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Tunisia beat Group D champions France 1-0 on Wednesday. But the result was insufficient to qualify in a dramatic climax that saw Antoine Griezmann’s goal called out by a late VAR review.
Tunisia eliminated from world cup despite winning
The Eagles of Carthage, Tunisia won a famous game against a French team made up primarily of backup players on Wednesday, but their 1-0 triumph over the reigning champions was insufficient to advance the North Africans to the World Cup knockout stages.
The African Team stormed onto the pitch to battle a disorganized French team boasting nine changes from the squad that beat the Danes. Tunisia needed to win already-qualified France and pray for Denmark to avoid defeat against Australia in the other Group D game to advance.
However, their victory over the 2018 World Cup champions isn’t enough to advance them to the next round, as Australia defeated Denmark 1-0 to finish second in Group D. Tunisia thus maintains their unfavorable record of failing to advance from the group stage in six World Cup participation.
Tunisia’s third World Cup victory came in the 58th minute, when French-born Wahbi Khazri dribbled into the area and slipped the ball past back-up goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who at 37 is the oldest Frenchman to compete in a World Cup match. Tunisia’s victory also broke France’s six-match World Cup winning streak.
The Tunisian captain’s goal fired the French into action, with Deschamps putting in talents like Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to kick-start a slow offensive.
Mbappe and Griezmann revitalised the French, who were helped by Tunisia sitting back in the hope of retaining their lead. Substitutes and staff on the Tunisian bench were fixated on the other crucial group stage game in the dying minutes of their own contest.
France pressed on, hoping to avoid the disgrace of a defeat, but a stoppage-time goal by Griezmann was disallowed due to offside.
