France 2-1 Australia LIVE! Giroud goal – World Cup 2022 match stream, latest score and updates today

France vs Australia – LIVE!

The defending World Cup champions get their bid to win again in 2022 underway tonight as France face Australia in Qatar. It has been a far from ideal build-up for Les Bleus but the talking stops here as they kick off their Group D campaign following Denmark’s draw with Tunisia earlier on this afternoon.

France are huge favourites for this game, as well as being many people’s pick to lift the trophy for a third time. Even with N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Christopher Nkunku and, of course, Karim Benzema absent, Didier Deschamps still has Kylian Mbappe to lead his line against a side ranked 38th in the world along with Olivier Giroud.

Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah hosts tonight’s match under its retractable roof with Australia hoping to pull off a major upset, though without injured Hibernian star Martin Boyle. The majority of Graham Arnold’s Socceroos side ply their trade in the A-League and up in Scotland, with exciting teenager Garang Kuol on his way to Newcastle. Follow France vs Australia live below, with expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at the ground.

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11 attempts from France in that first half, but only two on target.

Mbappe and Dembele were electric at times, but too many efforts from off-balance players or overstruck shots missing the target.

If they can tighten things up on that front, they should pull clear after the break.

Lloris had nothing to do after Goodwin’s well-taken opener, but he was almost beaten by that Irvine header.

PA 1669147146 Half-time

France 2-1 Australia

A thoroughly enjoyable first half in Al Wakrah draws to a close after another hefty chunk of injury time, in line with Fifa’s directive for this tournament.

Quick-fire goals from Rabiot and Giroud have Les Bleus in the ascendancy after Goodwin’s shock early opener, though Irvine hitting the post before the interval showed that the Socceroos are far from out of this Group D contest.

Lucas Hernandez’s injury another key fitness concern for Deschamps.

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51 mins: France want a third before half-time, but Atkinson stands up to Mbappe and makes a well-timed challenge to dispossess the Les Bleus talisman.

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47 mins: Woodwork!

A reminder for France not to get too comfortable despite their lead and dominance as Irvine rises to meet McGree’s cross and his header bounces back off the post.

That would have been a huge shot in the arm for the Socceroos before the interval.

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45 mins: Six minutes of added time signalled at the end of this first half.

Mostly for Lucas Hernandez’s injury, I would have thought…

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44 mins: Australia are completely passive now, 11 men behind the ball as they strive to make it in at half-time only 2-1 behind.

France are patient as they probe for another opening, with a lofted ball from the back releasing Griezmann, who takes a great touch before picking out Mbappe with an inventive pass.

A huge chance for France’s superstar, but he blazes over! That should have been 3-1.

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42 mins: Mooy and Rowles look like a video game glitch as they try frantically to keep pace inside the box with Dembele and Mbappe, who are combining to brilliant effect now.

The duo tee up Griezmann, whose low drive whistles narrowly past the near post.

1669146270 Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

France are in the groove now. Mbappe and Dembele started out very wide as conventional wingers but the pair of them are popping up all over the place, linking with Griezmann.

Aaron Mooy had the early run of the game in midfield but Adrien Rabiot has taken charge now.

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39 mins: Hernandez charges forward again for France and slides the ball through to Mbappe, whose enticing pass into the box is hooked off-target by the stretching Dembele.

Pavard was arriving behind and perhaps better-placed to pull the trigger.