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Tunisia out of The Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup with Head Held High after Beating France 1-Nil

Henrie Lynn

The Eagles of Carthage soared over France, defeating the defending champs 1-nil and exiting the tournament like a boss.

Eight minutes of added time in the clash between Tunisia and France was an agonizing eternity for the African side that still had a chance to qualify for the last 16 of the Qatar 2022 World Cup (WC).

What’s more, the Jalel Kadri-coached side had their hopes high that the other group D match pitting Australia and Denmark would produce a result that would favor them, a low-scoring win for the latter on a draw.

Wabhi Khazri’s second-half strike had given Tunisia a deserved lead in the match played on Wednesday, November 30, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. His 58th minute, widely celebrated, was their first strike of this WC final for Kadri’s men.

And, albeit momentarily, it had them in second place in the group and a foot into the round of 16. Tunisians’ hearts were, however, broken barely two minutes into their celebrations as the events of another match happening 24 km away, where Mathew Leckie gave Australia the lead in the 60th minute against Denmark, spelled doom for the Africans.

While their chances of getting through to the knock-out stages dwindled with each passing minute of Denmark not equalizing, the Eagles of Carthage held on for 97 minutes and 58 seconds for a historic win against France, the defending champions and one of the teams favored to win the 2022 clash.

The final seconds of the match were as dramatic as they came. Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann pounced on a loose ball, sending his effort to the far corner. France thought they had finally gotten the equalizer they had so much pushed for in the last 25 minutes of the match.

France had just taken away the only joy and pride of their third victory against the WC with that equalizer, and there were tears in the stands and bowed heads on the pitch, bench and touchline; until VAR happened, reversing the goal.

At that moment, it was double heartbreak for the Kadri’s men and their fans, who had just found out they were exiting the WC after Denmark failed to find the back of Australia’s net.

Griezmann’s goal, initially given, was up for review, but the referee who appeared to have blown the final whistle was listening to something in his ear, and there was tension throughout the stadium. The replays showed Griezmann to have been a fair few yards offside from Tchouameni’s initial cross, and the goal would not stand.

After the VAR check, the clock ran until the 11th minute of added time. Tunisia was back in the lead. While relieved, they were still heartbroken.

Then it was all over.

Despite Australia’s win over Denmark putting pain to their chances of reaching the last 16, Tunisia held on to record a historic victory over the world champions. Although the success did not send them through, the world will remember it, and it will go down as a moment of pride in the annuls of Tunisian football.

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