Australia put up a valiant fight against France in the opening match of Group C at the 2018 World Cup. Les Bleus managed to edge out the Socceroos 2-1, with both of their goals being confirmed via technology.
As an Australian, I wish we could go back to the stone ages, because we would have on 1-0. There, I said it.
France’s left back, Lucas Hernandez, was engaged in a battle with Australia’s Mat Leckie for the entire 90 minutes. Hernandez seemed as if he would go down like he'd been shot whenever Leckie laid so much as a finger on him. The thousands of Australian fans booed him for the entire match, and Hernandez only served to cement his status as the public enemy of Australia by admitting to diving.
Lucas Hernandez on going down after a foul in today's press conference: "Sometimes I exaggerate, but that's all part of the spectacle... it also helps to take more time when you are winning."
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) June 17, 2018
Hey @doug987FM I know you like a good World Cup dive, I give this one an 8.1 #AusVFra #WorldCup18 pic.twitter.com/K7VKltolhz
— Chris (@UKcardsfan) June 18, 2018
We here at the The18 are massive fans of stopping the flop, and now Hernandez is on our hit list of floppers who must be stopped one way or another. France continue their World Cup journey with a tasty match against Peru, while the Socceroos look to get their first points of the World Cup against Denmark, who are equal with France on three points.