France v Australia - As it happened.
Join us for live updates of the opening Group C clash between France and Australia at the Kazan Arena.
List of goalscorers
Match report in news
End of match
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95'FT: France 2 - 1 Australia! After a very physical and tight battle, 'Les Bleus' secure all three points thanks to the controversial Paul Pogba who has certainly silenced his critics for a while. France now top Group C ahead of Peru and Denmark's clash later today.
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90'Five minutes added on to finish the half. Can the Aussies muster an equaliser? It doesn't look likely..
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89'Hernandez is down again, he has certainly been in the wars today against a very physical Aussie side.
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86'Behich goes into the book for pulling back Fekir. France free-kick just outside the area.
Substitution
at Australia
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84'The Aussies make their final change. Kruse off, Arzani on. Let's see if the wonderkid can grab an important equaliser.
Own goal
de Australia en el 80'
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80'GOAL!!! FRANCE!! Pogba tries an ambitious toe-poke from the edge of the box which goes over Ryan and clips off the crossbar to bounce past the goal-line and give 'Les Bleus' their second goal!!
Substitution
at Francia
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78'That was Tolisso's last action of the game as he is subsequently replaced by Matuidi.
Yellow card
a Francia
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76'Tolisso is booked for an intentionally late foul on Leckie. Frustrations are becoming very obvious in the French camp...
Substitution
at Australia
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71'Australia too make a substitution. Rogic off, Irvine on.
Substitution
at Francia
Substitution
at Francia
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70'Speaking of the devil, France make a double attacking change: Griezmann and Dembele off, Giroud and Fekir on.
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68'Australia nearly shoot themselves in the foot with a sloppy backpass but Ryan is quick off his line to deny Mbappe.
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67'That was an action-packed 10 minutes but the scores are still level and France must change things soon before the Aussies capitalise.
Substitution
at Australia
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64'The 'Socceroos' make their first change: Nabbout off, Juric on. It's an offensive substitution as the Aussies sense a chance to snatch victory.
Goaaaaal from a penalty!
de Australia en el 62'
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Statistics of M. Jedinak in Mundial320.67010
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62'GOAL!! AUSTRALIA!! Jedinak is renowed for his penalty skills and the midfielder didn't disappoint, coolly sending Lloris the wrong way before slotting it to his right. 1-1!!
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60'AUSTRALIA HAVE A PENALTY! A floated ball into the box hits Umtiti's hand which was high above his head. There's no doubt about that one!
Goaaaaal from a penalty!
de Francia en el 58'
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Statistics of A. Griezmann in Mundial740.57200
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58'GOAL!! FRANCE!! Griezmann steps up and emphatically hits the spot-kick to the right and finds the back of the net. Ryan had no chance of saving that. 1-0!!
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56'Rogic is booked for his challenge on Griezmann.
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54'FRANCE APPEAL FOR A PENALTY! Pogba splits open Australia's defence with a beautiful through ball to put Griezmann on goal, who is then taken out by Rogic. The referee initially waves play on but after VAR review, the decision is given. France penalty!
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53'Australia dart down the right wing and a cut-back is cut out well by Umtiti who importantly gets to the ball before Nabbout and can clear the danger. Definitely some warning signs for 'Les Bleus' early on...
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51'Giroud has gone to warm up for France and this game is certainly crying out for his presence up top.
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48'Australia are continuing with their physical approach and it's Hernandez that comes off worse in an aerial battle but the French defender is okay to continue.
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46'France get the second half underway! No changes for either side.
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45'HT: France 0 - 0 Australia! Well it certainly hasn't gone the way many predicted. After an early 'Bleus' onslaught, the 'Socceroos' have fought back hard and this game is now finely poised for the second half! It's goalless at the break.
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44'CLOSE!! Mooy tries to work the ball into the box but it gets cut out and comes rolling back his way. With his first-touch, the midfielder curls a wonderful strike at goal which flies inches over the crossbar!
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43'BRILLIANT! A floated ball meant for Griezmann is spectacularly cut out by a high out-stretched leg from Sainsbury. You don't get better defending than that!
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39'Nabbout goes in hard on Hernandez and receives stern words from the referee. Australia have certainly been very physical this half.
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33'Sainsbury cuts out a dangerous drilled shot across the box to give France a corner. Dembele hits the set-piece straight into Ryan's hands.
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32'Australia are controlling the tempo of this match and Didier Deschamps will not be happy in his technical area at the moment.
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31'A ball over-the-top finds Griezmann in the box but Australia are quick to close him down and the change goes abegging.
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28'That's exactly what the 'Socceroos' do but Lloris is alert and jumps high to catch the free-kick.
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28'Australia have a free-kick 35 yards out on the right. Great chance to float the ball in.
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24'Australia are playing very physically and France are finding it difficult to build momentum at the moment.
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21'Dembele goes down on the left wing claiming a body-check but the referee is having none of it.
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18'That chance would have given France a bit of a scare. You cannot take anything for granted in the World Cup.
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17'CLOSE!! From a free-kick, Australia float the ball into the box, Leckie flicks it on to Sainsbury but Tolisso gets a touch and Lloris is forced to dive low to prevent an own goal!!
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14'It's an inviting delivery from Griezmann, forcing Mooy to head out for a France corner.
Yellow card
a Australia
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13'Leckie receives the first booking for a late challenge on Hernandez. France have a free-kick 30 yards out.
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12'It's fired in but Sainsbury cannot jump above the French defenders to direct his header on target. Definitely more positive from the 'Socceroos'.
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11'Pavard commits a foul to give Australia a good opportunity just out on the left.
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10'Australia are finally starting to see a bit more of the ball and enjoy an encouraging spell of possession. They need to do something to stop the French onslaught.
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8'It's curled in by Pogba, inviting Griezmann to flick it on with his head but the striker's touch is too weak and Ryan catches.
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7'Another silly foul gifts France a free-kick just off to the left 25 yards out.
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6'A loose ball finds Griezmann 25 yards out who drills a low shot at Ryan. The Aussie keeper is alert and comfortably latches on.
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4'Pogba steps up and hits a decent free-kick at goal. It's a bit too straight and is an easy catch for Ryan who has been tested twice early on.
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3'Milligan catches Mbappe late and gives France a free-kick 25 yards from the centre.
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2'Mbappe runs onto a through ball in the box and forces a good early save from Ryan. France corner.
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1'Australia get the match underway!
Start of match
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PRVWThe players are gathering in the tunnel. Just the national anthems to go and we can get on with the football.
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PRVWThe atmosphere at the Kazan Arena is certainly electric in what should be a great match to kick start the World Cup day.
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PRVWIf Daniel Arzani comes off the bench for Australia, we will see the World Cup's two youngest stars in action. Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe is the well-known other and he starts for France.
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PRVWWarm-ups are underway at the Kazan Arena. 25 minutes to go until kick-off!
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PRVWFrance's starting XI is the youngest for the country at a World Cup since 1930, boasting an average age of just 24 years and 6 months. Don't let that fool you, it's still a very scary side to face.
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PRVWA mix up in the team news suggested Varane was overlooked to Kimpembe but that isn't the case and the Real Madrid man will take his place in France's starting XI. Olivier Giroud, however, will have to settle for a substitute appearance after France decide against risking him so soon after that nasty head injury.
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PRVWFrance: Lloris (c); Umtiti, Varane, Hernandez, Pavard; Kante, Pogba, Tolisso; Dembele, Mbappe, Griezmann.
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PRVWThe 'Socceroos' opt for a 4-3-3 with Kruse, Nabbout and Leckie leading the attack. Jedinak and Mooy, two very accurate penalty takes, line up in midfield.
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PRVWAustralia: Ryan; Ridson, Milligan, Sainsbury, Behich; Jedinak (c), Mooy; Kruse, Leckie, Rogic; Nabbout.
Pre-match
16 June 2018, 12:00
Referee: Andrés Cunha
Stadium: Ak Bars Arena
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PRVWHello and welcome to the Group C clash between France and Australia. 'Les Bleus' are seen as one of the favourites for the tournament but can the 'Socceroos' spring a surprise today?