France vs. Australia 2018 World Cup: Paul Pogba’s late goal gives France a 2-1 win (2024)

After a scoreless first 57 minutes, the two sides traded penalty- goals four minutes apart. France’s Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring in the 58th minute by burying a penalty kick after the video-assistant referee (VAR) replay system determined that Australia’s Josh Risdon had fouled Griezmann in the box.

Mile Jedinak scored the equalizer for Australia after France’s Samuel Umtiti was called for a handball in the box. It marked the first time since 2002 that two teams converted penalty kicks in the same World Cup match.

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What’s next

France:vs. Peru in Yekaterinburg, June 21.

Australia:vs.Denmark in Samara, June 21.

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In-game updates

Full time

Australia played well enough to at least earn a point, but despite a late push during stoppage time, theSocceroos failed to get the equalizer. France held on for a 2-1 win and the three points that come with it.

Australia substitution: Arzani for Kruse

Daniel Arzani, the youngest player in this year’s World Cup, came on for Robbie Kruse in the 84th minute. Trailing 2-1, the Socceroos need a spark.

Goal!

Paul Pogba gave France a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute by poking a ball in the box over the outstretched arms of Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, off the bottom of the crossbar and just over the goal line.

Yellow card to Tolisso, and then a substitution

France’s Corentin Tolisso was issued a yellow card in the 76th minute after taking down Tomi Juric to prevent a four-on-three opportunity for the Socceroos. Moments later, France Manager Didier Deschamps used his third and finalsubstitution to insert Blaise Matuidi for Tolisso.

Substitutions for both sides

Tomi Juric replaced Andre Nabbout for Australia in the 64th minute. Olivier Giroud replaced Antoine Griezmann and Nabil Fekir replaced Ousmane Dembele for France in the 70th minute. A couple of minutes later, Jackson Irvine replaced Tomas Rogic for Australia, leaving both sides with one substitution.

Goal!

Mile Jedinak pulled Australia even in the 62nd minute with a goal on a penalty kick after France’sSamuel Umtiti was called for a handball in the box upon video review. After a scoreless first 57 minutes, we’ve hadtwo goals in the last 240 seconds. This is the first World Cup game in which both teams converted a penalty kick since Senegal and Uruguay played to a 3-3 tie during the 2002 group stage.

Goal!

In the 58th minute, Antoine Griezmann gave France a 1-0 lead by burying a penalty kick into the right corner of the net. Thepenalty kick cameafter the video-assistant referee (VAR) replay system determined that Australia’s Josh Risdon fouled Griezmann in the box on what was initially ruled a clean defensive play by the on-field referee. Risdon was retroactively issued a yellow card on the play, the first VAR decision in World Cup history.

Foul-fest continues

There were four more whistles in the first three minutes of the second half. Lucas Hernandez, who has been on the receiving end of several fouls already, took an arm to the face from Australia’s Mathew Leckie as both players jumped for the ball. While Hernandez pounded the turf in pain, Leckie, who was issued a yellow card in the first half, was allowed to remain in the game.

Halftime update

The Socceroos aren’t making things easy for the heavily favored French. While Les Bleus have a 5-3 advantage in shots at halftime, the best chance of the first 45-plus minutes belonged to Australia. France has a slight edge in possession, but was sloppy with the ball in a scoreless first half. All four of France’s shots on goal came in the first eight minutes.

Boos for Hernandez

Australia’s fans are booing France’s Lucas Hernandez every time he touches the ball after the French defender appeared to embellish a foul on Andrew Nabbout, perhaps hoping to draw a yellow card, late in the first half.

Socceroos are foul-happy

In an apparent attempt to slow the game down, Australia committed nine fouls in the first 26-plus minutes of Saturday’s match. France was whistled for three fouls in the same span.

Huge save by Lloris

Australia had the first great chance of the match in the 17th minute, when Mathew Leckie headed Aaron Mooy’s free kick into the box toward the net. Leckie’s header deflected off of France defender Corentin Tolisso for a near own goal, but Hugo Lloris kept the game scoreless with a diving save as Australia’s Trent Sainsbury closed in for a potential rebound at the back post.

Yellow card to Mathew Leckie

Australia midfielder Mathew Leckie was issued a yellow card in the 13th minute afteran aggressive slide tackle on France’s Lucas Hernandez.

Ryanremains busy

A foul by Australia’s Mark Milligan led to a free kick from Paul Pogba, which was on the mark, but saved by Socceroos goalie Mathew Ryan in the fifthminute. Ryan was forced to make a save a couple minutes later on another free kick from outside the box. Les Bleus are dominating possession thus far.

An early chance for France

France’s Kylian Mbappe, 19, the second-youngest player in the tournament, drilled a shot from an impossible angle in the second minute that Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan punched away with ease.

Starting lineups

Team profiles

France

Australia

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