Aston Villa’s Mile Jedinak goal was unable stop them losing 2-1 to France in today’s FIFA World Cup fixture.
Jedinak, who is the captain for Australia for the second World Cup in a row, was the only EFL player selected in the first team. Also, Hull City’s Jackson Irvine would also come on in the second half to help Australia compete against France’s all-star team which included the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Thomas Lemar.
The first half was fairly boring with France underwhelming and a solid Australia defence being able to deal with the fairly lazy play of the French. But in the second half of the game everything would come to life. Initially, it seemed like Josh Risdan had done a miraculous tackle on Antoine Griezmann. But it would go to VAR and with the referee seeing some contact between the two players. Griezmann then stepped up and scored the spot kick.
But Australia were not down and out yet. They whipped in a free kick and Samuel Umtiti’s raised hand deflected it away and a clear penalty was given. Mile Jedinak as captain stepped up and was able to sned Hugo Lloris the wrong way.
Unfortunately for the Aussies and Jedinak, France would come back and claim the winner. Paul Pogba’s shot, which was assisted by the Australian defender Aziz Behich and will probably go down as an own goal hit the ball and was just over the line. And while VAR was used to see if there was an offside in the build up, it was again was on the side of the French, condemning Jedinak and Australia to defeat.
