AUSSIES DO US PROUD
THE Socceroos have suffered World Cup heartbreak in Kazan, beaten 2-1 by France and twice the victim of football’s use of technology.
Going a goal behind after the intervention of the video referee earned France a penalty, Australia fought its way back to level the scores through a spotkick of their own by Mile Jedinak.
Just as it seemed Australia’s heroic performance would deliver a huge World Cup surprise, a cruel deflection gifted France the winner.
That the goal was given thanks to goal line technology confirming Paul Pogba’s effort had just bounced inside the Socceroos’ goal.
It means that for Australia to progress it will almost certainly have to beat one of Denmark or Peru and draw with the other, but its performance deserved so much more.
There were clearly nerves to start with and France was quick to manufacture early chances.
But if anything, those French incursions settled the Australian side. Small spells of possession lowered the heart rates of those in green and gold, and gave them an in- creasing foothold in the match as the first half progressed.
For a moment it looked like the Socceroos might have the audacity to take the halftime lead, or rather have it handed to them.
Aaron Mooy’s freekick from the left was flicked on, and then diverted goalward by Corentin Tolisso, only for Hugo Lloris to produce a fine save from his own man.
This was the closed-up, compact display that Bert van Marwijk had preached for weeks. As Trent Sainsbury and Mark Milligan grew in stature, France was bewilderingly happy to let them play little tri- angles of possession in their own half.
Then on 55 minutes came the moment that threatened to break Australian hearts. With a moment of brilliance, Ngolo Kante beat Mooy in the centre circle and released Griezmann towards the box.
As Josh Risdon desperately slid in to tackle, Griezmann went down — his appeals were at first unheeded, until the VAR persuaded referee Andres Cunha to review the decision.
With the benefit of a replay it was clear that Risdon had missed the ball and clipped Griezmann. The striker him- self drove home the resultant penalty.
But Australia had a penalty of its own just moments later. Mooy’s freekick to the far post was well flighted, enough for France’s Samuel Umtiti to deflect it clear with his arm.
From the resultant penalty, Jedinak levelled the scores.
As the clock ticked down, France grew more desperate but the gold shirts held firm.
Cruelly, though, fate was to intervene. As Pogba and Behich challenged for a loose ball in the box, it deflected up and over Ryan, bouncing over the line and the decider was confirmed by goal line technology.