FIFA World Cup: VAR to rescue as France narrowly overcomes Australia

Most part of the France versus Australia contest in Group C looked as if both the teams would share the honours, with the Socceroos putting up a commendable shoe to deny the trio of Mbappe, Dembele and Griezman an opening in the first half of the match. But in the last 15 minutes, when French coach Didier Deschamps introduced fresh blood, the French attack made several chances, converting one of them through Paul Pogba. The Les Bleus emerged victorious over the Socceroos by two goals to one.

While the first half was a determined show by the Australian defence, drama unfolded in the 58th minute when Referee denied a penalty to France only to overturn his decision after the review from the VAR suggested otherwise. Griezmann converted the penalty helping France take the crucial lead. The lead however was neutralised merely four minutes later when Australia was awarded a penalty after Umtiti handed a ball in the French penalty area. Like Griezmann, Jedinak too converted from the spot with ease and the score was yet again even after 62 minutes. But after Deschamps made three substitutions, one of them; Olivier Giroud for Antoine Griezmann, the French attack looked like playing against a different opposition. The Australian defence too looked tired in the last 10 minutes and the French side looked favourites to add another goal to their tally.

In the beginning of the play, however, the French side started on an expected note and 26-year-old Australian goalie Ryan had already made four saves in the first eight minutes. Afterwards, the Australian defence acted as a wall and Ryan was rarely in the game in the rest of the first half. Australia too had their moment in the first half when their best scoring chance of the match came in the 18thminute. As Moy sent a pin-point delivery into the box taking a free-kick, Tollisso made a fine contact to guide the ball towards the net, only to be denied by a phenomenal save from the 41-year-old French goalkeeper Lloris.

The highlight of the match, the moment in the history of football, however, came in the 57th minute when the on-field referee denied France a penalty. Upon resentment from the French players and manager, the referee decided to consult the Video Assistant Referee and after seeing the video footages of the challenge turned his decision. VAR has been introduced at the FIFA World Cup for the first time only in this tournament and its successful use on the very third day vindicated the stand of various pundits and former footballers that FIFA needed to make use of this technology at the earliest. Better late than never..