Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1529150334

France vs Australia LIVE World Cup 2018: Latest score, goals and updates from Kazan

Follow all the latest news from the first Group C match in Russia

Nathan Jacobs
Saturday 16 June 2018 12:56 BST
Comments
World Cup Opening Ceremony

France carry a huge expectation to win big in Group C and they kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia.

Les Bleus are on a mission since losing the Euro 2016 on home soil to Portugal, but Didier Deschamps squad is expected to breeze through their group against Peru, Denmark and the Socceroos. With all four teams looking rich in talent, France needs to be extra wary if they intend to qualify to the final 16. France right-back Djibril Sidibe is still suffering from a knee injury, so it looks like Benjamin Pavard is set to start in his place.

Australia could drop Mile Jedinak but head coach Bert van Marwijk might play Massimo Luongo in central midfield.

Both teams are looking strong, but France will have to battle it out for a win.

Follow all the live action below…


Please allow a moment for the blog to load…

What time is kick-off?

France vs Australia kicks off at 11am BST.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be shown on the BBC.

Odds

France: 1/4

Australia: 9/1

Draw: 11/2

Prediction

France 3-1 Australia.

France have a real chance of winning this game and their group if they keep it together. But they will have to fight for it as no doubt Australia will bring everything they have to the table.

But who do you think will win? Let us know by voting above.

1529143233

KICK OFF: Australia get us underway and immediately knock the ball out of play. 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:00
1529143368

2 min: France already get in behind Australia as Mbappe runs on to a slide-rule pass, testing Mathew Ryan at his near post. 

Australia played a record 22 matches to get here - leggy perhaps?

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:02
1529143494

4 min: Pogba lines up a free-kick 25 yards from goal but Ryan makes a very comfortable save. 

Positive start from Les Bleus, mind. 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:04
1529143625

6 min: Ryan's been tested for the third time in six minutes as the ball pops to Griezmann just outside the box who forces the goalkeeper to make a fairly routine save. 

Still, it's another save and another moment for France. 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:07
1529143803

9 min: Australia get the ball down for the first time in this game and the string of passes is royally (and somewhat sarcastically) cheered by the 10,000 strong Socceroos fans here today. 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:10
1529143992

12 min: First chance for Australia to test France but Mooy's free-kick is glanced high, over and out into safety. 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:13
1529144033

13 min: Straight down the other end, Leckie is the first player into the book and Griezmann's free-kick is headed behind by Mooy for a corner... 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:13
1529144061

14 min: But it comes to nothing.

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:14
1529144268

17 min: CLOSE! Better from Australia who have come the closest to opening the scores here as Mooy's free-kick is flicked on and Lloris makes a late diving save to clear the danger. 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:17
1529144352

18 min: Just to confirm, the flick was from Bayern Munich's Corentin Tolisso so it would have been an own-goal. 

Australia are growing into this game a bit. 

Nathan Jacobs16 June 2018 11:19

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in