa World Cup 2018. We are all still catching our breaths back from what was a thrilling second day in Russia. Three matches decided by late goals, with Portugal and Spain playing out an absolute classic late in the night. And if Saturday is half as good as Friday was, we’d be in for a treat. Remember, there are four games today and first up is a Group C encounter between France and Australia.