Match Report:
Al Rayyan (Qatar): Defending champion France won its World Cup group despite losing to Tunisia 1-0 on Wednesday. Wahbi Khazri scored in the 58th minute to give the Tunisians the victory, but it wasn't enough to get them into the round of 16. Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in other Group D game and finished second on goal difference.
Khazri ran at the heart of the French defence and beat two players before poking the ball into the bottom corner. He fell to his knees and was mobbed by teammates. When he got back up, he made a heart shape to the Tunisian fans behind the goal and then limped off, appearing to hurt himself as he fell when scoring his 25th international goal and his third at World Cups.
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Group D is in the books ✅#AUS join holders #FRA in the last 16!#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 30, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Group D is in the books ✅#AUS join holders #FRA in the last 16!#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 30, 2022Group D is in the books ✅#AUS join holders #FRA in the last 16!#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 30, 2022
Read: FIFA World Cup: All you need to know so far
It was Tunisia's third victory at a World Cup, and it was France's first loss at the tournament since the 2014 quarterfinals, when Germany beat the team 1-0. France forward Antoine Griezmann thought he had evened the score in the eighth minute of stoppage time but he was ruled offside following a video review. At the same time, Tunisia's players on the bench crowded around a TV monitor hoping for a Denmark goal that would have changed the group standings.
A few minutes after Khazri's goal, a man ran onto the field at Education City Stadium with what appeared to be a Palestinian flag. He did some acrobatic jumps before six security officials dragged him off. With France already qualified for the knockout stage, coach Didier Deschamps rested Griezmann, Kylian Mbapp and most of his regular starters. Only four of the team lining up at the beginning had even started a World Cup match before.
But Khazri's goal prompted Deschamps to bring on Mbapp and Griezmann and the increased urgency almost led to an equalizer. Deschamps had selected more of a C team than a B team. Randal Kolo Muani struggled to make an impact at centre forward and Kingsley Coman who scored Bayern Munich's winner in the 2020 Champions League final was isolated. France central defender Raphael Varane, however, mopped up on the occasions Tunisia got close to the penalty area in the first half.
RARE APPEARANCE
With goalkeeper Hugo Lloris among the rested, 37-year-old Steve Mandanda played only the second World Cup match of his long career. The other was also in the team's third group game four years ago. Mandanda's appearance means Lloris will have to wait a little longer to equal defender Lilian Thuram's national record of 142 appearances. Lloris has made 141 appearances for Les Bleus. Striker Olivier Giroud also has to be patient. He still has 51 goals, equal with Thierry Henry as France's all-time leading scorer. (AP)
Full time: Tunisia beat France 1-0
GOAL!
And in came Tunisia's first goal of the tournament. The crowd is on their feet, shrieking at the top of their voice, celebrating like there is no next day. Khazri, team's striker, goes past Varane and Mandanda, to score the magical goal for his team.
Score: 1-0
Second half is underway
-- Half time. Score: 0-0
-- Wahbi Khazri just came up with a shot on the goal but the agile French goalkeeper Steve Mandana saved the goal for his team. The scoreline reads 0-0 at the moment.
-- So far in the match, France have had more possession and Tunisia have just been able to stop the French from taking a gain on the scoreline. It's 0-0 as we approach the half time.
- France XI: Mandanda; Disasi, Varane, Konate, Camavinga, Guendouzi, Tchouameni, Fofana, Veretout, Kolo Muani, Coman.
- Tunisia XI: Dahmen, Ghandri, Talbi, Meriah, Kechrida, Maaloul, Skhiri, Laidouni, Slimane, Romdhane, Khazri.
Here is some background to the story between the two rivals before you delve into the match updates...
TUNISIA VS FRANCE (Group D)
Stadium: Education City Stadium
FIFA Rankings: Tunisia are ranked 30th while France are 4th.
Head-To-Head: Tunisia have 2 wins while France have 3. There are 4 draws between the teams. Recently, Tunisia drew against the defending champions France in 2010 -- 1-1, before losing against them 1-3 in 2008.
Last match in the ongoing WC: Tunisia drew against Denmark 0-0 and lost to Australia 0-1, an underwhelming performance so far which they would look to rectify against France. Meanwhile, France have won its first two matches, first against Australia 4-1, the second against Denmark 2-1.
Team's World Cup record: Tunisia have 2 wins, 5 draws and have lost 10 times in the tournament whereas France have won 36 matches, drew 13 and lost 19.
