Tunisia beat France, the reigning champion no less, but the feat was of little use. It’s already bad luck. There are already six participations of the North African team in a group stage of the World Cup without being able to ascend the rung of the crosses. Australia beat Denmark and took the prize, frustrating the illusion of the hard-fought Tunisia. France, already classified, took the game that way. The headlines were saved and he went through the game without further ado, pressing only at the end in search of an equalizer out of decorum. Those of Deschamps will meet in the round of 16 against the second classified in group C, where Argentina swarms.
France, the reigning champion, has plenty. So much so that you can even afford to lose. In fact, they had one game left over to qualify for the round of 16, a display of power that only Brazil and Portugal have achieved in this group stage. Deschamps, with all the logic in the world, decided to rest his best pieces. In a seat on the bench stood out Mbappé, the star of France and potentially the one of the World Cup, and next to him were Griezmann, Koundé and Dembélé, who has gone from being a cursed player to recovering his status both at Barça and with his team. Who was going to tell him?
In the French line-up, full of substitutes to protect the starters against what is to come, the starting position of goalkeeper Mandanda, who has become the oldest French player, at 37, to play in a World Cup, drew attention. It was Mandanda who had the most work. Tunisia, with qualifying options only if they win, was emboldened out of necessity and because, seeing the opponent’s best footballers sitting down, they believed it was possible.
A goal from Ghandri when he finished off without letting a lateral free kick bounce was his best booty in the entire first half. The problem is that the treasure was ephemeral as a mirage in the desert: the action was annulled for offside. Khazri, the Tunisians’ best man, meanwhile dazed the French midfield with constant mobility and even tested it with a powerful long shot that was parried by Mandanda at mid-height.
Khazri was precisely the aspiring hero of his country. He scored a great goal, starting from the three-quarter zone and avoiding the French until he entered the area and finished off with his left foot. The physical was played. So much so that he couldn’t go on. Tunisia celebrated the goal as if they had won the World Cup, but Australia was beginning to dim the joy by scoring against Denmark.
In the final stretch of the match, Deschamps put Mbappé on the field with half an hour to play. Then Rabiot and Griezmann and even Dembélé entered. The substitutions scared Tunisia, stressed by the possibility of qualifying (only Denmark’s goal was missing) and exhausted by the effort made. Mbappé, with a play by Maradona frustrated by Dahmen, and Muani, with a shot that caressed the post, searched for an equalizer in vain. Griezmann even scored at the last minute, but after the VAR intervention, his action was ruled out for offside. The bullying was colossal but it didn’t change anything.
