France v Australia, 16th June, 11am(GMT)

[JJ1532]

Blimey, early start for this one. Hope you've set your alarms.

Can France build on their impressive showing at Euro 2016, or will this prove they only perform on home soil? I think they are a dark horse to go all the way, but like a few of the top teams, they seem to perform less than the sum of their parts. I mean, they have a stacked team laced with top end talent, so much so that the likes of Martial, Lacazette, Payet, Rabiot and Coman all miss out. Jeez. They could make some noise.

I do like the Aussies making the tournament if just for their colourful fans. They have a few half decent players, but nobody who you'd really sit up and take notice of. Tim Cahill is going to be there in what surely will be his last tournament at 38. They lost all 3 games in 2014, but then had a group of Spain, Chile and the Netherlands. Ouch. Not getting any easier this time around, in their opening game at least.

You'd back France to win this one comfortably, but I think it'll be a close contest.

All match chat in here.

 

[Bobbin']

Well this is crap.

 

[SALTIRE]

Utterly dreadful. Had two hours sleep for this! ?!

Also, why in this day and age, are we still subjected to Lawrenson on commentary?

 

[JJ1532]

France will pinch this late on like Uruguay did yesterday. The Aussies will tire late on and someone like Pogba or Griezmann will nick a goal.

 

[SALTIRE]

Soft as shite pen.

 

[Chris FGR]

Lol wtf was Umtiti doing.

 

[Nilsson]

I like the idea of VAR but we've got to have sensible people executing it. No chance is that a clear penalty.

 

[SALTIRE]

Think we can see that Pogba is a real problem for the Froggies.

 

[Chris FGR]

Pogba is ridiculously over-rated.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Gutted Tim Cahill wasnt on the pitch to take that pen!

 

[SALTIRE]

He should've been subbed instead of Griezmann.

 

[Super_horns]

MWasn't a clear and obvious error from the ref in the first place.

Certainly couldn't complain if it hadn't been given.

No disputing the Australia one!

VAR/Goal line technology 2 Australia 1.

France very lucky !

 

[SALTIRE]

Lucky sods

 

[DarkSithLord]

Very fortunate here France. Australia deserve something from the game.

 

[SF_]

I find it impossible to be sympathetic towards Australia in any sport.

Well in France.

 

[Libertadores FC]

What are you lot on about? It was a clear pen. I hate VAR too, but if you're going to use it make the correct call, which it was made in this case.

Risdon won the ball albeit barely and it didn't change direction and then went on to sandwich Griezmann's leg and clip him. It wasn't an easy call to make normally but for me it was a definite penalty created by carelessness.

 

[Vanni]

Yep. Clear pen IMO.

 

[Nilsson]

Risdon won the ball albeit barely

Barely is enough. The fact people are divided on it suggests to me that the decision shouldn't have been changed.

It was definitely less of a penalty than Sævarsson on Pavon in the Argentina/Iceland game, when VAR wasn't even used.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Barely is enough. The fact people are divided on it suggests to me that the decision shouldn't have been changed.

It was definitely less of a penalty than Sævarsson on Pavon in the Argentina/Iceland game, when VAR wasn't even used.

No it isn't - if it doesn't change the direction of the ball it doesn't count. Get your football rules right.

 

[Nilsson]

No it isn't - if it doesn't change the direction of the ball it doesn't count. Get your football rules right.

The ball does change direction. Barely = only just. Enough.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1007945433950416897

 

[Vanni]

Exactly, that's what the rules state. But tbf, the Argies should've got another pen for that tackle on Pavon. IMO, both the VAR French one and the Pavon one were clear pens.

 

[Vanni]

The ball does change direction. Barely = only just. Enough.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1007945433950416897

AFAIK, though I could well be wrong, a slight deflection is not enough according to the current rules. It wasn't that long ago actually, when even the slightest touch of the ball by a defender meant no pen, but it's changed now and correctly so imo.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Does it matter if the Aussie brushed the ball with his toe? It wasn’t enough to push the ball away from Greizmann, so he’s through on goal regardless, then the same leg comes down and traps his foot, which is basically like the second phase of play.

 

[Nilsson]

Does it matter if the Aussie brushed the ball with his toe? It wasn’t enough to push the ball away from Greizmann, so he’s through on goal regardless, then the same leg comes down and traps his foot, which is basically like the second phase of play.

Fair point.