Match Report
Australia has gone down 4-1 to defending champions France in its opening game of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ at the Al Janoub Stadium on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
The Socceroos toiled and took a shock lead through Craig Goodwin but from there it was virtually one-way traffic with France’s undeniable quality evident for all to see.
Olivier Giroud scored a brace while Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappe were also on target for Les Bleus.
Graham Arnold named a strong starting line-up for the opening group clash. Captain Mat Ryan was in goal with a back-four in front of him containing three FIFA World Cup debutants in Nathaniel Atkinson, Kye Rowles and Harry Souttar, as well as the experienced Aziz Behich.
Aaron Mooy and Jackson Irvine protected the defence in a double pivot with Riley McGree operating as the number 10. In attack, Mitch Duke was flanked by Goodwin and Mathew Leckie.
The Socceroos made the perfect start inside nine minutes to put the French behind, something the reigning champions have not experienced at this major tournament since 2014.
Souttar’s sweeping pass was controlled by Leckie and the winger whipped a low cross to the far post which Goodwin emphatically finished into the top corner for his second goal for his country.
That goal was the Socceroos’ fastest at a FIFA World Cup and first in open play since Tim Cahill’s volley against the Netherlands in 2014.
