Hockey World Cup 2018, Match 4: New Zealand v France, Live Score, Commentary & Updates

That's it from us here - this is Subhashish signing off- do join us when World Champions Australia face Ireland at 1700 IST tomorrow - stay tuned to Sportskeeda for all the latest updates.

NOT AN ENTIRELY CONVINCING WIN, BUT A WIN NONETHELESS FOR NEW ZEALAND - STEPHEN JENNESS WINS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT - THE FRENCH HAD 8 SHOTS ON GOAL WHILE THE BLACK STICKS MANAGED ONLY 6, 22 CIRCLE ENTRIES FOR THE FRENCH - ONLY 13 FOR NZ (WILL DARREN SMITH BE CONCENED???) - NO PCs FOR NZ - FRANCE EARNED 4 - CHARLET SCORED FROM THE LAST OF THEM

THE BLACK STICKS EARN FULL POINTS - BUT NOT BEFORE THEY SURVIVE A REAL SCARE AS DELMEE'S CHARGERS PUT ON A BRAVE DISPLAY - THE FRENCH HAD THEIR CHANCES - MISSED A FEW BY A MERE WHISKER - CHARLET SCORED ONE BUT SHOULD HAVE GOT ANOTHER

FULL TIME: NEW ZEALAND 2 - FRANCE 1

THE FRENCH TAKE THEIR GOALIE OFF

NEW ZEALAND 2 - FRANCE 1

WAS THE BALL STOPPED INSIDE THE CIRCLE????

CHARLET SCORES - BUT IS IT TOO LITTLE TOO LATE????

58' The French pass the ball around - across both flanks - look for gaps - earn a PC

57' One last deperate attempt by the French - can they earn a PC - no is the answer

NEW ZEALAND 2 - FRANCE 0

55' STEPHEN JENNESS SENDS ONE CRASHING INTO THE NET AT THE OTHER END - WHICH MAY EFFECTIVELY SEAL THE DEAL FOR THE BLACK STICKS

54' DELMEE LOOKS ON - HIS SIDE HAS DONE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING RIGHT - BUT HAVE FAILED TO GET THE BALL INTOT HE NET!!

GREAT SAVE - CHARLET IS DENIED YET AGAIN

YET ANOTHER PC AS THE FIRST IS BLOCKED

CAN CHARLET POWER ONE IN THIS TIME??

52' The French come away - yet again - from the right this time - FRANCE HAVE A PC!!!!!!

50' Kane Russell - at long last - manages to push ahead for the Black Sticks - cannot get a shot on goal

48' The Black Sticks hanging by a thread here - Tom Genestet brilliant as ever manages to enter the striking circle but cannot find a white shirt in front of goal

47' The tale continues - the French nearly - so very nearly find the back of the net

NEW ZEALAND LIVING RATHER DANGEROUSLY - THE COMPLEXION OF THIS MATCH CAN CHANGE IN A FLASH IF ONLY THE FRENCH MANAGE TO FIND SPACE IN THE NZ CIRCLE

END OF Q3: NEW ZEALAND 1 - FRANCE 0

43' The French possibly need to do something different if they are to find an opening goal

41' The Black Sticks have been unable to manufacture any attacks of their own - the French keeping the NZ defence busy

39' Yet another chance for the French as they press harder and harder - can NZ hold on??

The @BlackSticks are playing on this beautiful @PolytanAP surface in their match against France tonight. https://t.co/TAzG387KOW
— Vantage Black Sticks (@BlackSticks) November 29, 2018

CHARLET'S FLICK IS SAVED - GREAT CHANCE GOES ABEGGING FOR THE FRENCH

37' Victor Charlet in the thick of the action - France have a PC - CAN CHARLET SCORE???

36' The French keep pressing - as they obviously need to - the NZ defence holding the fort

34' THEY DO HAVE THE SPACE - AND A CHANCE - BUT CANNOT CONTROL THE BALL AT THE GOALMOUTH

33' Long ball from the French - too many Black Sticks in the way yet again - what can Delmee's boys to do to find space??

32' The French displaying a lot more urgency - get moving quickly - but give the ball away to the Black Sticks

The second half action begins

"We are not playing to our structure," says Delmee

KANE RUSSELL PUTS THE BLACK STICKS AHEAD BUT LES BLUES HAVE HELD ON ADMIRABLY AND ARE GAINING IN CONFIDENCE BY THE MINUTE - CAN THEY FIND AN EQUALIZER IN THE SECOND HALF??

HALF-TIME: NEW ZEALAND 1 - FRANCE 0

29' The French manage to penetrate the NZ circle - try a long crash ball in - to no avail though!!!

27' NZ have a chance to get a shot on goal - the French goalie charges out and clears the ball to safety

25' Lots of play on in and around the midfield as both sides attempt to probe the other in vain

23' The pace has not been blistering but the contest has been absorbing - can the French find an equalizer??

21' Timothee Clement has a chance to take a shot on goal!!!!! Cannot find the target though

20' The French make their way into the NZ 23 - the NZ defence is upto the task

19' The French persist with a high press - unable to find any space to manuever their way into the circle

18' The opening goal opens the match up - the French now attempt to dart ahead from the left - the Black Sticks steal the ball back

NEW ZEALAND 1 - FRANCE 0

16' FANTASTIC SRIKE BY KANE RUSSELL WHO TRAPS AN AERIAL BALL AND SCORES A FANTASTIC RUNNING GOAL

A RATHER CAGEY AFFAIR IN THE FIRST QUARTER - THREE SHOTS ON GOAL FOR THE BLACK STICKS - ONE FOR FRANCE. TWO CIRCLE ENTRIES EACH FOR BOTH SIDES

END OF Q1: NEW ZEALAND 0 - FRANCE 0