INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
16:17 IST: 45'+1: Its FRA 0-0 AUS at half timeOne minute of added time 16:15 IST: Behich strikes and misses! Another opportunity for the
Socceroos and it goes in vain.16:13 IST: 43rd minute and its another miss from the French
Flurry of chances have been created but Aussie defense has kept the French at bay.16:09 IST: 40 minutes are up! 5 to go for half time
Australia seem to be attacking more aggressively now
Both teams are still goalless.16:05 IST: 35 minutes are up
Still no goal for both the teams
French have created a number of opportunities but have failed to convert
Socceroos have defended brilliantly till now.16:00 IST: It was a great chance for Griezmann in the 30th minute but his touch in the box
evades the net. 15:58 IST: Free kick for Australia outside the box but goes straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.15:54 IST: Decent
ball by Pogba but once again Socceroos' defense block the French.15:50 IST: 20 minutes are up
Majority possession has been with the French but the Australians have been good with their defense. 15:47 IST: Pavard with a foul
Second free kick for Australia and Sainsbury misses! What an opportunity that was! How costly is it going to be for the men in yellow.15:45
IST: Pogba's clever pass eludes Mbappe
15 minutes are up as France continues to attack.15: 43 IST: Yellow card for Leckie for a poor tackle on Hernandez15:41 IST: First free kick
for the Socceroos in the match and the ball goes over.15:37 IST: Another free kick for France from just outside the box
Ball goes straight in keeper's hands.15:35 IST: 5' : Another shot on target for France
They are putting the Australians under pressure.15:33 IS: 3' : Free kick for France and Pogba's strike goes straight into the hands of
goalkeeper.15:31 IST: 2' : Electrifying atmosphere at the Kazan arena
France on the attack! Good save by the Australian goal-keeper
Corner has been cleared.15:30 IST: Kick off!15:24 IST: The moment is finally here! Both teams are the center, lining up on either sides of
the officials for the national anthems.15:10 IST: Australian fans seem to be in high spirits at the Kazan Arena.15:07 IST: French team is at
the center and warming-up for their maiden clash at the World Cup.15:03 IST: French fans are all pumped up and excited for the upcoming
clash. 15:00 IST: Formation for both the teams is as follows14:55 IST: A peep into the dressing rooms of both Australia and France.14:50
IST: Here's the starting XI for both the teams.14:46 IST: First match on Day 3 of the FIFA World Cup
This will also be the first encounter of Group C 14:45 IST: Hello and welcome to the live match updates of the Group C encounter between
France and Australia.Fluffing their lines against Group C minnows Australia at the Kazan Arena would be unthinkable for most French fans,
although the Socceroos -- who have talked up how they will fight tooth and nail to get a result -- have pledged to provide the first hurdle
Bold predictions aside, on paper France should breeze through a Group C which also features Peru and Denmark
Antoine Griezmann, who announced Thursday he was resisting advances from Barcelona and staying at Atletico Madrid, is one of the hottest
properties in world football and, as he did at Euro 2016, is expected to shine in Russia
Two years after a disappointing Euro 2016, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba could finally shine on the big stage, along with
19-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker Mbappe, who will be making his World Cup debut
In comparison, Australia coach Bert van Marwijk has yet to decide who will lead the Socceroos' attack, with former A-League reject Andrew
Nabbout appearing to be leading the race ahead of Tomi Juric, who plays for Swiss side Lucerne
The Aussies' defensive game, a top priority for Van Marwijk since he was parachuted in to replace Ange Postecoglou in January, is still a
Australia have few big name stars, but Nabbout insists the gulf in class is not an issue.
