Defending Champions, France off to a dream start in Qatar but had to do it the hard way following a come from behind win over Australia at the Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar.
Goals from record equaling Olivier Giroud, a goal and an assist each for Kylian Mbappé and Adrien Rabiot while Theo Hernandez and Ousmane Dembele also registered assist each as France put four past Australia despite going behind early.
The Aussies took a shock lead in the ninth minutes after Matthew Leckie did brilliantly well to beat Lucas Hernandez, who got injured in the process, before teeing up Craig Godwin for a simple finish.
Lucas was then replaced with his brother, Theo and just before the half hour mark, the substitute sends a cross into the box following a cleared corner and it was met with the head of Adrien Rabiot to restore parity for the two time world Champions.
Adrien Rabiot was again at the heart of things five minutes later as France completed the comeback. The Juventus midfielder pressed the Aussies from the goal kick and his resistance paid off.
He was able to rob a defender of possession before playing a one-two with Kylian Mbappé and setting up Olivier Giroud for his first FIFA World Cup goal, since 2014.
Kylian Mbappé gave the French a two goal cushion after the hour mark, heading home a cross from Ousmane Dembele to take the game beyond their Oceanian opponent.
From a Kylian Mbappé’s assist, Olivier Giroud scored his second just three minutes later, equaling Thierry Henry’s tally of 51 goals and being joint all-time top scorer for the France National Team to make it 4-1.
France sealed a come from behind but convincing win to go top of group D, ahead of Tunisia and Denmark, who played out a goalless draw earlier in the day.
They also in the process become the first defending Champions of the competition since Brazil in 2006, to win their first match of the following edition and look on course to break the defending Champions jinx of group elimination.
Up next for Didier Deschamps’ side is Denmark on Saturday, while Austrialia faces Tunisia in a make or break clash earlier on the same day.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
