Going into the first Group C match, many expected France to walk all over the 'Socceroos' and in the opening stages it looked like that prediction could come to fruition.
Aussie goalkeeper Matt Ryan was forced into action in the first minute to deny Kylian Mbappe and then shortly after to stop a Paul Pogba free-kick.
However, Didier Deschamp's extremely youthful side couldn't take advantage of their early pressure and it allowed Australia to gain a foothold in the half.
So much so that their opposition nearly took a shock lead just before the 20-minute mark. From a free-kick, the ball was floated into the box which Matt Leckie flicked into further danger, aiming for team-mate Trent Sainsbury.
However, Corentin Tolisso got the touch instead and Hugo Lloris had to get down low to prevent an own goal and a deficit for his offensive players to overturn.
The chance was certainly the turning point in the half with France failing to deal with the physicality of Australia, a trait striker Olivier Giroud would have relished if he wasn't sat on the substitute bench.
It gave Deschamps food for thought when the two sides went in goalless at the break but he made no changes before the restart, putting faith in his youngsters to get the job done.
It was a risky strategy that looked to have paid off when France were awarded a penalty following a VAR review.
Pogba had split open Australia's defence with a beautiful through ball to put Antoine Griezmann on goal, who was then taken out by Tom Rogic. The referee initially waved play on but his decision was overturned by the video assistant system for the first time in a World Cup.
Griezmann stepped up to take the spot-kick and emphatically found the back of the net with a strong strike that left Ryan with no hope of saving.
However, the drama was only beginning when Australia immediately went down the other end and won themselves a penalty after Samuel Umtiti foolishly handled the ball in the box.
Mile Jedinak, renowed for his spot-kick ability, was their obvious choice and the midfielder lived up to his reputation, coolly sending Lloris the wrong way before slotting it to his right to equalise for the 'Socceroos'.
With the scores level, the game was crying out for someone to do something special and fortunately for France that was Paul Pogba, alongside a stroke of much-needed luck.
Lifting a toe-poke shot over Matt Ryan, the midfielder was fortunate that it dropped the right side of the goal-line after clipping the crossbar, sending France back into the lead.
It was very tight with replays showing there was a matter of milimetres in it but the goal stood and it would prove crucial for 'Les Bleus' as they secured a 2-1 victory in Kazan.
The defeat will come as a bitter blow for the Aussies who put in a brilliant display that will no doubt breed confidence going into their next clashes against Denmark and Peru.
For France though, they successfully negotiated a tricky fixture to top Group C and will now face Peu on Thursday.