The game started brightly for the French side as they started to dominate and create chances from the get-go as Mbappe and Dembele were causing problems for the Aussie’s but then no one could’ve predicted what would happen next.
Souttar played a nice crossfield pass to Leckie who controlled it nicely and took it past Lucas Hernandez who fell down onto the turf then he fizzed a low cross to the far post where Craig Goodwin smashed it home into the top of the next to send the Australian fans into pandemonium and give his side a shock lead against the world cup champions. The Aussie’s were feeling more confident as they were almost close to a second goal as Duke’s effort was just wide of the post. The French team needed to wake up or it was going to be an embarrassing result but luckily, they did as a few minutes later they drew level as Theo Hernandez swung a cross in for Adrien Rabiot to plant the header past Matt Ryan that was needed for them as they were lacking a bit in confidence. Then they found more confidence as soon later they found a second goal as Giroud peels his marker to smash the ball into the empty net from the Rabiot cutback and he goes just1 behind Henry as France’s record goal scorer. It was almost 3-1 as Griezmann creates some space and feeds in Mbappe but his touch whizzed over the crossbar.
Half time and it was a decent half by both sides, but France have been absolutely dominating and you can see in the score line it’s still an even game and Australia aren’t out of it yet but it’s going to take a lot of hard work to beat the world champions especially when they are in this mood but you never know as the aussies have shocked us before in this game and they could do the same again.
Second half starts and the French side are dominating but the aussies are using the counter attack well as they instantly force a corner to start the second half. Theo Hernandez was causing all sort of problems coming on and it was showing as The French side kept dominating and working the ball into the box, but no chances were getting taken yet. Then soon later the French side finally found the third goal they deserve as Dembele does well and floats the ball back into the box for Mbappe to score and get the goal he finally deserves today and surely that sealed the win for the world champions. If the game wasn’t sealed, then it was surely sealed now as Mbappe crosses it from the left wing for Giroud to header it in for his second of the game and France’s 4th. It was an important goal as that goal was the one to tie him with Henry as France’s record goal scorer. France kept dominating and the aussies where nowhere to be seen it ended 4-1 and it was a comfortable win for the world champions.
Man of the Match: Dayot Upamecano
It was a really good game for the centre back as he won everything today and his calmness on the ball showed throughout today as he completed the most passes today with 114 and he completed 8 accurate long balls. He was a warrior today and it showed as he won all his ground duals and completed almost all his ariel duals it was a stellar performance from him, and those sorts of performances will keep his starting place as France have so much depth in the centre back position so if he keeps playing like that, he’s more likely to start.
Flop of the match: Riley Mcgree
It wasn’t a great game for the Middlesborough man as he barely took control in the middle of the park. He was also dispossessed a few times and only created one chance in seventy-three minutes which is not good enough for someone who plays in the middle of the park, and he only won one of his six ground duals when he was on the pitch which is also not good enough for someone like him and he will have to play so much better as he could do well for his side he just needs to improve his game a bit more.
The stats don’t come to no one’s surprise as France totally dominated in every area of the pitch and their opponents barely had a touch of the ball the whole game and it was as expected that the result showed the same thing as it was a deserved win for the French team as they showed quality and fight to beat their opponents today and they will take that into their next game where they can hopefully show their quality.
Luke's Football blog 