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47 mins: Cumdog is trending in Australia on Twitter. What a world.
46 mins: The second half begins.
Updated at 20.09 GMT
As for France, there will be concerns about the volume of cheap turnovers at the heart of midfield. The better teams will punish them in transition this half.
Deschamps also has to wonder about his luck after losing another starter to injury when Lucas Hernandez limped off early.
Australia may yet find themselves on the wrong side of hiding, but I think Graham Arnold deserves credit for how he’s built his country. The talent gap between the two teams is huge, but in the first quarter they were evenly matched on the pitch and tactically the Socceroos were ahead. The decision to start Goodwin paid dividends and the structure was solid.
“What a great play in the build-up to that goal from Bill… Lecky Bill. I tried this four years ago, but it didn’t really catch on,” emails Sean Boiling. “Here we go again.”
God love a trier, but Leckie’s accounts are no laughing matter right now, Sean.
The good: France get the ball often at the feet of Mbappe and Demebele in wide areas. They look so dangerous so quickly that they can both go outside or inside using Griezmann as a winger.
The bad: Australia ran out of fuel after a bright start highlighted by Atkinson being caught in possession for France’s second goal.
Half time: France 2-1 Australia
Australia started well and threatened to put Saudi Arabia through with an early goal, but France did not panic, took control and the defending champions now control the pitch and the scoreboard.
45+1 mins: Now Australia hit the post! A rare attack builds up on the left, Goodwin crosses, Irvine gets up well at the far stick and his header back across Lloris glances off the post and back.
45 minutes: Sacré bleu! Mbappe has to score – but is on fire. A long diagonal unleashes Griezmann on the inside right channel. His ball into the box is superb, but Mbappe chooses not to head a ball at an awkward height, instead snipping away a gilt-edged opportunity.
Kylian Mbappe can only beat the goalkeeper but he fails to hit the target. Photo: Matthew Childs/Reuters
Updated at 19.51 GMT
44 mins: France force changes at will in midfield. Mooy just has nowhere to go when he gets on the ball and looks up. Arnold needs a plan B after halftime.
42 mins: It’s all France now. Mbappe on the left, Dembele on the right and Griezmann in the middle. They all connect to put Griezmann on the edge of the box but he drags his left foot wide. They need more opportunities to find the boot (or head) of Giroud.
38 mins: The Socceroos are finally getting possession after about ten minutes of French dominance. Unlike the early phases, however, there is no ambition with the wide men holding their defensive shape rather than pushing forward. France is happy to bide its time and enjoy the extra counter space. In the blink of an eye they go coast to coast and Mbappe has time and space to pick out the onrushing Demebele from the penalty spot but his effort goes wide. He should have done better.
35 mins: France are patient around the edge of the box with all the blue shirts looking for Griezmann to open the lock. A fine move gathers pace with Griezmann sniping in tight spaces, but just as a shooting chance opens up, Atletico’s schemer takes the ball off Giroud’s boot. The latter got a chance to shoot soon after, but his half-volley flew wide after Demebele sprinted past Behic on the right wing. Boulevards are opening everywhere for the defending champions.
33 mins: France have turned the screw in the final five minutes, with Griezmann becoming increasingly influential in midfield. Australia are falling deeper and deeper and those long spells of possession early in the match now seem like a distant memory.
Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele celebrate after France take the lead. Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 19.38 GMT
GOAL! France 2-1 Australia (Giroud, 30)
Disaster for Australia, joy for Giroud. The Socceroos try to play from the back, Atkinson’s first touch is Sunday League, Rabiot picks up his pocket and rolls the ball across the face of goal for Giroud to tap into an empty net.
Olivier Giroud gave France the lead. Photo: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Updated at 19.37 GMT
29 mins: Another France header almost goes in, this time Giroud glances wide after a steal over the shoulder of the last defender.
28 mins: France’s goal with a standard header was probably not in the script, but Hernandez did well with his pass and Rabiot slotted home.
Adrien Rabiot after defeating Matt Ryan. Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 19.33 GMT
GOAL! France 1-1 Australia (Rabiot, 27)
This time to France’s right, but Dembele can’t get past Goodwin. The ball goes back to the Barcelona speedster and this time he looks inside for Griezmann, who takes a corner. The set-piece pass doesn’t clear the first defender, but the ball lands at Hernandez’s feet and his second ball is curled superbly for Rabiot to step onto it and nod it beyond Ryan.
Adrien Rabiot nods in an 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 in the massive frame of Suttar.
24 mins: Mbappe remains France’s attacking outlet but this time Leckie tracks him down and Atkinson makes the save. It was an outstanding display so far from the Socceroos. Disciplined, hardworking and full of faith.
22 mins: Duke fires one in from distance after Rabiot again coughs up cheap possession in his own half, but Al Rilla whistles past Lloris’ left hand upright. It was a cruel snapshot. France does not purr.
20 mins: France look threatening with the rondo in central areas, with Griezmann staging some dazzling spells with Mbappe and Dembele, but the ball breaks Australia’s path. Irvine then executes an old-fashioned reducer on Tchouameni, which is a joy to watch swing. It was a bone crunching machine.
18 mins: France again find a wide opening on the left, this time Hernandez, but as is becoming a pattern, there is no penetration from the byline and Australia get bodies behind the ball.
16 mins: Rabiot concedes a cheap turn in midfield, Australia pounce, force the turn, win a free-kick and decide the game again. Rabiot is again at fault, this time for bringing down the attacking Behić on the left.
The Socceroos have looked remarkably calm and mature so far.
14 mins: Mbappe again picks up the ball at his left foot, but despite his regular threat there was no end product, with Australia managing to push the French away as they entered the box.
@JPHowcroft again for your advice “Good luck keeping up with Dembele and Mbappe on the break.”, is that specifically aimed at Giroud? Dig in and keep mad at Olivier!
— Neil McGwyre (@neilmcgwyre) November 22, 2022
13 mins: Back to the goal, it was a brilliant long pass from Suttar, superb control and skill from Lecky, then a dream cross on the wing. Goodwin’s finish was decisive and clearly the result of a pre-planned routine. Overall excellent football.
12 mins: Lucas Hernandez is replaced by his brother Theo as Mbappe cuts in from the outside on the left again. The resulting corner is eventually cleared by Australia.
11 mins: To add injury to insult, France’s injury curse has struck again! Hernandez appeared to have done himself a serious mischief, landing awkwardly as Leckie went through him on the drive to goal. He limps off the field with the help of the physical therapists, but it doesn’t look good at all.
10 minutes: Is it against the day?
GOAL! France 0-1 Australia (Goodwin, 9)
What was I saying? This route is a long diagonal from Souttar to Leckie from left to right. On the touchline, the Melbourne City flyer brings the ball down superbly, runs past Hernandez and delivers a perfectly teasing cross on the six-yard line for opposite winger Goodwin to reach and smash into the roof of the net. What a start!
Craig Goodwin fires the Socceroos into the lead! Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images The perfect start for Australia. Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 19.18 GMT
8 mins: France are happy to sit back and defend in the middle of the block, giving Australia’s defense and Mooy plenty of time to pad their passing and completion stats. The Socceroos are comfortable in this holding pattern but seem to have no clear idea of the way to goal.
6 mins: That is until Mbappe skins Atkinson down the left. The first Tasmanian to appear at a World Cup is not giving up though and has enough green and gold support to get the ball rolling.
Updated at 19.07 GMT
5 mins: Australia have settled well, winning a series of second balls and looking poised recycling possession through Mooy. Missing a cut is inevitable, but it’s a good sign nonetheless.
4mins: Australia feel the ball but it’s a bit congested in midfield and McGree tries a snap shot from 35 meters out which is dragged horribly wide. A good press wins the ball back high up the pitch but Goodwin can’t clear down the left.
2 mins: France on top from the kick-off. They enjoy 45 seconds of possession before Australia get a touch, and that involves Dembele skinning Behic down the right and crossing, from which Mbappe heads home for a corner. The figure is dangerous, but the Socceroos clean up. Ominous start from the French.
Ousmane Dembele has an early shot blocked. Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
Updated at 19.07 GMT
Kickoff!
There it is, the defending champions are ready.
“Let’s get to work” blares from the loudspeakers as the players huddle. This is the real sound of Qatar, isn’t it?
Anthem time. France…
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