France 4-1 Australia
FT: All over here in Al-Wakrah! France have set out their World Cup credentials in emphatic style.
They suffered an early scare when Craig Goodwin gave Australia an early lead but France recovered calmly as Adrien Rabiot scored one and set up another for Olivier Giroud to lead at half-time.
Kylian Mbappe then, er, scored one and set another up for Giroud to extend the lead to 4-1. Giroud has now equalled Thierry Henry's all-time goalscoring record for France with 51.
France top of Group D, they're one win away from sealing a spot in the knockout rounds.
England, are you watching
France 4-1 Australia
88: SUBS! Now France make two more changes. Thuram and Kounde come on for Pavard and Giroud.
France' No 9 won't be beating Thierry Henry's record tonight. That will be on the agenda against Denmark on Saturday.
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Now
21:51
France 4-1 Australia
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
"There was an early wobble but France have shown tonight that - despite their long list of injuries - they have plenty of brilliant talent fit, available and raring to defend their title.
"They're going to be major contenders, make no mistake about it.
"England fans mapping out their team's route to the final may be wondering how a potential quarter-final will go... Trippier vs Mbappe? Maguire vs Giroud? Kane vs Konate?"
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4m ago
21:47
France 4-1 Australia
85: SUBS! Australia take off Irvine and Akinson for St Mirren's Baccus and Degenek.
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5m ago
21:46
France 4-1 Australia
83: CLOSE! Mbappe so nearly gets another.
Griezmann plays a glorious ball over the top for the France No 10 in the box but Mbappe's touch lets him down and the ball runs through to Ryan.
That was pass of the night from Griezmann...
France 4-1 Australia
83: CLOSE! Mbappe so nearly gets another.
Griezmann plays a glorious ball over the top for the France No 10 in the box but Mbappe's touch lets him down and the ball runs through to Ryan.
That was pass of the night from Griezmann...
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2m ago
21:44
How good has this man been tonight?
(Very!)
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4m ago
21:42
France 4-1 Australia
80: YELLOW! Irvine is in the book, finally some would say, for bringing down Fofana on the break.
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7m ago
21:39
France 4-1 Australia
76: SUBS! Some France changes now. Tchouameni and Dembele are replaced by Fofana and Coman.
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10m ago
21:37
France 4-1 Australia
73: SUBS! Australia take off McGree and on comes Garang Kuol, who will be lining up for Newcastle once this tournament is over.
Awer Mabil is on for Goodwin, who trudges off after the referee noticed that Australia had 12 men on the pitch!
This World Cup... eh?
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10m ago
21:36
France 4-1 Australia
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
"A special moment for Giroud - and one he could enjoy after recovering from a whack to the head he got after scoring!
"This man has had his critics in the past but his number speak for themselves.
"Fifty-one goals for France. No one has scored more. Only Thierry Henry has scored as many."
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12m ago
21:34
GOAL! France 4-1 Australia (Giroud, 71)
RECORD-EQUALLING GOAL FOR GIROUD!
France are completely rampant now and they're getting their rewards.
Once again, it's an attack down the France left that Australia just haven't been able to deal with. Mbappe scampers down the wing to stand a cross up for Giroud, who has a simple header.
Giroud is now level on Thierry Henry's all-time goalscoring record for France on 51 goals. Does he have time for one more - and a place in history?
GOAL! France 3-1 Australia (Mbappe, 68)
COULDN'T KEEP HIM QUIET ANY LONGER!
France 2-1 Australia
64: Cummings closes down Lloris with the ball at the France goalkeeper's feet.
The Australia striker nearly pinches his pocket but the France skipper manages to clear just in time.
Lloris, of course, was caught in a similar fashion in his last World Cup game, as Mario Mandzukic scored a consolation in the 2018 final, which France won.
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2m ago
21:26
France 2-1 Australia
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
“Feels like it is a huge effort for Australia to hang in this game, at their absolute limit to contain Mbappe.”
Meet Jason Cummings: Australia's secret weapon!
He's on the pitch for Australia, so let's relive Jason Cummings' eventful time at Hibernian.
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Now21:19
France 2-1 Australia
56: SUB! Duke is now replaced by Jason Cummings after that booking.
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Now21:18
France 2-1 Australia
55: YELLOW! Duke takes a heavy touch and Dembele looks to break for France.
The Australia forward catches the Barcelona man late and that's the first booking of a match which has been a relatively clean so far.
I believe that type of tackle is known as a 'striker's challenge' by some parts of the football community...
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5m ago21:13
France 2-1 Australia
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
"He's got it in his locker!
"Giroud so close to scoring a brilliant scissor kick.
"Theo Hernandez is causing major problems down that left flank."
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5m ago21:13
France 2-1 Australia
50: BICYCLE KICK! Theo Hernandez starts this half where he left the last half - bursting down the left with intent.
The second of two dangerous crosses sees him tee up Giroud in the box.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker produces a bicycle kick but the accuracy does not match the athleticism. The chance falls well wide.
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10m ago21:08
France 2-1 Australia
46: BACK UNDERWAY! Australia get the action back up and running.
No changes for either side.
HTHalf Time
France vs Australia. FIFA World Cup Group D.
7:00pm, Tuesday 22nd November 2022.
2
A Rabiot (27')
O Giroud (32')
1
C Goodwin (9')
1/50
GOAL! France 2-1 Australia (Giroud, 32)
HE SCORES THIS TIME!
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Now
20:32
GOAL! France 2-1 Australia (Giroud, 32)
HE SCORES THIS TIME!
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1m ago
20:30
France 1-1 Australia
29: OVER! Nearly a second for France in similar fashion.
Another corner is worked to Griezmann on the left, who cuts inside and finds Giroud in the box.
The France striker heads wide as his search for a 50th France goal goes on. The flag went up after that chance, it wouldn't have counted anyway.
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2m ago
20:29
France 1-1 Australia
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
"Relief for France!
"Australia have defended well but there's confusion on the second phase and Rabiot is somehow left in loads of room.
"It's a delicious cross from Theo Hernandez - a big impact from the sub. And it's a firm header from the midfielder to shift the mood in this match."
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5m ago
20:27
GOAL! France 1-1 Australia (Rabiot, 27)
JUST LIKE THAT, THE CHAMPIONS PUNISH YOU!
Griezmann's corner is cleared and France work it out to Theo Hernandez on the left.
The left-back takes one look at clips the ball into the box where there's Rabiot to head home from close range.
Question marks about Australia's marking there now. There were three France attackers queuing up to head that home.
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5m ago
20:26
France 0-1 Australia
26: OVER! First real dangerous chance from France as Griezmann gets some space in the box but his effort from inside the box is deflected over.
France 0-1 Australia
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
“That is a quality goal. Australia had started well even allowing for the obvious threat of Mbappe. No hint of a press from France, Giroud even looking behind him and urging his team-mates to get up in support. They have paid for a lethargic start."
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Now
20:12
France 0-1 Australia
10: Hernandez is still down on the ground after picking up the knock while competing with Leckie for that opener.
His right knee seems to buckle as Leckie wriggled past him.
France have already lost Pogba, Kante, Kimpembe, Nkunku and Benzema in the run-up to this tournament. Are they about to lose another key man?
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1m ago
20:11
France 0-1 Australia
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
"First Saudi Arabia. Now Australia?!
"It's a superb goal from the underdogs. A wonderful crossfield pass. A piece of skill out wide on the right which has left Hernandez down and injured.
"And then the clinical finish into the roof of the net. What a moment for Goodwin. What a moment for Australia!
"Expect the unexpected!"
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3m ago
20:09
GOAL! France 0-1 Australia (Goodwin, 9)
THEY'RE MORE THAN SETTLED ALRIGHT!
It's a well-worked move down the right and Souttar finds Leckie on the right.
He jinks past Hernandez who goes down injured. Leckie rolls the ball across the France penalty area where there's Goodwin at the back post to finish high into the net. Lloris had no chance!
Where was the France defence?
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3m ago
20:08
France 0-0 Australia
8: Australia are a bit more settled now, hanging onto the ball and trying to force France out to find gaps in midfield and defence.
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5m ago
20:07
France 0-0 Australia
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
"The game - and stadium - comes to life whenever Mbappe receives the ball out wide on the left.
"Immediately he's looking to use his pace and trickery to get round the outside of Australia's defence and then cut inside.
"A box office talent."
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8m ago
20:04
France 0-0 Australia
3: WIDE! First real shot of the game falls to Australia!
McGree finds some space inbetween Dembele and Griezmann and drives at the France backline.
The Middlesbrough man lets fly from distance but drags his shot wide.
Warning for the world champions...
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10m ago
20:02
France 0-0 Australia
1: Early France pressure as Dembele gets down the right and crosses to the back post for Mbappe.
The France No 10 puts in his own delivery but Australia pass the first test to concede a corner.
The referee has a word with players competing in the box, keep your hands down
Konate and Giroud start for France
The surprising news for France is that Ibrahima Konate starts at centre-back ahead of Arsenal's William Saliba.
Liverpool defender Konate was a surprise call-up by Didier Deschamps and goes straight into the starting XI and partners Dayot Upamecano at the back.
There's a start for 36-year-old Olivier Giroud in attack after Karim Benzema had to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
Ousmane Dembele starts alongside Giroud in an attacking front four which contains Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
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51m ago18:55
Australia team news
Australia team to play France: Ryan; Behich, Rowels, Souttar, Atkinson; Irvine, Mooy, McGree; Goodwin, Duke, Leckie.
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51m ago18:54
France team news
France team to play Australia: Lloris; Pavard, Upamecano, Konaté, Lucas Hernandez; Rabiot, Tchouaméni; Mbappé, Griezmann, Dembélé; Giroud.
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55m ago18:51
How the Group D table looks
That goalless draw between Denmark and Tunisia means whoever picks up a win in this game will be in complete control of the group and within one more win of qualifying for the
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