The Socceroos surprised France with an early goal, but the world champions stormed back into the match and ended up with a thumping win.

See how each Australian player did individually.

Mathew Ryan (4/10)

Australia’s keeper’s distribution was sound, as usual, and he made a couple of decent saves. Hard to fault him for France’s four goals, but nor can you credit him particularly for their string of near misses.

Nathaniel Atkinson (2/10)

The match-up between Australia’s right back and Kylian Mbappé was always going to be problematic, and the French superstar and his pals regularly skinned the defender to set up chances. Atkinson’s horrific first touch as Australia tried to play out from the back also resulted in Giroud’s first goal. He earns two consolation points here for his endeavour — dispossessing Mbappé a couple of times despite having a hard time, and getting forward to help out in attack.

Harry Souttar (3/10)

The big defender started well, and it was his beautiful long ball to Mathew Leckie that helped set up Australia’s goal, but by the second half his legs looked heavy, and he was outjumped on several occasions by the French forwards, something that shouldn’t be happening when you’re 1.98m. 

Kye Rowles (2/10)

Like Souttar, the defining image of this centre-back’s game is of him being leapt over by flying Frenchmen.

Aziz Behich (4/10)

Australia’s left-back showed his usual tenacity in defence against a seemingly unstoppable tide, and even went on several hero-runs down the left flank. Ultimately he couldn’t make a huge impression on the game. 

Jackson Irvine (6.5/10)

The passionate Socceroo clearly relished his World Cup starting role, harassing France’s midfield and pouncing on loose balls. Not surprisingly, he made the most sprints of the Australians, with 59. At times he struggled to deal with his classy French counterparts, though, and picked up a yellow card in the second half. 

Aaron Mooy (7/10)

The best of the Socceroos, Mooy played the most passes, with 67, and covered the greatest distance at 12.42km. He was a steadying presence at the base of midfield, and helped ease pressure on his side by dribbling out of trouble and switching play with long, sprayed passes. 

Riley McGree (4/10)

Brought in to replace Australia’s best midfielder, Ajdin Hrustic, McGree was solid, if unspectacular, on the left-hand side. He struggled to contain Ousmane Dembélé’s charging runs, and couldn’t contribute a whole lot in attack. Manager Graham Arnold will hope Hrustic will add an extra element when he (likely) returns against Tunisia.

Mathew Leckie (6/10)

Did brilliantly to set up the goal and send Lucas Hernandez off in a spin, and looked threatening for much of the first 30 minutes. Eleven times he received the ball between France’s midfield and defensive line, proving the most likely to force them out of their comfort zone. He faded as an attacking force in the second half, but continued to work hard in defence. 

Mitchell Duke (4/10)

Big Mitch did a fair job of holding the ball up, especially in the opening stages, and nearly scored a screamer from distance that would have put Australia 2-0 up. The French defenders largely figured him out by the end of the first half, though, and he was eventually subbed before the hour mark.

Craig Goodwin (6.5/10)

What more can you ask than a World Cup goal on debut? Goodwin deserves immense credit for his excellent finish under pressure. He made it look simple, and that’s an art form for a striker. He was involved in a few of Australia’s attacking forays after that, completing four crosses. 

Subs

Jason Cummings, Awer Mabil, Garang Kuol, Keanu Baccus, Milos Degenek (No Ratings) – With France dominating possession for the final 30 minutes, Australia’s substitutes were asked to cover space but barely got a look at the ball.