On Wednesday, a revitalized Tunisia won a famous match against a French side made up primarily of backup players, but the North Africans’ 1-0 triumph against the defending champion was not enough to advance them to the World Cup knockout rounds.
Tunisia stormed onto the field to battle a disorganized French team that included nine changes from the side that defeated the Danes. To advance, Tunisia needed to upset already-qualified France and pray that Denmark wouldn’t lose to Australia in the other Group D match.
But after Australia overcame Denmark 1-0 and secured second place in Group D, its first victory over the champion of the 2018 World Cup in more than 50 years was not enough to advance it to the next round. Thus, Tunisia maintains its regrettable record of failing to advance from the group stage in six World Cup participation.
When Wahbi Khazri, a Frenchman by birth, dribbled into the area in the 58th minute and slipped the ball past backup goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who at 37 is the oldest Frenchman to participate in a World Cup match, Tunisia earned its third victory in 18 games at the finals. The victory by Tunisia also put an end to France’s World Cup winning streak of six games.
AUSTRALIA DEFEATS DENMARK 1-0 TO CLINCH A WORLD CUP ROUND-OF-16 SPOT.
Early on, Tunisia also presented a threat when Nader Ghandri attempted to flick the ball into the goal off a free kick but the action was flagged for offside.
The atmosphere in the stands was hostile right away, with some Tunisian fans at Education City whistling during the playing of the French national anthem prior to kickoff. The same thing had occurred during an intense friendly between France and its former colony in 2008 in Paris.
French manager Didier Deschamps offered players who often see very little of the pitch a taste of the action in an effort to rest his stars for the Round of 16. However, the French bench lacked unity, and a Tunisian team that was desperate to score repeatedly rushed back and split wide open the back line.
The goal by the Tunisian captain spurred the French to action, and Deschamps brought in superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to spark an underwhelming attack.
Mbappe and Griezmann gave the French a boost, while Tunisia’s decision to hold back in an effort to protect their victory also helped. In the last moments of their own encounter, Tunisian personnel and substitutes were glued to the other pivotal group stage match.
France kept playing in an effort to avoid the humiliation of a defeat, but a goal by Griezmann in stoppage time was ruled out for offside.
