2022 World Cup live updates: Australia v France in Group D clash in Qatar

The $700m divide between Australia and France has been brutally exposed in the Socceroos’ opener, as the defending champions romp away with a 4-1 win.

France star Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Australia. Picture: AFP

The $700m divide between Australia and world champions France has been brutally exposed in the Socceroos’ Qatar World Cup opener.

Graham Arnold’s briefly side threatened to stun the world when Adelaide United winger Craig Goodwin opened the scoring in the ninth minute.

But the class of the French shone through after the opening 20 minutes as Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe pulled the strings.

Mbappe gave Nathaniel Atkinson a torrid time on the left flank as France used the space on the wing to expose Australia’s defence.

Olivier Giroud — deputising for injured Ballon D’or winner Karim Benzema — netted a brace which drew him level with Thierry Henry as France’s greatest scorer.

Socceroos players celebrate their team's one bright spot from their 4-1 loss to France ... Craig Goodwin's opening goal. Picture: AFP

Rabiot scored the equaliser and Mbappe rounded out the scoring with the fourth goal during a dominant second half for Les Bleus.

“In all fairness it could have been more,” former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said on SBS.

“Some clearances off the line. Mbappe himself missed an unbelievable chance in the first half. You can see the smiles there.

“For the first 10 minutes, you have to say, Australia done really well, but after that you saw the reasons why they are reigning world champions, and also the depth in their squad as well.

“I will let the boys take it on in terms of this defeat might be Socceroos. But well done to France. In my France come — in my opinion, they will go deep into the tournament.”

Commentators noted the huge transfer market discrepancy between the two sides as more than $700m — and that’s without Benzema playing.

Read below for our recap of the match, plus videos of the teams' goals.