By Victor Kanayo
Tunisia failed to reach the last 16 of the ongoing 2022 World Cup despite claiming their first-ever competitive victory against France.
It was Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri whose second-half strike proved the difference.
France, who had a late Antoine Griezmann strike ruled out by VAR in the final few seconds, still finished top of Group D, with Australia beating Denmark to join them in the Round of 16 as runners-up.
France made nine changes for the match from the team that beat Denmark and had already booked their place in the knockout stages, were still able to finish top of Group D on goal difference from runners-up Australia, who beat Denmark 1-0 at the same time.
France now take on the runners-up in Group C – a group that contains Argentina, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Mexico – which will be concluded later on Wednesday.
Australia reached the last 16 of the World Cup for only the second time in their history with a 1-0 win over a disappointing Denmark.
Winger Mathew Leckie scored the winner on the hour with a smart run and finish to end Denmark’s Qatar hopes at the group stage.
Australia, who made the knockout rounds in 2006 when they had Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka in their ranks, have now won back-to-back World Cup games for the first time.
They progressed to the knockouts in second place behind holders France in Group D and will play the winners of Group C. Poland are top of that group going into the final round of matches.
This Socceroos do not have the stars of yesteryear but they make up for it with spirit and hard work, and showed flashes of quality in a strangely subdued encounter.
Australia’s substitutes all had their arms around each others’ shoulders for the pre-match national anthem, a sign of the togetherness that had taken them to the brink of the knockouts.
