【MATCH DAY】France 4-1 Australia: Olivier Giroud scores record-equalling goal

Reigning champions France recovered from an early Australia goal to win 4-1 as they began their World Cup defence in style in Qatar. On a day that began with one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history, Didier Deschamps' side risked going the same way that Argentina had against Saudi Arabia when Craig Goodwin put Australia ahead inside the first 10 minutes of the match. But goals from Adrien Rabiot and Olivier Giroud put France ahead before half-time and the quality told in the second half with Kylian Mbappe emerging as the star of the show. He scored the third and then set up Giroud for the fourth with a magnificent cross.That goal moved the 36-year-old Giroud level with Thierry Henry as France's all-time record scorer with 51 goals for the men's national team. It is a record the magnificent Mbappe will surely break one day.

Big moments in the game

9 min: Leckie crosses for Goodwin to fire Australia into a shock lead

27 min: Rabiot heads in the equaliser from close range

32 min: Giroud slots home after good work by Rabiot

45 min: Mbappe shins his volleys over when six yards out

45+2 min: Irvine heads against the post with Lloris beaten

67 min: Griezmann’s fierce shot cleared off the line by Behich

68 min: Mbappe heads in off the post to finally get his goal

71 min: Giroud scores his 51st international goal from Mbappe’s cross

Player of the Match - Kylian Mbappe

This was not a faultless performance, not even close to one of his best. Maybe Giroud will take the plaudits on what was a special evening for him as a result of his goals. But the outstanding player on the pitch was quite obviously the extraordinary Mbappe.

He missed from close range in the first half when it looked straightforward for him to score and he miscontrolled from similar range in the second with the goal gaping. But before, in between and after, he ran the Australia defenders ragged. Breathtaking, quite literally.

Even at just 23-years-old, Mbappe has little left to prove. He is a World Cup winner already, of course. But having matched Pele's achievement of scoring in a final as a teenager, he looks well capable of repeating the Brazilian's feat of following up by retaining the trophy.

There are rumours that his relationship with Giroud is not all it might be off the pitch. On it, he appears to have the ideal foil. France have the team to provide him with the platform. He has the talent to seize the stage. Nobody would be shocked if this is his World Cup.

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