France 4-1 Australia LIVE! World Cup 2022 result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today

France vs Australia - LIVE!

The holders are up and running at the 2022 World Cup after recovering from an early scare to brush aside Australia in Al Wakrah. Les Bleus were stunned by Craig Goodwin’s opener inside 10 minutes in their Group D curtain-raiser at Al Janoub Stadium, but hit back confidently through Adrien Rabiot and Olivier Giroud before half-time.

The Socceroos dug in to make a game of it after the break, but France’s vast quality eventually told as superstar Kylian Mbappe nodded in before teeing up Giroud for an important second. The AC Milan striker’s 51st senior international goal drew him level with Arsenal icon Thierry Henry as France’s leading scorer of all-time, showing he is a more than adequate deputy for injured Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.

France take early control of Group D, with Denmark and Tunisia having played out an entertaining stalemate earlier after late VAR drama in Al Rayyan. Follow France vs Australia reaction live below, with expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at the ground.

France vs Australia updates

• GOAL! Giroud matches Henry record with header

• GOAL! Mbappe nods in for 3-1 advantage

• GOAL! Giroud taps home 50th for France

• GOAL! Rabiot heads in equaliser from Hernandez cross

• Lucas Hernandez adds to French injury woe

• GOAL! Goodwin gives Socceroos shock early lead

France 4 - 1 Australia

France up and running after early scare

21:20 , George Flood

An emphatic start to France’s latest World Cup title defence.

Despite Lucas Hernandez adding to their injury woe and falling behind to that shock opener, they refused to go the way of Argentina and hit back with menace.

Very wasteful at times, but you can’t argue with a 4-1 victory to kick off the group stage, thank to two quick-fire bursts in both halfs.

Mbappe excellent and Giroud proving he can fill Benzema’s shoes, matching Thierry Henry as his country’s leading scorer of all time.

Full-time

21:03 , George Flood

France 4-1 Australia

20:59 , George Flood

93 mins: Mbappe is still trying to get his second here, but it just won’t fall inside the box.

Mooy gets a late yellow for a foolish challenge on Hernandez, who doesn’t want to join his older brother in the treatment room.

20:56 , George Flood

90 mins: The marathon injury-time run continues!

4-1 down and well beaten, the Socceroos will have to negotiate another seven minutes here.

20:55 , George Flood

88 mins: An ovation for Giroud as he’s replaced by Marcus Thuram, with Pavard also making way for Kounde.

Almost a fifth goal for France as Ryan makes a good save to keep out Konate’s towering header.

20:50 , George Flood

84 mins: Two more changes from Australia, with Baccus - another of the Socceroos’ Scottish-based cohort up at St Mirren - and Degenek replacing Atkinson and Irvine.

20:48 , George Flood

82 mins: France are not done here, with Giroud hunting a hat-trick and only an uncharacteristically poor touch denying Mbappe a second from close range after a wonderful lofted pass from Griezmann.

Bit surprised Deschamps has kept them both on, to be honest.

France’s next game is against Denmark on Saturday.

20:45 , George Flood

80 mins: Irvine commits another foul and finally has his name taken by referee Victor Gomes.

Upamecano the man brought down this time.

20:43 , George Flood

76 mins: With this victory now firmly secured, Deschamps withdraws both Tchouameni and Dembele.

Coman and Youssouf Fofana enter the fray.

20:42 , George Flood

74 mins: Newcastle-bound teenager Kuol and Mabil are now on for Australia, with McGree and goalscorer Goodwin replaced.

GOAL! France 4-1 Australia | Olivier Giroud 71'

20:35 , George Flood

71 mins: He’s tied Thierry Henry!

Giroud steers home Mbappe’s cross from the byline for goal no51 of his France career, matching the Gunners icon as his country’s leading scorer of all-time.

What an achievement - and you can see how much it means to him. Giroud is mobbed by his team-mates.

Harsh on Australia, but the French quality is really showing now.

Still 20 minutes to go.

GOAL! France 3-1 Australia | Kylian Mbappe 68'

20:32 , George Flood

68 mins: Mbappe certainly deserves that one!

After a scuffed effort, he resets and finds himself in between the two centre-backs as he heads in Dembele’s clever cross off the inside of the post.

Game, set and match?

20:31 , George Flood

67 mins: Off the line by Australia!

A superb clearance after Hernandez had driven to the byline and combined with Mbappe, with Griezmann’s well-struck effort repelled at the last.

Mbappe is in behind again, and still France attack here...

20:30 , George Flood

65 mins: Tchouameni has received some rough treatment tonight and he’s now cut down by Irvine, who is lucky to avoid a booking for his troubles.

Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

20:28 , George Flood

Kylian Mbappe’s set-piece delivery has been pretty ropey this evening. Griezmann trots across and takes a much better corner but it’s headed over by Konate.

20:27 , George Flood

63 mins: After another iffy corner from Mbappe, the next one is for Griezmann and a much better delivery is headed well wide by Liverpool centre-back Konate.

20:26 , George Flood

61 mins: Great football from France and a lovely give-and-go involving Giroud and Mbappe, who is denied by a last-ditch challenge from Atkinson.

20:25 , George Flood

59 mins: Giroud can’t make contact with Rabiot’s flighted cross, with Mbappe and Griezmann then swarmed by gold shirts as they try to fashion another chance on the edge of the box.

Approaching the hour mark in Al Wakrah and there is still just one goal in this Group D contest.

Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

20:23 , George Flood

France have played some tidy football but not quite produced the same incision at the start of this second half.

You’d fancy them to wear Australia down eventually but they won’t want to let this game go deep with just the goal in it.

20:22 , George Flood

55 mins: That proves to be Duke’s last action of the night as he makes way for Edinburgh-born former Nottingham Forest frontman Jason Cummings, earning just his second cap.

20:20 , George Flood

54 mins: The first yellow card of the evening goes to Aussie forward Duke, who loses the ball after a nifty passing move and then tries to make amends by scything down Dembele.

No complaints with that caution.

20:19 , George Flood

52 mins: A couple of rash challenges going in from Australia now, with Irvine’s foul offering Mbappe the chance to deliver a free-kick into the box from a dangerous area.

But it’s a rare mishit from the 23-year-old and opportunity missed.

Activity down in the Australia dugout, with Graham Arnold’s first change imminent.

20:15 , George Flood

50 mins: So close to the record-levelling 51st France goal from Giroud, who just misses the target with a brilliant bicycle kick from Hernandez’s cross.

Hernandez had also got beyond the Socceroos backline with a penetrating run moments before, with pinball in the Australia box after Tchouameni’s long-range drive.

20:13 , George Flood

47 mins: A bright start to this second half from the Socceroos, who put France on the back foot as they force an early corner.

But normal service is quickly resumed as Les Bleus get back on the ball and search for another opening.

Second half

20:11 , George Flood

Back underway in Al Wakrah.

Will France make this a more comfortable scoreline or can Australia fight back?

20:02 , George Flood

11 attempts from France in that first half, but only two on target.

Mbappe and Dembele were electric at times, but too many efforts from off-balance players or overstruck shots missing the target.

If they can tighten things up on that front, they should pull clear after the break.

Lloris had nothing to do after Goodwin’s well-taken opener, but he was almost beaten by that Irvine header.

Half-time

19:56 , George Flood

France 2-1 Australia

A thoroughly enjoyable first half in Al Wakrah draws to a close after another hefty chunk of injury time, in line with Fifa’s directive for this tournament.

Quick-fire goals from Rabiot and Giroud have Les Bleus in the ascendancy after Goodwin’s shock early opener, though Irvine hitting the post before the interval showed that the Socceroos are far from out of this Group D contest.

Lucas Hernandez’s injury another key fitness concern for Deschamps.

19:54 , George Flood

51 mins: France want a third before half-time, but Atkinson stands up to Mbappe and makes a well-timed challenge to dispossess the Les Bleus talisman.

Watch: Irvine strikes post for Socceroos

19:53 , George Flood

19:50 , George Flood

47 mins: Woodwork!

A reminder for France not to get too comfortable despite their lead and dominance as Irvine rises to meet McGree’s cross and his header bounces back off the post.

That would have been a huge shot in the arm for the Socceroos before the interval.

19:49 , George Flood

45 mins: Six minutes of added time signalled at the end of this first half.

Mostly for Lucas Hernandez’s injury, I would have thought...

19:48 , George Flood

44 mins: Australia are completely passive now, 11 men behind the ball as they strive to make it in at half-time only 2-1 behind.

France are patient as they probe for another opening, with a lofted ball from the back releasing Griezmann, who takes a great touch before picking out Mbappe with an inventive pass.

A huge chance for France’s superstar, but he blazes over! That should have been 3-1.

19:45 , George Flood

42 mins: Mooy and Rowles look like a video game glitch as they try frantically to keep pace inside the box with Dembele and Mbappe, who are combining to brilliant effect now.

The duo tee up Griezmann, whose low drive whistles narrowly past the near post.

Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

19:44 , George Flood

France are in the groove now. Mbappe and Dembele started out very wide as conventional wingers but the pair of them are popping up all over the place, linking with Griezmann.

Aaron Mooy had the early run of the game in midfield but Adrien Rabiot has taken charge now.

19:43 , George Flood

39 mins: Hernandez charges forward again for France and slides the ball through to Mbappe, whose enticing pass into the box is hooked off-target by the stretching Dembele.

Pavard was arriving behind and perhaps better-placed to pull the trigger.

Watch: Giroud nets 50th France goal with record in sight

19:41 , George Flood

Watch: Rabiot starts France turnaround

19:41 , George Flood

19:39 , George Flood

36 mins: Australia are reeling here and will be desperate for the half-time whistle.

Dembele sets off down that right flank and finds Mbappe, whose shot crashes into the defender.

Giroud misses the target with the follow-up.

Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

19:38 , George Flood

Looks like they went a bit early, the Aussies. That’s a brilliant France goal, made by that exquisite Mbappe touch and the champions have turned this around before half-time.

GOAL! France 2-1 Australia | Olivier Giroud 32'

19:34 , George Flood

32 mins: Two goals in five minutes from Les Bleus to turn this match around!

Australia get caught in all sorts of bother on that right flank after a heavy touch lets in Rabiot, who gets the ball back after a lovely Mbappe flick.

Rabiot then lays it on a plate for Giroud to tap in his 50th goal for France - one short of Thierry Henry’s all-time record.

19:32 , George Flood

29 mins: France are in complete control now and you feel a second goal is not far away, a leaping Giroud heading wide at the back post with the offside flag raised.

GOAL! France 1-1 Australia | Adrien Rabiot 27’

19:29 , George Flood

27 mins: All square!

The unmarked Rabiot heads Hernandez’s superb cross beyond Ryan after Australia failed to react after clearing an initial French corner.

Major shock averted?

Graham Arnold will be so frustrated, as his side had been defending doggedly and with real industry until that point.

19:26 , George Flood

23 mins: Mbappe already in hero mode a touch here as he weaves his way silkily to the byline, gets past Leckie but can’t repeat the trick against Souttar.

Stoke defender Souttar has been excellent for Australia so far, no mean feat when you consider he only recently returned from a serious knee injury.

19:24 , George Flood

21 mins: Almost two for Australia!

Hernandez gifts Duke possession with a woeful pass and his crisp right-footed effort flashes just past the post with Lloris at full stretch.

What a goal that would have been.

19:23 , George Flood

19 mins: Tchouameni is upended by Irvine and wants a free-kick, but South African referee Victor Gomes rightly waves play on.

The Socceroos not afraid to get stuck in here as they try to protect that shock early advantage.

19:22 , George Flood

17 mins: More flashes of good attacking intent from France, who are dominating possession now as you might expect.

A lot of interchanging among that front four, though they are not quite on the right wavelength at the moment.

Watch: Goodwin fires Australia into shock lead

19:19 , George Flood

19:19 , George Flood

15 mins: France do look very dangerous when they pour forward, but so far this Socceroos defence is coping with the challenge admirably.

Rabiot with a sloppy giveaway in the French engine room.

19:16 , George Flood

13 mins: Theo Hernandez is indeed now on for his brother, who is helped off the pitch in a lot of discomfort.

France’s injury woes deepen.

Mbappe leads their attempts to hit straight back, but another corner comes to nothing.

Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

19:15 , George Flood

That is a top, top finish from Goodwin. It looks simple but think of the time he’s got as that’s coming across - you’d be absolutely bricking it.

Really well controlled into the roof of the net. France’s injury list grows longer, too - looks like Theo Hernandez is going to be on to replace his brother.

GOAL! France 0-1 Australia | Craig Goodwin 9'

19:11 , George Flood

9 mins: The Socceroos take a shock early lead!

It’s a sumptuous raking diagonal pass from Harry Souttar out to Mathew Leckie, who beats Lucas Hernandez, with the French full-back down and badly hurt.

Leckie then plays a terrific ball to the back post, where Goodwin keeps his composure to fire into the roof of the net.

What a day this is turning into at the World Cup. Are France going to go the way of Argentina here?

Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

19:10 , George Flood

This is the first game I’ve been to at this tournament where that hasn’t been at least one team with a really huge following.

Both sides have got small core groups at either end and then various others spattered around the stadium among the neutrals. It’s a bit like being at Fulham.

19:08 , George Flood

5 mins: Plenty of McGree for Australia early on.

But here come France with that searing pace and trickery again, with the classy Mbappe coasting to the byline before being stopped in his tracks by Hearts right-back Nathaniel Atkinson - one of several players in this Socceroos squad who ply their club trade in Scotland.

19:06 , George Flood

3 mins: France force the opening corner of the evening, which is eventually hammered clear.

Australia manage to counter for the first time tonight, with a somewhat fortunate ball into Riley McGree resulting in the Middlesbrough midfielder skewing a low shot well wide of Hugo Lloris’ right-hand post.

19:04 , George Flood

2 mins: Ominous early signs for the Socceroos as the speedy Dembele turns on the jets and causes panic in the backline, sending over a ball for Mbappe.

The PSG superstar twists and turns and unleashes a warning shot that is headed away.

KICK-OFF

19:03 , George Flood

We are underway in the fourth and final game of the day!

Can defending champions France and Kylian Mbappe make a winning start in Group D?

Giroud gets us off and running, with France in their familiar blue shirts, white shorts and red socks.

Australia in gold shirts with green shorts and white socks.

18:56 , George Flood

Here come the teams in Al Wakrah!

They line up for the national anthems, with the always rousing La Marseillaise up first, followed by Advance Australia Fair.

Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium

18:51 , George Flood

Once again, thousands of empty seats around the ground with only ten minutes to go until kick-off. In fairness, at the games I’ve been to so far, bar Qatar’s effective no-show, it’s not hurt the atmosphere much so kudos to the designers of the stadium acoustics.

Andrew Redmayne - Australia’s dancing penalty hero

18:48 , George Flood

Former Arsenal and Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan captains the Socceroos tonight, with deputy Andrew Redmayne on the bench.

You may remember headlines about Redmayne back in June, when he was sent on to replace Ryan and secured Australia’s World Cup berth with some controversial and bizarre penalty antics in a tense AFC/CONMEBOL Intercontinental play-off clash against Peru in Al Rayyan.

He had had not featured in a qualifier previously and was earning just his third senior international cap aged 33, ending up saving Alex Valera’s spot-kick to secure a 5-4 victory and going viral with his dancing, jumping, waving and wiggling across the line.

18:41 , George Flood

Final preparations in Al Wakrah...

France out to banish World Cup curse

18:35 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Malik Ouzia is in position and offers his pre-match thoughts from the Al Janoub Stadium, with France hoping to avoid falling victim to the curse that has mostly plagued defending World Cup champions in the 21st century, as their 2002 cohort will know all too well...

Kuol on Australia bench

18:19 , George Flood

The only alterations from the predicted Australia side we outlined earlier is Hearts centre-back Kye Rowles lining up in defence instead of Sunderland’s Bailey Wright, who is on the bench.

The other slight surprise is no Awer Mabil, who is also among the substitutes as Graham Arnold lines up with Craig Goodwin in attack alongside Matthew Leckie and Mitchell Duke.

Exciting teenager Garang Kuol - who will join high-flying Newcastle from Central Coast Mariners in January - is on the bench.

Giroud deputises for injured Benzema

18:12 , George Flood

So the French team is as was leaked yesterday, with Giroud deputising for Benzema up front as he eyes Thierry Henry’s all-time Les Bleus scoring record.

Raphael Varane has made the bench after injury, where he is joined by Arsenal standout and fellow centre-back William Saliba.

Australia subs

18:10 , George Flood

Vukovic, Redmayne,Baccus, Cummings, Degenek, Deng, Devlin, Hrustic, Karacic, King, Kuol, Mabil, Maclaren, Tilio, Wright

France subs

18:09 , George Flood

Areola, Mandanda, Camavinga, Coman, Disasi, Fofana, Guendouzi, Theo Hernandez, Muani, Kounde, Saliba, Thuram, Varane, Veretout

Australia lineup

17:58 , George Flood

Starting XI: Ryan, Atkinson, Souttar, Rowles, Behich, Mooy, McGree, Irvine, Leckie, Duke, Goodwin

Subs: Vukovic, Redmayne, Baccus, Cummings, Degenek, Deng, Devlin, Hrustic, Karacic, King, Kuol, Mabil, Maclaren, Tilio, Wright

France lineup

17:58 , George Flood

Starting XI: Lloris, Pavard, Upamecano, Konate, Lucas Hernandez, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud

Subs: Areola, Mandanda, Camavinga, Coman, Disasi, Fofana, Guendouzi, Theo Hernandez, Muani, Kounde, Saliba, Thuram, Varane, Veretout

Les Bleus are in the building!

17:50 , Marc Mayo

A big night for France to make a statement as they defend their crown.

The Socceroos mean business

17:44 , Marc Mayo

Who’s tipping our underdogs tonight?

Around the grounds

17:39 , Marc Mayo

It has already been a big day of World Cup action, with just a few minutes left in game three of four.

Robert Lewandowski has missed a penalty in Mexico vs Poland, a game you can follow live here!

France vs Australia follows after...

Head to head record

17:35 , Marc Mayo

Just the lone Confederations Cup victory in 2001 to the Aussies’ name.

France wins: 3

Draws: 1

Australia wins: 1

17:28 , George Flood

A peak inside that French dressing room, with official lineups on the way...

17:25 , George Flood

The atmosphere is already building at the apparently 40,000-capacity Al Janoub Stadium, the future home of Qatari side Al-Wakrah SC which is scheduled to host seven World Cup games including further Australia meetings with Tunisia and Denmark.

The last-16 affair between the winners of Group E and runners-up from Group F will also be held at this venue on December 5.

Former Premier League stalwart and Australia’s most-capped player ever Mark Schwarzer, the Socceroos’ starting goalkeeper for two decades, is on punditry duty for the BBC tonight.

French strength in depth

17:15 , George Flood

If that ‘leaked’ France lineup is indeed correct, then Raphael Varane will be on the bench tonight with manager Didier Deschamps choosing to partner Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate with Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano in central defence, flanked by Benjamin Pavard and Lucas rather than Theo Hernandez.

It’s a very attack-looking side, with Adrien Rabiot and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni providing an impressive double pivot in midfield.

Deschamps has been eager to get away from a front two featuring Mbappe in recent times, so expect him to be roaming menacingly here, there and everywhere behind the central figure of Giroud, interchanging seamlessly with Griezmann and Dembele.

Even with all their injuries, France’s strength in depth at most positions is quite extraordinary.

Giroud eyes French scoring record

17:11 , George Flood

So Olivier Giroud should deputise in Karim Benzema’s absence up top for France tonight, supported ably by superstar Kylian Mbappe and the dangerous LaLiga duo of Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker, now in Italy with AC Milan, has 49 goals in 113 senior caps for Les Bleus and needs just two more to tie Thierry Henry as his country’s all-time top scorer.

Gunners icon and 1998 World Cup winner Henry managed 51 in 123 France games before retiring from international duty in 2010.

Could Giroud even match that mark with an accomplished display in Al Wakrah this evening?

Predicted lineups

17:00 , George Flood

Here is how we envision both sides lining up in Al Wakrah this evening, with the likely French side appearing to be leaked by the press on Monday.

Predicted France XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Pavard, Konate, Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

Predicted Australia XI (4-3-3): Ryan; Atkinson, Wright, Souttar, Behich; Irvine, Mooy, McGree; Leckie, Duke, Mabil

France vs Australia prediction

16:54 , George Flood

Given the quality on display, it would seem foolish to argue against the French.

Still, such is the negative feeling in which they’ve come into the tournament, it would not be much of a surprise to see them struggle.

1-1 draw.

Australia team news

16:53 , George Flood

While France lost Benzema, Australia saw key man Martin Boyle ruled out on the eve of the World Cup, with the Hibernian winger failing to properly recover from a knee issue suffered on club duty back in October.

His place in Graham Arnold’s 26-man tournament squad was taken by Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio.

Mathew Leckie and Craig Goodwin should be competing to take his place in the Socceroos’ starting XI this evening.

France team news

16:47 , George Flood

Defending champions France have been perhaps the World Cup nation most badly hit by injuries in the lead-up to this tournament, losing Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema to a thigh tear on the eve of the tournament.

That came just days after Bundesliga top scorer Christopher Nkunku was lost with a knee ligament tear also suffered in training, while the likes of key midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante and influential defender Presnel Kimpembe had already been ruled out for the duration.

Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane is expected to be fit enough for the bench after a thigh problem.

Where to watch France vs Australia

16:44 , George Flood

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 6:30pm.

Live stream: The BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website will offer a live streaming service online.

Welcome to France vs Australia LIVE coverage!

16:40 , George Flood

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s latest LIVE coverage on a hectic day three of the 2022 World Cup.

We’ve already seen one almighty shock in Qatar this afternoon with Lionel Messi and Argentina falling to Saudi Arabia, could Australia repeat that feat and bring down defending champions France, who have been hampered by injuries in the build-up to their latest title defence?

We get underway in this Group D affair at 7pm GMT, so stay tuned for match build-up, team news, thoughts from both camps and live updates after kick-off, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Malik Ouzia at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.