VAR off to a good start

MOSCOW — Predictions of video review ruining the World Cup were vastly overstated.

The French can thank technology for providing them a “fair” 2-1 win over Australia. Video assistant referees were correct to flag an incident involving French striker Antoine Griezmann.

Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha

originally waved off French appeals for a penalty until VAR officials advised him to have a second look.

Replays showed Griezmann was tripped up by a sliding Australian defender who prevented a one-on-one chance on goal.

The decision was correctly overturned in less than a minute,

allowing referee Cunha to correct his original decision.

“The outcomes now are less down to chance,” former World Cup referee Howard Webb told the Toronto Sun last week. “They will be much more in line with what the outcome should be.”

Webb added: “We can rectify mistakes in real time and come to

better outcomes and fairer results.”

Les Bleus’ game-winner arrived after goal-line technology awarded Paul

Pogba a goal that likely wouldn’t have been given before FIFA’s technological revolution.

France might have lost this fixture in previous editions.