France vs. Australia
Group C, Kazan Arena, Kazan
Socceroos are foul-happy
In an apparent attempt to slow the game down, Australia committed nine fouls in the first 26-plus minutes of Saturday’s match. France was whistled for three fouls in the same span.
Huge save by Lloris
Australia had the first great chance of the match in the 17th minute, when Mathew Leckie headed Aaron Mooy’s free kick into the box toward the net. Leckie’s header deflected off of France defender Corentin Tolisso for a near own goal, but Hugo Lloris kept the game scoreless with a diving save as Australia’s Trent Sainsbury closed in for a potential rebound at the back post.
Yellow card to Mathew Leckie
Australia midfielder Mathew Leckie was issued a yellow card in the 13th minute after an aggressive slide tackle on France’s Lucas Hernandez.
Ryan remains busy
A foul by Australia’s Mark Milligan led to a free kick from Paul Pogba, which was on the mark, but saved by Socceroos goalie Mathew Ryan in the fifth minute. Ryan was forced to make a save a couple minutes later on another free kick from outside the box. Les Bleus are dominating possession thus far.
An early chance for France
France’s Kylian Mbappe, 19, the second-youngest player in the tournament, drilled a shot from an impossible angle in the second minute that Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan punched away with ease.
Starting lineups
Pregame thoughts
France boasts one of the younger squads in Russia, with an average age of 26, but big things are expected of Les Bleus, the favorites to finish atop Group C. Led by manager Didier Deschamps, France is looking to build on its trip to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2014 and its runner-up finish at the 2016 European Championship. Australia, which claimed one of the final two World Cup berths with two-leg playoff wins over Syria and Honduras, is 1-2-1 all-time against France. The teams’ most recent meeting was a 6-0 drubbing by Les Bleus in 2013. The Socceroos have advanced out of the group stage one time, in 2006.
When: Saturday, June 16, 6 a.m. Eastern.
How to watch on TV: FS1.
How to stream online: Fox Sports and the Fox Soccer Match Pass apps and FoxSportsGo.com.
How to watch in Spanish: Telemundo.
How to watch in Canada: Bell Media’s TSN and CTV networks, the TSN GO app and TSN.ca/live.
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Team profiles
France
- Last World Cup showing: Quarterfinals, 2014.
- Best finish: Champion, 1998.
- Notable: Les Bleus won their group in 2014, but are only 3-4-5 in the group stage over their last four World Cup appearances.
- FIFA world ranking: 7. ELO world ranking: 4.
Australia
- Last World Cup showing: Group stage, 2014.
- Best finish: Round of 16, 2006.
- Notable: Bert van Marwijk, who led the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final, was named the Socceroos’ interim coach in January.
- FIFA world ranking: 36. ELO world ranking: 32.
Players to watch
Australia’s Tim Cahill could join Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose as the only players to score goals at four World Cups. The 38-year-old forward, who will most likely be used as a substitute, has five of the Socceroos’ 11 World Cup goals all-time. For France, keep an eye on Antoine Griezmann. Amid reports that he was being courted by Barcelona, the 27-year-old forward recently announced he would sign a new contract to remain with Atletico Madrid during a 45-minute TV special reminiscent of LeBron James’s 2010 announcement that he was “taking his talents to South Beach.”
What’s next
France: vs. Peru in Yekaterinburg, June 21.
Australia: vs. Denmark in Samara, June 21.
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