Australia first to fall to VAR in brave loss to France
A brave performance from the Socceroos took the gloss off of France but was not enough to snare an upset win over the World Cup contenders after succumbing to an unlucky 2-1 defeat in their opening match of the tournament.
While the Socceroos performed a short guard of honour to the Australian fans who remained on their feet in applause in Kazan, the French players could not head down the tunnel quick enough after escaping with a fortuitous win.
Had it not been for the introduction of two pieces of technology, the Socceroos' may well have sealed one of the shock results of their World Cup history after having the Video Assistant Referee and goal line technology undermine their display.
Australia became the first country to fall victim to the VAR in the tournament's history after video replays came to the assistance of Les Bleus to award Antoine Griezman a second half penalty - initially waved away.
As the form guide suggested, Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan was the Socceroos' busiest man in the opening stanzas. Before the match clock hit double digits Australia's number one had already been tested four times but in each of those, he stood firm.
Kylian Mbappe was the first to ask a question of Ryan with a near post shot in the second minute before Paul Pogba's powerful free-kick stung the palms of the Brighton shot stopper minutes later.
Griezmann was next to try his luck from distance but found no way past Ryan who had to react well to keep a deflected Mbappe free kick from being turned in by Australia's Matt Leckie, thereafter.
After surviving the early onslaught, the Socceroos grew in confidence. They had to withstand lengthy spells caged within their own half without possession, but were stoic in their defensive shell that limited the ever-present threat of France's star-studded attack.
Australia's labour was almost rewarded with a major slice of fortune. From an Aaron Mooy free kick, France's Corentin Tolisso deflected the ball towards the bottom corner of his own net and, had it not been for a decisive and immediate save from his goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the Socceroos would have snatched an early lead.
That moment was only a respite from the normal order of the half, with France retaining the lions share of possession and territory but with no fortune in breaking past Australia's last line of defence. Much of that was to do with three classy interventions from Trent Sainsbury.
Come the sound of half-time, it was France breathing sighs of relief. A late chance for Aziz Behich from the edge of the box sent a nervous tingle down the spine of Les Blues as Australia threatened to steal a shock lead.
That relief became audible nine minutes after the restart when France were gifted a breakthrough.
The three letters that largely tarnished the last A-League season undid all of Australia's excellent work as the VAR came to the rescue of France.
Josh Risdon appeared to have won a challenge with Greizmann inside the box only for replays to show the fullback clipped the ankle of the Atletico striker.
After referee Andres Cunha reviewed the footage, France were awarded a spot kick and from 11 yards Griezmann made no mistake, rattling the inside of the net with a composed finish.
It was a moment that should have deflated the Australians but in the face of a squad worth over $1 billion, they took no backwards step. From Australia's next attack, fortune favoured the brave.
Barcelona defender Samuel Umtitti carelessly handled Risdon's cross inside the box and after a long hard think and deafening protests from the Australians, Cunha pointed to the spot.
Seemingly out of the calculations less than 24 hours before, Jedinak stepped to the spot to take the responsibility of stunning the World Cup contenders. With a hushed silence sweeping across the Kazan Arena, Australia's captain stared down Lloris and with a calm finish sent fans into rapture in the 62nd minute.
However, the boil over didn't come. Courtesy of a major deflection, France regained their lead.
Pogba's shot ricocheted off the boot of Aziz Behich to loop over Mat Ryan and with the buzzing on the watch of Cunha, the goal line technology confirmed it ever so slightly went in.
The introduction of Daniel Arzani kept the momentum alive of Australia's search for a point but the French nervously hung on to avoid what would have been an embarrassing result.