The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group D Denmark v Tunisia clash that sees the opening game of Group D, where it is a shootout between Denmark and France to top the group.
With so many games and so little time, our Group D Denmark v Tunisia Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game. We watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group D Denmark v Tunisia Match Centre.
KICKOFF – TUESDAY 22ND NOV – 16:00 (QATAR) 13:00 (UK) 0:00 (AEDT)
Group D Denmark v Tunisia Match Review
The first 0-0 draw of the World Cup played out in Group as Denmark and Tunisia battled hard but couldn’t break through. But it was no bore draw, both sides giving it plenty in attack. There was also later drama involving VAR, just he way no one likes it.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
1′ Min A quick start to the game as Denmark earn a corner within the first 20 seconds. Nothing comes out of it this time.
7′ Min Both teams look comfortable passing the ball around without pressuring too much in attack as the game settles down. We could do with a rest after the Argentina-Saudi Arabia game anyway.
11′ Min Tunisia get their first big chance of the game, and it’s almost a deflected goal for Mohamed Dräger as his shot comes off Denmark’s Andreas Christensen. A subsequent corner can be filed under close, but no cigar with a Tunisia header going just over the bar.
20′ Min A corner for Denmark breaks up a bit of the constant passing. Tunisia’s defence is up for it though, and gives Denmark nothing.
21′ Min A free kicks leads into another corner for Denmark, and eventually Joachim Andersen hits a shot straight at the keeper.
22′ Min Moments later Tunisia put the ball in the back of the net from a break away, with Issam Jebali calmly slotting the goal around the Danish keeper, but it is immediately ruled offside.
30′ Min More corners and more attack from Denmark, but also more great repelling of said attacks from Tunisia. The Danish are not going to get an easy goal today. If any.
38′ Min Corner for Tunisia and they go close with a powerful shots on a tight angle going over the bar.
42′ Min How do Tunisia not score? Issam Jebali is clear in the box with only Kasper Schemeichel to beat and the Danish keeper just gets a hand to the chip kick and pushes it just wide of the post.
45′ +3 Min Denmark finish the half with a free kick and a corner but Tunisia deal with it like they have all half. All square at half time, and that’s probably fair. Denmark had more attacking opportunities in general but Tunisia had the best individual scoring chance.
HALF TIME – DENMARK 0 TUNISIA 0
46′ Min A similar start to the second half as Tunisia get a corner within the first 20 seconds of kick off. Same result as Denmark’s first half and the score remains 0-0.
50′ Min Tunisia’s Aïssa Laïdouni makes a run from inside his own half, and he’s in the clear, but as he approaches the goalkeeper he looks to pass square instead of shooting and loses out. A subsequent corner sees a rocket shot from Drager just go wide too. Tunisia are on top here.
55′ Min Ball is in the back of the net for Denmark, but it is immediately ruled out for offside. Andreas Skov Olsen would have been the goal scorer after a bit of a scramble and a few blocked shots.
70′ Min If you’re wondering why the gap between entries, all we can say is you haven’t missed anything. A few substitutions, occasional corner, and a lot of passing.
71′ Min Christian Eriksen goes very close with a long range shot that is well saved by Aymen Dahmen. But a corner is conceded.
72′ Min Tunisia go down the other end and force a corner, but there is a big shout for a handball from the Danish defender, but the calls are ignored by the referee and VAR. The corner went through everyone, a worry for Denmark if there was a Tunisian attacked spare.
82′ Min Both teams continue to press without too much trouble, and a 0-0 is looking more and more likely. Surely there won’t be 10+ minutes of added time in this game. If there is, we’re going to start calling out a FIFA Conspiracy.
90′ Min Just the five minutes of added time, just a Denmark get another corner. And not score again. And another one a few minutes later for no result.
90′ +3 Min A cheeky long range shot disguised as a cross from Jesper Lindstrøm from near the sideline nearly goes in and the Tunisian keeper does very well under pressure. It forces a corner though. But before the corner is taken the referee puts his arms in the air signalling a VAR intervention, looking for a potential penalty….
For the record, the handball in question is for the corner taken before the shot we described at the beginning of this entry. How far back can you go we ask? The referee has a look and….
NO PENALTY
A sigh of relief for Tunisia, as that would have been a cruel way to go down after such a great effort.
90′ +6 Min The 20th and final corner of the match goes to Denmark, and as ever the Tunisian keeper is up to the job.
Final Score
DENMARK 0
TUNISIA 0
HT 0-0
Player of the Match
All the Tunisian defenders and both Goalkeepers.
Points of Interest
- How far back should the officials be going for VAR. The final potential penalty was way too long after the original moment in question. The technology is there to see it straight away, so call it straight away. Otherwise all it does is annoy fans and make the game harder to follow.
- The result is a good one for Australia who take on France a few hours later.
Group D Denmark v Tunisia Match Stats
Group D Denmark v Tunisia Starting Teams
DENMARK (3-5-2)
1 Schmeichel
2 Andersen
4 Kjaer
6 Christensen
13 Kristensen
23 Højbjerg
8 Delaney
10 Eriksen
5 Maehle
11 Skov Olsen
12 Dolberg
TUNISIA (3-4-2-1)
16 Dahmen
6 Bronn
4 Meriah
3 Talbi
20 Dräger
17 Skhiri
14 Laïdouni
24 Abdi
25 Ben Slimane
7 Msakn
9 Jebali
Group D Denmark v Tunisia Match Preview
Why should you care?
Denmark are a genuine dark horse for this group, and potentially one of those teams who could go long into the tournament and surprise. Like when they pushed England to extra time in the Semi final at the Euros in 2021.
And for Australian fans, this is a chance to see the other teams in their group in action. Especially Tunisia who look like the biggest chance for Australia to grab a positive result at this World Cup. For the record, this website is Australian-based for the potential bias.
Who should you care about?
It is hard to go past Christian Eriksen as the main person to watch. Who’d think he’d make it to another World Cup after his heart attack at the Euros in England. And Christian Eriksen has had a decent season so far for Manchester United being one of their shining lights. He’ll be at the heart of Denmark’s attack and chances too.
Wahbi Khazri was our player to watch for Tunisia at the last World Cup and he’s back for the 2022 edition, which saves us time if we’re honest. But not only is he familiar, he has a great name, and is a decent goalscorer.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Coincidentally, outside of Tunisia itself the next two most represented countries for the Tunisian side are France and Denmark who are in their group.
Tunisia have never beaten a European side at the World Cup – their record in D3 L7.
Denmark are undefeated against African sides in four World Cup games (W2 D2) but have also conceded exactly one goal in all four games.
Who will win?
Denmark 2 Tunisia 0
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
Group D Denmark v Tunisia Match Review
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute except one that has only the minutes that matter.
Stay tuned after the match.
Group D Denmark v Tunisia Match Stats
Coming after the match.
