Giroud, Mbappe help France defeat Australia 4-1 in Group D match
Reigning champions score victory in Group D match at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar
Al Wakrah, Qatar: Olivier Giroud's brace and a stunning goal from Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappe guided reigning champions France to register victory over Australia by 4-1 in the Group D match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar.
Craig Goodwin put Australia ahead in the first 10 minutes of the match as he scored a stunning goal.
However, goals from Adrien Rabiot and Olivier Giroud gave France the lead before halftime, and Kylian Mbappe emerged as the game's standout player in the second half. He scored the third goal and provided Giroud with the perfect cross to score the fourth.
Injuries to France players in the lead-up to Australia's goal, including Lucas Hernandez, may have given France the impression that everything were working against them.
France's Hernandez sustains 'pretty serious' knee injury
Al Wakrah, Qatar: Lucas Hernandez's World Cup campaign appeared in doubt after the France defender sustained a knee injury in the defending champions' 4-1 win over Australia in Group D on Tuesday. "He needs to do some tests but it seems pretty serious. That's the big black spot tonight," said coach Didier Deschamps. Hernandez limped off the pitch after staying on the grass for a couple of minutes holding his knee after being beaten to the ball by Mathew Leckie, who delivered the cross for Craig Goodwin's opening goal for Australia. France lead Group D with three points, two ahead of Tunisia and Denmark, who played out a goalless draw on Tuesday.
After quickly pulling his nation level with a goal, the superb midfielder changed roles, latching onto Mbappe's lovely flick to set up Giroud. For his 50th international goal, the seasoned striker only needed to put the ball in the goal.
With 51 goals for the men's national team, Giroud, 36, has now tied Thierry Henry for the most goals scored in France's history. The amazing Mbappe will undoubtedly surpass it one day.
Mbappe, however, took control in the second half and tormented the defence as France looked to increase their lead. Antoine Griezmann's attempt was blocked by a defender, but Mbappe was unstoppable and headed in Ousmane Dembele's right-wing cross off the post.
France will continue their title defence against Denmark on Saturday while Australia play Tunisia earlier that day.
France 'too big, too strong, too fast': Australia coach
Australia coach Graham Arnold admitted his side found France just too much to handle after the Socceroos lost 4-1 to the reigning champions in their opening game at the World Cup on Tuesday.
"At the end of the day the quality of the French team," Arnold said when asked to explain Australia's defeat in the Group D encounter at Al Janoub Stadium. "They are the previous world champions for a reason. I thought we started the game very well but physically they were just so much bigger and faster and stronger than us today.
"Overall the boys did everything they could and that's all I can ask."
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