Tunisia defeats France but is left without a miracle
‘The Eagles of Carthage’ did their homework with a goal from Khazri against an unprecedented France with up to nine changes
MADRID, 30 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Tunisian team achieved a hard-fought victory (1-0) against France this Wednesday that allowed it to touch the miracle of the round of 16 for a few minutes, until Australia, which will be in the first World Cup qualifier in Qatar, scored to also beat Denmark in the other Group D match.
‘The Eagles of Cartago’ believed at all times in their chances of being among the 16 best teams in the World Cup and after the break, after an electric and committed start, Wahbi Khazri scored the only goal of the match. This goal, the first for the Africans in Qatar, allows them to celebrate their first win against the French in their entire history. Didier Deschamps introduced up to nine changes in the ‘eleven’ to rest his ‘figures’, although in the final stretch he tried to stir up the game by bringing on the theoretical starters, without success.
Despite the defeat, France advances to the round of 16 as first group with six points, the same as Australia, who had won the goal difference. Both teams will face the second and first classified in Group C -Argentina, Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia-, respectively.
France entered somewhat thick and without knowing what to play, with a Tunisian team that started with more determination. And in the first ten minutes he already set off the alarms in the French team with an offside goal from Ghandri, who finished off a lateral free kick from the left with his right leg, although somewhat ahead of the French defensive line. The ‘Gallos’ only managed to drain water and patch up their bad start.
The French knew how to withstand the initial outburst of the Africans with the ball as an antidote, suffering only a few lashes in the form of a transition from ‘Las Águilas de Cartago’. And, halfway through the first half, the defending champion managed to link more than two passes by jumping lines in a counter that Kingsley Coman did not finish off with a deflected shot on the run. However, it was Morocco who had another clear one on the head of Ben Slimane to open the can, without luck, close to half an hour into the game.
France was still uncomfortable, suffering a lot on the left side with a misplaced Eduardo Camavinga on the side. And it was in another mistake by a defense with doubts when Tunisia, after a bad clearance by Raphael Varane, tested Mandanda again with a somewhat focused shot from the edge of their captain Khazri. Mastery of the Africans without reward before a ‘Plan B’ of Deschamps that did not work. The ’10’ and Laidouni were a ‘toothache’ for the Frenchmen, combining without opposition and generating all the Tunisian opportunities.
And the script did not change in the second half, with a Tunisia that believed and on the umpteenth opportunity fell 1-0, the work of active captain Khazri. The ’10’ starred in great solo driving and overcoming lines to beat Mandanda with a soft touch with his left leg and make the Africans dream of their first goal in Qatar, who at that time were a team in the round of 16 for the first time time in its history.
The goal provoked the first major reaction from Deschamps, who was not happy with his unprecedented approach and stirred up the bench, bringing on the theoretical starters Kylian Mbappé, Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann. The ‘Roosters’ improved and took control of the game, although without too much depth and danger, an aspect that they tried to improve with the appearance from the bench of Ousmane Dembélé.
The siege grew by the minute and close to discount the PSG forward caracoleado and danced in the area on the left side to shoot powerfully forcing Dahmen key intervention. Kolo Muani did not want to miss the festival of occasions with a powerful shot from the front that licked the post.
The end of the match was quite suspenseful, with a goal disallowed by Griezmann VAR through one of the last plays of the duel. Although the Tunisian players already knew the result favorable to Australia in the other game, so their options were gone.
–RESULT: TUNISIA, 1 – FRANCE, 0 (0-0, at halftime).
TÚNEZ: Dahmen; Kechrida, Meriah, Ghandri, Talbi, Maaloul; Skhiri, Laidouni; Ben Slimane (Abdi, min. 83), Ben Romdhane (Chaaleli, min. 74); Khazri (Jebali, min. 60).
FRANCE: Mandanda; Disasi, Varane (Space, 63 mins), Conate, Camavinga; Tchouaméni, Fofana (Griezmann, 73rd), Veretout (Rabiot, 63rd), Guendouzi (Dembélé, 79th); Colonel Muani, Coman (Mbappé, min.63).
1-0, min. 58: Khazri.
–REFEREE: Matthew Conger (NZL). He admonished Kechrida (min.28), from Tunisia; and a , by France.
–ESTADIO: Education City Stadium.
