VAR controversially awarded a penalty to French team and a huge deflection of Australian defender Aziz Behich, Didier Deschamps’ side were so lucky to have escaped their world opener with a win evidently needed against a aggressively hostile Socceroos side.
The Uruguay Referee Andres Cunha initially disapproved the French players clamouring for a spot-kick and allowed play to continue for around a minute before the ball went out of play and he was called by VAR Mauro Vigliano to take another look on the pitch-side screen.
And immediately after two minutes on from the incident, Cunha came back to pitch to signal a penalty and Griezmann rolled home his ever goal in world cup finals, History was made, but the awkward, exhaustive nature of the system was really what many people was scared of going into the showpiece tournament.
Exactly 41,279 fans who did all they could to come all the way to Russia for this World Cup were dazed at the period of the Referee confirmation and the drama of watching an center Referee staring at the VAR screen.
Antoine Griezmann’s penalty kick would have been the decider for a calm French side needed, but unfortunately they were leveled after all their good work within five minutes as Samuel Umtiti made the surprise decision to throw his right arm in the way of the incoming cross ball from the Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy, which resulted in a spot-kick. Then the Australian captain Mile Jedinak leveled up, and the Australian fans felt a bit sense of justice.
But France got another glare of luck later on as Paul Pogba ran towards the penalty area in an attempt to finish off a flowing move. The Manchester United midfielder’s touch flew off the Australian defender Behich and lashed over the flat-footed Australian keeper Mat Ryan to win it for the Les Blues.