Didier Deschamps plumped for a front three of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele for France’s game against Australia, an attacking trio which looks frighteningly good on paper. Things didn’t click on the pitch, though, and Les Bleus relied on a large chunk of good fortune to eke out a 2-1 win.
There was little in the way of combination play between the three forwards, all of whom are undoubtedly top-class players. Dembele was particularly quiet on the left flank, while Mbappe and Griezmann’s contant interchanging didn’t unduly unsettle the Australian backline. Olivier Giroud was introduced in the second half and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was used from the start against Peru on Tuesday, with Dembele most likely to make way.