DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Olivier Giroud joined Thierry Henry as France’s all-time leading goalscorer with a brace as the holders roared back to beat Australia, 4-1, and get their defense of the World Cup off to a flying start.
Australia took a shock lead at Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar with the game just nine minutes old when Craig Goodwin scored.
France, whose buildup to the tournament was marred by injuries, saw left-back Lucas Hernandez come off hurt in the move that led to the goal.
However, they recovered to equalize through Adrien Rabiot before Giroud put them ahead with an easy finish in the 32nd minute for his 50th international goal.
Kylian Mbappe got his name on the scoresheet in the second half and Giroud sealed the win to equal Henry’s record tally of 51 goals for France.
The win leaves them top of Group D after Denmark and Tunisia drew 0-0.
“It is nice to score four goals, even if we could have had more, and it’s a really good start for us,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.
At the age of 36, veteran AC Milan striker Giroud, who has 115 caps, is the oldest player to score for France at a World Cup.
Yet, he almost certainly would not have been playing here had Karim Benzema been fit.
Instead, the withdrawal of the Ballon d’Or winner with a thigh injury on the eve of the tournament has played into the hands of Giroud, who was a key player for Deschamps in France’s triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign but didn’t score in Russia.
“He deserves respect for performing at the very highest level for so many years and delivering even when nobody seemed to believe in him,” teammate Benjamin Pavard said.
“I am so pleased for him because he is a great guy. I hope he keeps going and beats more records.”
It is not just Benzema who is missing for Les Bleus, with Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante — their starting midfield duo four years ago — out of the tournament.
Center-back Raphael Varane was not risked having not played since suffering a leg injury playing for Manchester United a month ago.
That meant Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate — with nine caps between them — played together in central defence while Rabiot joined Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
Australia stunned the world champion by scoring an early opener.
Mathew Leckie controlled the ball on the right and escaped Lucas Hernandez before delivering a low ball across the face of goal for Goodwin to finish into the roof of the net.
Hernandez hurt his right knee trying to stop Leckie, and the Bayern Munich defender was helped off to be taken for tests, with his brother Theo coming on.
The younger Hernandez did not have the best introduction, giving the ball away and allowing Mitch Duke to hit a shot from range that flew just wide.
Yet, he played a part in the 27th-minute equalizer — Antoine Griezmann’s right-wing corner was cleared but the ball came to Hernandez on the left and his cross was headed in by Rabiot.
Five minutes later Rabiot was involved again as France went ahead, hounding Nathaniel Atkinson out of possession on the French left and playing a one-two with Mbappe before teeing up Giroud.
A Jackson Irvine 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.
Griezmann had a shot cleared off the line just before Mbappe made it 3-1 midway through the second half, as he headed in off a post from Ousmane Dembele’s cross.
Mbappe then turned provider as France got their fourth in the 71st minute, crossing for Giroud to head in a historic goal.
After all the injuries, and after seeing what happened to Argentina earlier, this was a good evening for France but a sobering one for the Socceroos.
