World Cup: Mbappe & Giroud shine as France thrash Australia - reaction

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Australia boss Graham Arnold to BBC Sport: "I thought we had a great start to the game, with stuff we worked on, but they are the world champions for a reason.

"We gave it our best shot but they scored quality goals and at the end of the day the score is what it is and we've got to rebound from that and get ready for the next game.

"You wish they had called full-time on 15 minutes but their squad is worth over a billion euros, ours is worth 35 million so there's a big difference - a lot of their players are playing in the top leagues around the world and we don't have anyone in the top leagues.

"The effort was fantastic from the boys, they put in everything they've got and that's all you can ask from them.

"We've got to take that grit and determination. We got punished for our mistakes and at this level you can't make those mistakes. When it was 1-0 and things were going well, they get back to 1-1 and then we turn over a silly mistake to make it 2-1 and the boys dropped their heads a bit. But that's when they need to step up, in those type of moments.

"Our second game is a must-win game - it's great that the other game [Denmark v Tunisia] was a draw and we're in it the whole way so Saturday's game is very important."

People were expecting Karim Benzema, the Ballon D'Or winner, to be in this World Cup and score goal, and to shine.

But Giroud is still there - Dembele, we haven't spoken much about him, but I think he had a great game as well. They have a big squad.

They made it difficult in the early stages of the game, the first 15-20 minutes, they posed problems for France.

But you just felt that once France got that first goal, that there was no turning back for them.

Australia had another opportunity where they hit the post in that first half but with the class France had, particularly in wide areas, they caused them all sorts of problems.

France captain Hugo Lloris speaking to BBC Sport: "I think we have got the credit of a good reaction and we stepped up and started to control the game. We can be pleased with the performance but we know we have to improve game by game.

"The key was to stay cool after going behind. We have a lot of young players but we have some with experience so we have a good mix and we can feel it on the pitch. It is one very good step into this World Cup and now we are going to focus on preparing for Denmark."

On Olivier Giroud equalling Thierry Henry's record: "I think Olivier deserved a lot of credit. He is an example of football to never give up. The last few months he was in and he was out but he never lost focus and it is important. It is a big achievement to equal Thierry Henry and I hope he will go ahead. For all the team it is a good start and for the striker two goals is great."

Aged 36 years and 53 days, Olivier Giroud was the second-oldest player to score a brace at the World Cup, after Roger Milla, who netted two doubles in 1990 for Cameroon while aged 38.

It is a night to celebrate because Olivier Giroud achieved something absolutely amazing that a few years ago that no one would have thought possible. But there are some things to work on and correct.

I know they've won comfortably tonight but the deeper they go into the tournament, in the midfield I just think have they got enough experience, enough ability in there?

But, look, they've got Mbappe, so they've got a chance.

There's very few players who give you that [helpless] feeling. Ronaldinho in his prime, probably Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo.

But with these players, there are no solutions.

If Mbappe can square you up one v one and you can't defend against him, if he can run in behind, if he can receive the ball between the lines and shoot from distance and score a header like he's done tonight, it's very difficult to limit a player like this.

At big tournaments, you need players who can win you games and all the big teams have a player that can do that.

Kylian Mbappe had 19 of France's 44 touches in the opposition box tonight. Only five other countries have had more that Mbappe alone in the first eight games.

Olivier Giroud is only the second AC Milan player to score two goals in a World Cup game.

Can you guess the first?

Probably not...

It was Romania's Florin Raducioiu against Colombia AND Sweden at the 1994 World Cup.

Raducioiu left Milan for Espanyol after that tournament.

Mbappe is so comfortable, he can do almost anything. We keep saying one v one you've virtually got no chance.

You have to double up, sometimes even put three on him and that might not be enough. But what that does is frees up other players and that's why they are going to have so much joy whoever they play against because he is that good.

It all looks fun for him - I know it all comes naturally to him but he looks as if he is really enjoying himself on the pitch.

He demands the ball and when he's getting chalk on his boots and giving France that width not many defenders can stop him. When he slows down just to try to mug you into thinking you can stop him, by the time you've sorted your feet out he's gone again.

Olivier Giroud has achieved that record in a completely different way to Thierry Henry.

He's a completely different player and he's still got a few more goals in him in this group stage I think.

With this victory, France became the first reigning champion to win their opening game of a World Cup tournament since Brazil in 2006.

It's also the biggest ever first group game win by a reigning champion to kick-off a World Cup title defence.

In forward positions, France were just too good. Their class shone through.

They made things difficult for themselves in that first half but once they got that first goal it was a matter of how many they were going to get.

And with Mbappe in your side you've got a chance because he is special. When he's got grass in front of him and he's one-on-one with you, he's virtually impossible to stop.

France are up and running, Didier Deschamps will be delighted in the end, they got the result. They got the performance after the first 15 minutes.

Australia were game and got their noses in front but France were dominant. This is a team that is back to win this competition and it is a perfect start for them.

When Marcus Thuram came on late on, he completed the third father and son combo to play for France at a World Cup. His dad Lillian won the 1998 World Cup.

Roger Rio played in 1934 and Patrice Rio in 1978. Jean Djorkaeff played in 1966 and Youri Djorkaeff in 1998 and 2002.

Four years ago, France needed a penalty and a late own goal to beat Australia in their opening game at the World Cup in Russia.

Six French players from that game started this one - it was a much more convincing display this time around.

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It's all over.

France will face tougher challenges but they showed good character to come from behind and looked excellent at times tonight.

A good start to their World Cup title defence? Without doubt.

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