November 22, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

France teammates celebrate after the match against Australia on November 22.

After a slow start, France delivered a dominating performance as Les Bleus dispatched the Socceroos 4-1.

Australia struck first as Craig Goodwin scored in the 9th minute to give the underdogs a surprise 1-0 lead. 

In the 26th minute, France responded. Adrien Rabiot found the back of the net with an equalizer. And five minutes later, Les Bleus took the lead as Rabiot threaded a ball to striker Oliver Giroud who made it 2-1 France. 

In the second half, it was all France.

After getting close on several occasions, French forward Kylian Mbappé finally scored in the 67th minute to give his team a 3-1 lead.

Just three minutes later, Giroud found the net again to give France a commanding 4-1 lead. After being held scoreless in World Cup 2018, the French forward put away two in France’s opening match of the tournament.

Giroud now ties Thierry Henry to become France’s joint all-time goalscorer at 51.

With three points after the win, France sits atop Group D.

Next up for France is Denmark on Saturday. Australia will face Tunisia.

France's forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring against Australia on November 22.

We needed a spark to liven up this match and we got it through Kylian Mbappé.

The superstar looks like he means business at Qatar 2022 and has been unstoppable all night.

He finally got his name on the scoresheet and then added a wonderful assist for Olivier Giroud’s second goal of the night.

The 23-year-old took on the Australian defense with ease before teeing up his strike partner with a perfectly weighted cross.

Mbappe knew how good that assist was. Afterward, he stood with his arms aloft in front of the French fans.

It also helped Giroud pull level with Thierry Henry as France’s joint all-time top scorer with 51 goals.

France's Olivier Giroud scores their fourth goal during a match against Australia on November 22.

Olivier Giroud finds the net again in the 70th minute to give France a commanding 4-1 lead.

After being held scoreless in World Cup 2018, the Les Bleus forward now has two in France’s opening match of the tournament.

Giroud now ties Thierry Henry to become France’s joint all-time goalscorer at 51.

Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring their team's third goal during the match against Australia on November 22.

After getting close on several occasions, Kylian Mbappe finally scored for France with a goal in the 67th minute of the match against Australia.

Ousmane Dembélé gave Mbpappé the chance after the relentless French attack did not let up in the second half of the game.

France leads Australia 3-1.

You know the atmosphere isn’t great when you can hear the players talking to themselves on the pitch.

France’s dominance since going ahead in the first half has all but silenced the Aussie supporters, who seem a bit shell-shocked.

Maybe it’s the late kickoff time or the colder temperatures, but this match hasn’t really got going for the neutral fans.

There were fears that fewer fans would travel to this World Cup given the issues off the pitch, and tonight’s atmosphere appears to have suffered.

A small pocket of fans on the French end is trying to galvanize the crowd – but they get nothing more than a quick round of applause in response.

We need something or someone to ignite the atmosphere in this stadium.

Les Bleus and the Socceroos are back on the field for the second half of their match, with Australia looking to equalize the goal score. Fans perhaps will see Kylian Mbappé get the goal that’s eluded him so far in the match.

France leads Australia 2-1.

Argentina's Lionel Messi is seen during the match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia on November 22.

Argentina star Lionel Messi said his team has “no excuses” after they were defeated 2-1 by relative footballing minnows Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium in Group C of the FIFA World Cup.

Messi was asked about morale in the group after the chastening defeat. “The truth? Dead,” he admitted. “It’s a very hard blow because we did not expect to start in this way.”

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner urged calmness from his team and fans alike in the wake of the upset.

“Things happen for a reason. We have to prepare for what is coming,” Messi said. “We have to win, and it depends on us.”

“My message to the supporters is to have faith. We won’t leave them stranded,” the player added.

Argentina faces Mexico on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia meets Poland. Poland and Mexico drew 0-0 on Tuesday to leave Saudi Arabia atop the group after one match each.

Australia fans are seen in the stands during a match between Australia and France on November 22.

With Saudi Arabia beating Argentina earlier in the day, it felt like something could be in the waters at this World Cup when Australia went up 1-0 in the ninth minute against the reigning world champion.

Aussie fans inside the stadium were starting to believe in miracles. But after France responded with two goals to take the half-time lead, they’ve since slumped back in their seats as reality hits them hard.

Since falling behind, France looked every bit the dominant side that many expected here in Qatar.

Kylian Mbappé has been particularly sharp and Australia’s defense can’t seem to get close to him.

The French superstar should have put his side up 3-1 in the closing minutes – but despite all the skills he possesses, he managed to skew an effort over the bar when it looked easier to score on a pass from Antoine Griezmann.

The French fans have been quiet so far tonight but pockets are beginning to wave those iconic red, white and blue flags.

It was an exciting first 45 minutes in the France vs Australia match.

Australia struck first as Craig Goodwin opened the scoring for the Socceroos with a goal in the 9th minute to take a 1-0 lead.

After going down early, France picked up the pace and began to pressure the Aussies. Adrien Rabiot restored French hopes in the 26th minute with an equalizing goal for Les Bleus.

Just five minutes later, France took the lead when Rabiot threaded a ball to striker Oliver Giroud who found the back of the net.

France 2, Australia 1 at the half.

France's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring a goal with their teammate Ousmane Dembele during a match against Australia on November 22.

After falling behind in the ninth minute, France responded with two goals to take the lead in the first half.

Adrien Rabiot, who scored the first goal, provided the assist for goalscorer Olivier Giroud.

Australia 1, France 2

France's Adrien Rabiot scores their team's first goal during a match against Australia on November 22.

Les Bleus scored an equalizing goal in the 26th minute! Juventus player Adrien Rabiot restored French hopes during this exciting first half.

Australia 1-1 France

What a treat for the ears!

As Australian fans celebrate scoring the opening goal against France, the familiar tune of Men at Work’s “Down Under” gets blasted around the stadium.

It only whips up the crowd more, with the small group of Aussie fans sitting behind the goal singing and dancing along.

The same fans then boo France forward Kylian Mbappé who is looking sharp in the early stages. The Aussies might regret riling up one of the best-attacking talents on the planet.

Australia's Craig Goodwin celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during a match against France on November 22.

Socceroo Craig Goodwin just opened the account for Australia with a goal in the 9th minute of the match.

Australia 1, France 0.

The final match of the day between defending World Cup champs France and Australia has begun.

Hours after many had left the Lusail Stadium, Saudi Arabia fans were still celebrating their most unlikely win over Argentina.

The result was one of the biggest – if not the biggest – shocks in World Cup history, and supporters were rightly making the most of it.

While leaving the venue, CNN heard fans joking with volunteers and FIFA officials, asking them if they had seen Lionel Messi “after he went missing all game.”

Supporters then took the Metro back into downtown Doha and kept up the singing until their voices started to break.

Others on the Metro were reliving the experience on their phones, watching highlights of the goals and looking at footage of celebrations from back home in Saudi Arabia.

Unfortunately for France, and the competition as a whole, star striker Karim Benzema will miss the World Cup due to a last minute injury.

This year’s Balon D’or winner – the award given to the world’s best player – had been suffering with a muscle problem and left the squad just three days ago.

But fans arriving for tonight’s match might take a double-take at this particular fan.

Iven Achourida has travelled to Qatar with his friend Rayan Benabdelkader, and the pair have been trying to fool fans. Achourida has styled his look on his hero Benzema and is wearing a France shirt with the Real Madrid forward’s name on.

Iven Achourida (left) has travelled to Qatar with his friend Rayan Benabdelkader (right)

Both are excited to watch France in its opening match of Qatar 2022, but both said they wished Benzema was here for real.

The France vs Australia match kicks off at 2 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the squads:

France

Australia

French team training session on November 21, in Doha, Qatar.

Only two teams in World Cup history have managed to successfully defend their crown.

Given the plethora of talent that head coach Didier Deschamps has to pick from, Les Bleus were considered by many during the current World Cup cycle as favorite to lift the trophy in Qatar and become just the third national team to do so.

However, France has struggled for form recently and has been beset by injury woes in the lead up to the tournament.

The team managed to win just one of its six UEFA Nations League games, finishing below Croatia and Denmark, and will be without a number of key players in Qatar.

Already missing the midfield duo of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, who both started in the final four years ago, France was recently rocked by the news that defender Presnel Kimpembe, forward Christopher Nkunku and, most recently, Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema would also miss the tournament through injury.

Despite these considerable setbacks, France’s embarrassment of footballing riches means there will still be no team at Qatar 2022 relishing the prospect of facing Deschamps’ men.

Led by superstar Kylian Mbappé, France can still call on Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé and Olivier Giroud to lead the line, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni to command the midfield and Ibrahima Konaté and Jules Koundé to marshall the defense.

The Al-Janoub Stadium is seen on November 20.

The futuristic Al Janoub Stadium plays host to the last game of an action-packed Tuesday.

The venue design is based on the historical dhow boats that were once used in Qatar, and it sits 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) south of Doha in a region where people once dived for pearls.

Getting here on public transport, though, isn’t quite as romantic.

The closest metro station is a 15-minute drive away, and supporters have to get a shuttle bus for the final leg. This is causing big queues at the station exit with friendly volunteers instructing the crowds with what look like mini light-sabres – red for stop, green for go.

Supporters are making the most of it, using the time packed together to sing songs and share stories about their adventures in Doha so far.

It’s the coldest night of the World Cup so far but it’s perfect for soccer. Both teams have arrived at the stadium and fans are starting to fill up the seats inside, while a DJ tries to get the atmosphere going.

Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa reacts after saving a penalty shot during the match against Poland on November 22.

Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa was 21 years old when he was selected to go to his first World Cup. He was called up as a substitute goalkeeper in the 2006 cup in Germany.

Now, at 37 years old, the Mexican is playing at his fifth World Cup as a consolidated goalkeeper and one of the most outstanding figures of the Mexican team.

In the team’s match Tuesday against Poland, the goalkeeper stopped Robert Lewandowski’s penalty goal attempt, helping the team keep a 0-0 score.

Ochoa made his professional soccer debut almost twenty years ago with Club América and has been with the Mexican national team for 15 years. His perseverance has earned him an almost indisputable presence in the friendly and official matches of El Tri.

His participation in World Cups throughout the years has been outstanding. In Russia in 2018, he was the goalkeeper who made the most saves in the tournament, according to a technical study by FIFA. For Qatar 2022, the starting goalkeeper returns as the main rival.

“He’s at the top of the list of opponents that attackers don’t want to face in the World Cup,” FIFA described him this year in a video recalling his best saves during the world championships.

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