Giroud out, Mbappe in for France opener against Australia


Soccer Football - World Cup - France Training - Glebovsky, Russia - June 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe during traning REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) - France coach Didier Deschamps left veteran striker Olivier Giroud out of his starting 11 for the World Cup opener against Australia and has picked Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in a young but potent front three with striker Antoine Griezmann.

As expected, the injured Djibril Sidibe has been replaced at right back by Benjamin Pavard but Paul Pogba has been retained in a midfield featuring Corentin Tolisso for the Group C match at Kazan Arena on Saturday.

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