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As for France, there will be concerns about the volume of cheap turnovers at the base of midfield. The better teams will have punished them in transition in this part.
Deschamps will also have to wonder about his luck after losing another starter to injury when Lucas Hernandez limped off early.
Australia could still end up on the wrong side of a hide but I think Graham Arnold deserves credit for how he set up his side. The talent disparity between the two teams is immense, but for the first quarter they were evenly matched on the pitch and tactically the Socceroos took the lead. The decision to start Goodwin paid dividends and the structure was solid.
“What a great play in the build up to this goal by Bill…Leckie Bill. I tried it four years ago but it hasn’t really stuck,” emails Sean Boiling. “Let’s go again.”
God loves a trier, but Leckie’s bills are no laughing matter right now, Sean.
The good: France often putting the ball at the feet of Mbappe and Demebele in wide areas. They look so dangerous so quickly with both capable of going outside or inside, using Griezmann as a foil.
The bad: Australia ran out of gas after a bright start, highlighted by Atkinson getting caught in possession for France’s second goal.
Middle: France – Australia 2-1
Australia started well and threatened to do a Saudi Arabia with an early goal, but France did not panic, took control, and the defenders of the defense already have it on the field and on the scoreboard.
45+1 mins: Now Australia have hit the post! A rare attack builds down the left, Goodwin whips in a cross, Irvine gets on well at the far post and his header across Lloris glances off the post and behind.
45 min: Sacred blue! Mbappé has to score, but it ends. A long diagonal unleashes Griezmann in the inside right channel. His ball into the box is excellent, but Mbappe chooses not to head a ball at an awkward height, instead carving out a gilt-edged chance.
Kylian Mbappe only has the goalkeeper to beat, but misses completely. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters
Updated at 19.51 GMT
44 min: France forces turnovers at will in midfield. Mooy simply has nowhere to go when he gets the ball and looks up. Arnold needs a Plan B after the break.
42 minutes: Now it’s all France. Mbappe on the left, Dembele on the right and Griezmann in the middle. They all link up to put Griezmann on the edge of the area but he drags his effort to the left. They need more chances to find the boot (or head) of Giroud.
38 mins: The Socceroos finally get the ball after ten minutes or so of French dominance. Unlike the early stages though there is no ambition with the wide men maintaining their defensive shape rather than charging forward. France is happy to bide her time and enjoy the extra counter space. In the blink of an eye they go coast to coast and Mbappé has time and space to pick out striker Demebele on the penalty spot, but his effort goes wide. I should have done better.
35 mins: France are patient on the edge of the box with all the blue shirts looking for Griezmann to unlock the lock. A good move takes momentum with Griezmann slicing into the tight spaces, but just as the shooting opportunity opens up, the Atlético machinist takes the ball out of Giroud’s boot. The latter gets a shot opportunity soon after, but his half-volley goes wide after Demebele sprints past Behich on the right. Avenues opening everywhere for the reigning champions.
33 mins: France have turned the screw in the last five minutes or so with Griezmann increasingly influential in midfield. Australia are falling further and further and those long spells of possession early in the game now seem like a distant memory.
Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele celebrate after France take the lead. Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 19.38 GMT
GOAL! France – Australia 2-1 (Giroud, 30)
Disaster for Australia, joy for Giroud. The Socceroos try to play from the back, Atkinson’s first touch is the league on Sunday, Rabiot picks up the pocket and rolls the ball across goal for Giroud to tap into an empty net.
Olivier Giroud puts France in front. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Updated at 19.37 GMT
29 min: Another France header almost goes in, this time it’s Giroud who looks wide after going in on the shoulder of the last defender.
28 mins: France scoring with a header from a set piece probably wasn’t in the script, but Hernández did well with his delivery and Rabiot went for it.
Adrien Rabiot after beating Matt Ryan. Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 19.33 GMT
GOAL! France – Australia 1-1 (Rabiot, 27)
This time down the right from France, but Dembele can’t get past Goodwin. The ball returns to the speedy Barcelona player and this time he looks inside for Griezmann who forces a corner. The set-piece fails to clear the first defender but the ball lands at Hernandez’s feet and his second ball is curled superbly for Rabiot to climb and nod beyond Ryan.
Adrien Rabiot nods in the equalizer for Les Bleaus. Photo: Molly Darlington/Reuters
Updated at 19.32 GMT
26 mins: Even when Mbappe gets behind his man, Atkinson, there is cover on Souttar’s massive frame.
24 mins: Mbappe is still France’s attacking outlet, but this time Leckie returns and Atkinson makes the interception. This has been an outstanding display so far from the Socceroos. Disciplined, hardworking and full of confidence.
22 mins: Duke pulls one over from distance after Rabiot coughs up cheap possession again in his own half, but Al Rihla whistles over Lloris’ left hand. It was a fierce snapshot. France does not purr.
20 mins: France look threatening with rondo 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 ancient reducer on Tchouameni, which is a delight to watch undulating play. That was a bone crusher.
18 min: France find an outlet down the left again, this time Hernandez, 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 goal in midfield, Australia jump, force the balance, win a free-kick and settle the game again. Rabiot is at fault again, this time to bring down the charging Behich down the left.
The Socceroos look extremely composed and mature so far.
14 mins: Mbappe puts the ball back on the left but despite his usual threat, there’s been no end product with Australia managing to push the French away when they get into the box.
@JPHowcroft takes your advice “Good luck keeping up with Dembele and Mbappé on the break”, is it specifically aimed at Giroud? Buckle up and keep dragging Olivier!
— Neil McGwyre (@neilmcgwyre) November 22, 2022
13 mins: Back in goal, it was a brilliant long pass from Souttar, excellent control and skill from Leckie, then the winger’s dream cross. Goodwin’s finish was decisive and clearly the result of a pre-planned routine. All in all, excellent football.
12 min: Lucas Hernandez is replaced by brother Theo as Mbappe breaks again down the left. Australia take charge of the resulting corner.
11 mins: To add insult to injury, France’s injury curse has struck again! Hernandez appears to have made a big mischief, landing awkwardly as Leckie crossed him before the goal. He limps off the pitch with the help of physios, but that doesn’t look good at all.
10 minutes: Is it the opposite day?
GOAL! France – Australia 0-1 (Goodwin, 9)
what was he saying This route is a long diagonal from Souttar to Leckie from left to right. On the touchline, the Melbourne City winger brings the ball down superbly, slips past Hernandez and curls a perfect cross across the six-yard line for opposite wing Goodwin to reach and hit the roof of The net. What a start!
Craig Goodwin fires the Socceroos into the lead! Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images The perfect start for Australia. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 19.18 GMT
8 mins: France are happy to sit back and defend at half-block, giving Australia’s defense and Mooy plenty of time to add to their passing and finishing stats. The Socceroos are comfortable with this holding pattern, but they don’t seem to have a clear idea of the route to goal.
6 mins: That is until Mbappe clears Atkinson on the left. The first Tasmanian to appear at a World Cup isn’t giving up though, he has enough green and gold support to smuggle the ball through.
Updated at 19.07 GMT
5 mins: Australia have settled nicely, winning a number of second balls and looking composed recycling possession through Mooy. Lack of incision is inevitable, but good signs nonetheless.
4 mins: Australia have a feel for the ball but are a bit congested in midfield and McGree tries a snap from 35m that drags horribly. Good pressure gets the ball back upfield but Goodwin can’t get away down the left.
2 min: France on top from the start. They enjoy 45 seconds of possession before Australia get a touch, and that includes Dembele picking off Behich down the right and cutting in a cross from which Mbappe wins a corner. The set piece is thrown dangerously but the Socceroos clear. Ominous start for the French.
Ousmane Dembele has his shot turned away early. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
Updated at 19.07 GMT
Start!
Here we go, the reigning champions are on their way.
“Let’s get down to business” blares over the loudspeakers as the players huddle. This is the real sound of Qatar, isn’t it?
Anthem time. France already with the early advantage.
Here they come, out of the tunnel, France in their tricolor uniform of…