FRANCE OPENS DEFENSE WITH EASY WIN
France showed it can cope without its star striker at the World Cup.
In Karim Benzema’s absence, Kylian Mbappe scored one and set up the second of Olivier Giroud’s two goals to help the defending champions beat Australia 4-1 Tuesday at Al Wakrah, Qatar.
Giroud equaled Thierry Henry’s national record of 51 goals with a header from Mbappe’s cross in the 71st minute. Giroud, who failed to score at the last World Cup but did find the net at the 2014 tournament, can break Henry’s record when France faces Denmark on Saturday.
“It’s not just about chasing records but what he always does on the field,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “He’s a very important player for us.”
Moments before that strike, Mbappe headed in Ousmane Dembele’s cross from the right to start this World Cup as he finished the last — with a goal. He knelt with one hand behind his back and his finger on his forehead in a new celebration.
Deschamps joked that Mbappe could now become even more lethal.
“He always dreams about scoring headers, so if he starts doing that he’ll be even more dangerous,” Deschamps said, cracking a smile. “I knew he would be ready tonight because this is his competition.”
Craig Goodwin gave Australia the lead when he turned in winger Mathew Leckie’s cross in the ninth minute.
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot equalized with a powerful header in the 27th and set up Giroud’s first goal shortly after.
“It’s great for our momentum and confidence to have turned things around,” Giroud said. “Even though we could have scored more we combined well.”
France was playing without the injured Benzema, who was ruled out of the World Cup last week.
Denmark 0, Tunisia 0: Tunisia held European Championship semifinalist Denmark to a draw before a stadium filled almost entirely with Tunisia’s red-clad supporters. Midfielder Aissa Laidouni set the tone in the very first minute when he stripped emblematic Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen of the ball with an aggressive sliding tackle — then stood up and pumped his arms menacingly, gesturing to the crowd to get even more fired up.
“I’m always proud to represent Tunisia and we always go on the pitch 100 percent committed,” Laidouni said through a translator.
Tunisia likely deserved more but an expert save shortly before halftime by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel helped Denmark preserve the draw.
Having already gone down to the grass after Tunisia broke through the defense, Schmeichel stuck his hand up to deflect a shot from Issam Jebali, who plays his club ball in Denmark for Odense.
It was just the sort of save that the keeper’s father, former Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel, used to pull off.
“We wanted to win a point at least,” Laidouni said. “We didn’t come to get a draw. We wanted to get the win, and I think we did have chances for that, but at the end of the day we’re happy with the draw.”
The match marked Eriksen’s return to a major tournament less than a year and a half after his cardiac arrest with Denmark at Euro 2020.
Assuming his customary playmaker position, Eriksen produced a dangerous longdistance shot on goal in the second half that Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen had to bat away.
Notable
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku will miss his nation’s World Cup opener against Canada tonight and also could be sidelined for the second match against Morocco. The 29-year-old Lukaku hasn’t appeared in a match since Oct. 29 because of a left thigh injury.
• Stephanie Frappart of France became the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup match on Tuesday night when Mexico played Poland.