Leckie and co narrowly miss out on holding France

Mathew Leckie and Australia came within ten minutes of holding pre-tournament favourites France to a draw in their opening World Cup game in Kazan, after a late goal saw them lose 2-1.

Berlin/Kazan – Mathew Leckie and Australia put in a dogged performance in their World Cup 2018 debut by pushng highly-fancied France all the way in their first Group C game. The Socceroos had the best chance of the first half, but went behind after the break thanks to an Antione Griezmann penalty – the first ever to be awarded at a World Cup thanks to VAR.

The team from Down Under responded with a spot kick of their own a few minutes later, scored by Mile Jedinak.

But Paul Pogba won it for Les Bleues late on, as an attempted clearance cannoned off the midfielder and dropped just over the line.

“We can be proud of our efforts today, we would have deserved a point against one of the best teams in the world. It obviously hurts to lose to a goal such as that,” said coach Bert van Marwijk.

The Australian side held their own against a very strong French team for long periods and Leckie, who was booked early on, was part of the Socceroos’ best attacks. The 27-year-old then had to be careful not to pick up another yellow card after the break.

They now face a crucial game on Thursday with Denmark if they want to keep their chances of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the second time in six attempts alive.

Berlin/Kazan – Mathew Leckie and Australia put in a dogged performance in their World Cup 2018 debut by pushng highly-fancied France all the way in their first Group C game.

The Socceroos had the best chance of the first half, but went behind after the break thanks to an Antione Griezmann penalty – the first ever to be awarded at a World Cup thanks to VAR.

The team from Down Under responded with a spot kick of their own a few minutes later, scored by Mile Jedinak.

But Paul Pogba won it for Les Bleues late on, as an attempted clearance cannoned off the midfielder and dropped just over the line.
“We can be proud of our efforts today, we would have deserved a point against one of the best teams in the world. It obviously hurts to lose to a goal such as that,” said coach Bert van Marwijk.

The Australian side held their own against a very strong French team for long periods and Leckie, who was booked early on, was part of the Socceroos’ best attacks. The 27-year-old then had to be careful not to pick up another yellow card after the break.

They now face a crucial game on Thursday with Denmark if they want to keep their chances of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the second time in six attempts alive.