Australia coach Bert van Marwijk said his gutsy team should count themselves just plain unlucky to have gone down 2-1 to France in their World Cup opener on Saturday and can look forward with confidence to their remaining Group C matches. The Socceroos looked transformed from the team that laboured through a long qualifying campaign and two playoffs just to get to Russia as they competed manfully with one of the pre-tournament favourites at the Kazan Arena.
An Antoine Griezmann penalty awarded after reference to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and a late, deflected Paul Pogba strike secured the win for France, with Mile Jedinak having converted a spot-kick for the men in green and gold.
“They beat us with us such a lucky goal,” said the Dutchman.
“I was disappointed. But I think we can be proud of the way we played against one of the best teams in the world.
“Nobody had expected that we could play like this against France,” he added. “I think there were a lot of moments they didn’t know what to do any more …” After a nervous start where the pace of the French forwards looked like overwhelming the Australia defence, the Socceroos worked their way back into the contest and had the best chance to score before halftime.
The second half was a battle of equals and ultimately decided by the narrowest of margins, Josh Risdon’s trailing foot catching Griezmann for the penalty and Pogba’s shot deflected onto the crossbar and landing centimetres over the line.