Tunisia-France 1-0: goal by Khazri | World Results

From our correspondent Luca Bianchin

November 30th
– Doha (Qatar)

Wahbi Khazri, that’s the name. Tunisia’s number 10 decides Tunisia-France 1-0 and, even if it means nothing for qualification, he will always have his place in history. Tunisia had never beaten France, unless you want to consider the 1971 Mediterranean Games or a match between Under 23 teams, and considering the relations between countries – Tunisia was a French colony – the result has great weight. Australia’s victory against Denmark, clamorous, however confirms the expected results and breaks the heart of the Tunisians, who were eliminated in the most sensational way: forward the aussie.

THE OUTCOMES

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France, as expected, goes first in the group: they will play Sunday afternoon at the Al Thumama stadium against the second in group C, therefore Poland, Argentina, Saudi Arabia or Mexico. Then, if all goes well, Deschamps will find England or Senegal… and the Manche match would be a great quarter. Tunisia, on the other hand, is eliminated and, even if they only score one goal in the whole tournament, perhaps they deserve more. Beautiful goal, among other things: Skhiri recovers the ball from the ground against Fofana and Tunisia goes on goal in two moves. Khazri acceleration, Varane jump in speed and long shot.

THE MAN OF THE DAY

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Khazri deserves two words. He was born in France, in Corsica, and is one of the three Tunisians who play in Ligue 1: first Rennes, then St. Etienne, now Montpellier. He is the most French of the Tunisians. He will be remembered forever even if the match is between ugly and ugly, for a long time at a low pace and without shots on goal.

FRANCE BAD

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France, in all of this, is a great disappointment. Deschamps puts in all possible reserves, or almost. Inside Disasi, Camavinga as left full-back, Veretout, Coman, Fofana, Kolo Muani, even Guendouzi at the cost of making him play out of position, atypical winger on the left. During the first half he swaps him with Veretout but the meaning remains: the alternatives could play their best to make the coach have some doubts and they don’t. DD takes note of it and in the second half Mbappé and Rabiot play, then Griezmann and Dembélé, without much change. Real blue chances, two: a right foot from Kolo Muani in the 89th minute, deflected and out of nothing, and a goal disallowed by Griezmann for offside in the very last minutes. For the rest, nothing more than an unassuming shot from Dembélé, a rebounding left foot from Rabiot and a cross-shot in added time from Mbappé, who created more than his teammates in 60 in 30 minutes.

HEART TUNISIA

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The last protagonist of the day is the Education City audience. The stadium, other than Mbappé, is almost all red-Tunisia: lots of chants (very good), boos at the French anthem (badly) and a roar when Var cancels Griezmann’s goal. In the end, the Tunisians – who arrived here in their thousands – don’t know whether to celebrate or to be sad, a bit like the team watching an iPad on the bench hoping for a Danish goal. In the end, when in doubt, everyone returns to celebrate: well done.