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Kylian Mbappé-led France hammers Australia in FIFA World Cup opener in Qatar — as it happened

Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud starred up front as defending world champions France took down the Socceroos 4-1 in their Group D World Cup opener in Qatar.

See how it played out in our live coverage.

Key events

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Live updates

See you soon

By Dan Colasimone

It's a sad morning for Socceroos fans, but the World Cup rolls on.

Here's what's coming up tonight (all times AEDT):

  • 9pm: Morocco vs Croatia
  • 12am: Germany vs Japan
  • 3am: Spain vs Costa Rica
  • 6am: Belgium vs Canada

The blog will be back in the morning. See you then.

What's next for the Socceroos?

By Dan Colasimone

Two games to save our World Cup.

The minus 3 goal difference hurts - but all the Socceroos can do now is get the best results possible from the next two games. Times are AEDT.

  • 9pm Saturday Nov 26: Tunisia vs Australia
  • 2am Thursday Dec 1: Australia vs Denmark

Group D table

By Dan Colasimone

Work to do for the Socceroos

Goodwin joins the honour roll

By Dan Colasimone

Update

By Dan Colasimone

I feel it is better if the reporters and the media generally wind down their expectations and predictions before the matches, and putting less pressure on the team and not providing false hopes for the audience. Then the result has more chance to be a positive surprise. It's a frequent problem in Aussie sport coverage, which with time will be overcome...

- Jan

I'm not sure that many in the media were tipping the Socceroos to beat France, to be fair.

The approach from the media will be interesting in the lead up to the Tunisia game on Saturday night. Two things are true:

  • It's our most winnable game - and we need to win to have a chance of going through
  • Tunisia are the favourites to beat us

Goalscorer Goodwin has mixed emotions

By Dan Colasimone

Here's Craig Goodwin:

"Mixed emotions, because in the end we lose the game.

"An incredibly proud moment, to score was an amazing feeling."

The goal, he says, was "pure elation".

"Scoring any goal is a joy, but to score at a World Cup against the reigning champions is a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life.

"But we've got two more games and we've got to do the best we can.

"It's a really short turnaround and we've to go prepare for the game against Tunisia."

'They're the world champions for a reason'

By Dan Colasimone

Here's coach Graham Arnold on that loss:

"They're a quality side. They're the world champions for a reason.

"The fist half we did well, the second half we ran out of legs a little bit.

He says the team will be ready to face Tunisia next.

"We'll pick the boys up for sure. "

Ugly scenes in Federation Square

By Dan Colasimone

Unfortunately some France fans were targetted with bottles.

FULL-TIME: France 4 - 1 Australia

By Dan Colasimone

Key Event

A humbling loss for Australia against a VERY classy French outfit.

The Socceroos did well for portions of this match, most notably in the early stages - resulting in Goodwin's goal - but it also felt like France always had another gear.

The scoreline feels about right for the balance of the game. It could have been better, but it also could have been worse for the Socceroos. Minus 3 in the for/against column isn't ideal, but Denmark and Tunisia still have to play France as well.

Mooy gets booked late

By Dan Colasimone

90+5'

The match has fizzled out a bit, so hopefully that yellow doesn't come back to haunt Mooy in later games.

Australia hanging on for a 4-1 loss here.

Another chance for France

By Dan Colasimone

90' France 4 - 1 Australia

Marcus Thuram almost scores a header from a corner straight after coming on. It's saved on the line by Ryan.

The Socceroos will be hoping this isn't one of those epic periods of extra time.

7 minutes - that's fairly stressful.

Another header on target from France, this time Hernandez hits it straight at Ryan.

France tapping it around

By Dan Colasimone

84' France 4 - 1 Australia

They don't look in any rush to add to their goal tally - but at the same time it doesn't seem like it'd take much of a tempo lift for them to have the Aussies in trouble again.

Degenek and Baccus come on for Australia for Irvine and Atkinson.

Free kick for Australia

By Dan Colasimone

78' France 4 - 1 Australia

Good little passing combination from Australia and France commit the foul.

It's in a good spot for Mooy, just outside the box to the right. His cross is well dealth with though and the Socceroos are back to building from defence.

Irvine gets a yellow card after lots of niggly fouls.

Awer Mabil and Garang Kuol come on for their World Cup debuts

By Dan Colasimone

McGree and Goodwin go off. Great opportunity for these next-gen players to show what they can do, despite the tough match situation.

Giroud again! It's 4-1 France

By Dan Colasimone

Key Event

This is getting ugly for the Socceroos now.

Mbappé absolutely skinned Atkinson down the left before his cross landed perfectly on the head of Giroud - who becomes France's equal all-time leading scorer.

That goal really illustrating the gulf in class between these two sides - the defenders seemed helpless to stop it.

GOAL FRANCE! It's 3-1 to the world champs

By Dan Colasimone

Key Event

That was coming.

Griezmann almost scored moments earlier, but Mbappé gets his goal, leaping high to nod in a header from a cross from the right.

The Socceroos really were under the pump there, with France's attackers lurking in the box and just waiting for that right ball.

Tough period to close the game now.

Australia doing OK here

By Dan Colasimone

59' France 2 - 1 Australia

France are not looking too worried, but the Socceroos have generally done well in this second half. They are enjoying some possession and creating the odd attacking threat. France, of course, will be relaxed with the current scoreline and happy to go in for the kill when the opportunity presents itself.

But if they Socceroos can stay within one goal until the final 10 minutes, it'll make the French nervous.

And France almost get that third goal after a one-two on the edge of the box. Mbappé's shot is just smothered.

Cumdog warming up

By Dan Colasimone

55' France 2 - 1 Australia

Jason Cummings that is. That will excite fans of the cult figure.

Good period of possession for Australia, though, working the ball across the park.

But it ends in Duke hacking down Dembele and earning a yellow card.

And here he is, replacing Duke. Can he pull a Cahill or Aloisi here?

Giroud almost scores a screamer

By Dan Colasimone

50' France 2 - 1 Australia

The handsome Frenchman almost scores a beautiful goal, but his bicycle kick bounces wide. It came after a positive period for France, on the back of good work from Theo Hernandez down the left.

Update

Audience comment

Wow I can’t believe Australia are still in the game

- Tyrone

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