Tunisia Out of World Cup Despite Beating Defending Champion, France
Sports Recorder
December 1, 2022
Tunisia bowed out of World Cup 2022 despite claiming their first-ever competitive victory against France thanks to Wahbi Khazri’s second-half strike.
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.
The African side remained on top for the remainder of the first half, although France’s reshuffled attack still carried a threat, Kingsley Coman passing up the best chance of the opening period as he sliced wide having been played in by Youssouf Fofana’s run.
Khazri was at the heart of Tunisia’s better moments throughout the opening period, Steve Mandanda parrying his shot, but the goalkeeper was beaten two minutes before the hour.
Ellyes Skhiri robbed Fofana on halfway and Khazri was allowed to run straight at the heart of the France backline, skipping round Raphael Varane before placing a low left-foot shot past Mandanda.
Didier Deschamps responded with a triple substitution that included Kylian Mbappe, with Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele following him shortly afterwards, but France failed to significantly threaten until the final few moments.
