Replay Rocks the Aussies; France Wins on the PK

How many Germany supporters are wondering where this technology was in 1966?

And how many Englishmen don't care?

The American version of football embraced instant replay back in 1963, and the technology became sufficiently refined to the point that the NFL made it part of the process in 1986.

Ironically, replay in the NFL has now become egregiously pedantic to the point that it's gotta be dialed back somehow.

 

Replay review is in damn near every sport except chess these days, with football being one of the last to adopt it.

France surely figures this didn't happen a moment too soon.

Just because they're still who they are, FIFA's arrogance is such that it refers to replay with its own term: Video Assistant Replay (VAR).

 

French supporters, though, don't care what it's called, just as long as the call stands.

And it did.

Les Bleus are the favorites in Group C, but an always-feisty Australian side was ready for them.

 

French supporters were looking for firepower from their powerful offensive trio of Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembele. They're still looking.

Australia frustrated their thrusts time and again, mainly because they were showing the creativity of a paint-by-numbers set. The result was a scoreless first half that had the Socceroos going into the break with renewed confidence.

As for France, Didier Deschamps had a few fine points to convey in the dressing room.

 

Right after the second half kickoff, the French improvement was clear. Dudes looked much more focused, spreading the field and leaving the ball carriers with at least two positive options.

Still, the Aussies were so tenacious, it took a VAR to confirm a penalty on Griezmann, which was huge:

 

But the favorites weren't outta les bois yet.

Samuel Umtiti, in a moment of madness, handled the ball inside the area. Penalty.

Mile Jedinak equalized, sending the 10,000-plus contingent of Down Under denizens who traveled to Kazan into delerium:

 

Le Bleus followed by raising the pressuring hard, which brights us to the 80th minute.

Paul Pogba’s deflected shot ended up hitting the crossbar and appeared to carom inches past the goal-line. It was time for the VAR to make another entrance.

Remember the HAL 9000? Maybe it's time to wonder if he'd ever take an online flutter on a side and then get a review request where he knew the outcome would hurt hit bet.

 

OK, that's navel-gazing for another day.

His great-great-grandfather, though, is as straight as Sgt Joe Friday, and that worked for Pogba:

 

Full time: 2-1 France.

The World Cup has well and truly entered the 21st century.

And whatever comes next.