Enlarge image
PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé was directly involved in two goals against Australia
Photo:
JEWEL SAMAD / AFP
France's national soccer team won the first game at the World Cup in Qatar despite falling behind.
The defending champions won 4-1 (2-1) against Australia with goals from Adrien Rabiot (27th minute), Olivier Giroud (32nd, 71st) and Kylian Mbappé (68th).
Earlier, Craig Goodwin had given the Australians the lead (9th).
In Group D, the French take the lead from Denmark and Tunisia, who drew goalless in the afternoon.
On Saturday, France will play Denmark (5 p.m.) and Tunisia will play Australia (11 a.m.).
The outsider benefited from an injury to France left-back Lucas Hernández, who misjudged his attempt to stop Mathew Leckie and went down to get the opener.
Leckie sent a sharp cross from the right to the far post, where Craig Goodwin made it 1-0 for Australia (9').
Hernández was down and required treatment before being substituted, apparently with a knee injury.
The Bayern pro is the next absentee in France's already weakened squad, which is already missing top stars Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, Christopher Nkunku and Presnel Kimpembe.
His younger brother Theo Hernández came into play for him (13th).
France switches up
After falling behind, the French picked up the pace, mainly down the left flank with superstar Mbappé.
Australia's Mitchell Duke had the next chance with a dangerous long-range shot that just missed the right angle, but France dominated the game and equalized through Rabiot, who headed in a Hernández cross to make it 1-1 (27'). .
Five minutes later, the Australians lost the ball in their own penalty area, Mbappé played the heel to Rabiot, who crossed it to Giroud.
The 36-year-old only had to push in and the game was turned (32nd).
It continued: Mbappé served Ousmane Dembélé, who lost his balance at the end of about eleven meters (40th), Antoine Griezmann just missed the 3-1 with a low shot (42nd).
Shortly before the break, Griezmann prepared a supposedly safe hit for Mbappé with a half-high cross.
The attacker from Paris Saint-Germain shot over the goal from five meters (45th).
As powerful as the French seemed in this phase, they almost conceded the equalizer when Jackson Irvine from FC St. Pauli headed against the post (45 + 2).
The dynamics of the game hardly changed in the second half.
France remained stronger, Giroud provided a special highlight with an acrobatic side kick, which went just wide of the goal (50th).
Griezmann's shot in the 67th minute would have landed, but Australia's Aziz Behich saved on the goal line.
With a header after a Dembélé cross, Mbappé finally scored the third goal for the French (68th).
Giroud even made it 4-1 (71st).
mrk
