AARON MOOY strived manfully against world champions France before Australia crashed to a comprehensive 4-1 loss last night.
The Celtic midfielder was busy throughout an intriguing encounter before Kylian Mbappe hit the afterburners and shredded the Socceroos rearguard.
Mooy was helpless as he and former Hoops prospect Jackson Irvine dovetailed in the middle of the park to try to stem the tide in their opening World Cup Group D encounter in Qatar.
DELIGHT AND DESPAIR…Aaron Mooy winces as Olivier Giroud turns away after scoring the first of his two goals in France’s 4-1 win over Australia.
Ange Postecoglou watched the champions’ 32-year-old anchorman attempt to galvinise his team-mates and there was a flicker of a shock result when Craig Goodwin smashed an angled drive high past Hugo Lloris to give Graham Arnold’s men the advantage.
Unfortunately, that simply provoked the French to up the pace and, at the conclusion of a pulverising confrontation, keeper Matty Ryan, linked with a reunion with his former international gaffer at Parkhead last summer before the arrival of Joe Hart, was forced to pick the ball from the back of his net on four occasions.
END GAME…Aaron Mooy wipes his face with his shirt after a frantic encounter with the world champions.
Olivier Giroud equalled Thierry Henry’s record of 51 goals for his nation when he claimed a double while Mbappe and Adrien Rabiot hit the others.
The Aussies now play Tunisia on Saturday morning before taking on Denmark a week today.
Mooy’s Celtic team-mate Josip Juranovic goes into action this morning when Croatia play Morocco in the opening game in Group F.
