Olivier Giroud got included in Thierry Henry France thrashed Australia 4-1 as the holders of France’s all-time leading goalscorer began their defense of the World Cup with a win on Tuesday. Australia took a shock lead at the Al Zanoob Stadium with nine minutes to go when Craig Goodwin scored. France, whose build-up to the tournament was affected by injuries, saw the left-back lucas Hernandez was injured in the move that led to the goal.
However, they managed to equalize Adrien Rabiot Earlier, Giroud put them ahead with a simple finish in the 32nd minute for his 50th international goal.
kilian mbappe The second half put his name on the scoresheet and Giroud sealed the victory to equal Henry’s record of 51 goals for France.
The win took them to the top of Group D after their 0-0 draws against rivals Denmark and Tunisia earlier in Doha.
At 36, veteran AC Milan striker Giroud, who has 115 caps, is the oldest player to score for France at the World Cup.
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yet he almost certainly wouldn’t be playing here Karim Benzema Got fit.
Instead, the Ballon d’Or winner’s return with a thigh injury on the eve of the tournament was handed to Giroud, who was a key player for coach Didier Deschamps in France’s victorious 2018 World Cup campaign, but did not score. In Russia
It’s not just Benzema who is missing with Les Bleus Paul Pogba And ngolo forks – their starting midfield pairing from four years ago – also out of the tournament.
middle back rafael verne He had not been at risk of playing since injuring his foot while playing for Manchester United a month earlier.
This meant that Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate – with nine caps between them – played together in central defense while Rabiot joined Aurélien Tchoumeni in midfield.
hernandez injury blow
Australia surprised the world champions by being the opening opener.
Matthew Leckie controlled the ball to the right and made a run lucas hernandez before delivering a low ball over the face of goal for Goodwin to finish in the roof of the net.
Hernandez injured his right knee while trying to stop Leckie, although there was no contact between the players.
The Bayern Munich defender was helped to arrive by his brother Theo.
Young Hernandez didn’t have the best of introductions, giving the ball away and allowing Mitch Duke to whip a shot from range that went just wide.
Yet he equalized in the 27th minute — antoine griezmannThe right wing corner was cleared but the ball came to Hernandez on the left and his cross was headed by Rabiot.
Five minutes later Rabiot was involved again as France moved forward, picking out Nathaniel Atkinson out of possession on the French left and playing a one-two with Mbappe before teeing-up Giroud.
a jackson irwin A header that hit the post in first-half stoppage time was a reminder that Australia could still threaten, but France ran away with the game after the break.
Midway through the second half, just before Mbappe made it 3-1, Griezmann’s shot went wide of the line as it was going in and out of the post. Ousmane Dembele‘cross.
Mbappé then turned provider as France grabbed their fourth in the 71st minute, to cross for Giroud in the historic goal.
It was a good evening for France after all the injuries and what happened to Argentina earlier.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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