Replay technology helps France beat gritty Australia

KAZAN, RUSSIA» Technology twice helped France at the World Cup in its 2-1 victory over Australia. The French team was given a penalty kick after the referee watched the replay of a foul on the sideline. Antoine Griezmann converted in the 58th minute. Paul Pogba later scored the winning goal in the 81st minute after goal-line technology was used to confirm the ball had crossed the line after bouncing down off the crossbar.

Denmark 1, Peru 0. RUSSIA» SARANSK,

Whether Kasper Schmeichel was making an acrobatic save or just getting lucky, it was his night. In a World Cup debut reminiscent of the way his father, Peter, played for Denmark and Manchester United, Schmeichel made Yussuf Poulsen’s opportunistic second-half goal stand up in a 1-0 victory over Peru on Saturday at the World Cup.

“It’s good to have a good goalkeeper, let me put it that way,” Denmark coach Age Hareide said. “He is acrobatic and a very quick goalkeeper.

Croatia 2, Nigeria 0. KALININGRAD, RUSSIA»

Luka Modric set up one goal and scored another from the penalty spot Saturday to give Croatia a win over Nigeria at the World Cup.

The Real Madrid midfielder sent in a corner that was headed by two Croatians and then deflected into the net by Nigeria midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo in the 32nd minute. Modric then converted a penalty in the 71st after William Ekong held onto Mario Mandzukic.