The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group D France v Tunisia clash that sees Tunisia trying for a sizeable upset over the already qualified France.
With so many games and so little time, our Group D France v Tunisia Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, 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 France v Tunisia Match Centre.
KICKOFF – WED 29TH NOV – 18:00 (QATAR) 15:00 (UK) 02:00 (AEDT)
Group D France v Tunisia Match Review
Match Summary
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 France confirm they hate Australia or is that final payback from the French president after the subs deal went awry from serial clown Scott Morrison. Why the harsh opening, well France looks to have named every French bench and fringe player for this game against Tunisia. If we (Australians) didn’t need the result to go our (Australians) way then we’d wish a heavy defeat on France for the cowardice.
3’ Min Early Klinsmann nomination for Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri who isn’t sure what part of him hurts the most (least) as he falls to the ground.
5’ Min Some early chances for Tunisia. France are showing early signs of not being quite ready or
8’ Min GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL FOR TUNISIA
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FOR TUNISIA
Nader Ghandri cleverly flicks the ball off the outside of his right foot from a magnificent cross into the box for a goal but is judged marginally offside. What a chance for Tunisia.
11’ Min Tunisia continues to pressure the French goal with multiple corners. They are really up for this game as much as the French do not appear up for it. Wahbi Khazri throws in another dive too, sniffing out a penalty.
14’ Min France gets their first shot at Tunisia via a couple of corners. But the game remains scoreless.
25’ Min France waste a golden opportunity to open the scoring. A counterattack sees Coman through on goal, but his first touch isn’t great which forces him out wide and is unable to beat the keeper.
29’ Min Decent chance for Tunisian forward Ben Slimane remains just that, a chance. Another couple of corners a minute later offers more chances and no goals. But they keep creating these chances and are the dominant team so far, so surely a goal will come soon for Tunisia. And don’t them Shirley.
35’ Min More chances and corners for Tunisia. Sure, this is a weaker French side, but they are truly terrible right now, and will this performance kill some momentum for the knockout rounds ahead. We hope not until they play England in the Quarter Finals, if England don’t choke v Senegal, which we think they will. Despite Tunisia’s continued assaults on their goal, the French have resisted the urge to go underground.
HALF TIME – FRANCE 0 TUNISIA 0
47’ Min Wahbi Khazri falls down in the box with the ball, the dive is no surprise, but the lack of VAR checking is, given the overuse of the video technology in recent years. It was no penalty for the record.
52’ Min Tunisia continues to press the French goal, and you can smell the opener isn’t far away. France have improved on their first half effort, but that’s not saying much after the super-expert level Limbo low bar they set in the first half.
57’ GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR TUNISIA
And it’s old mate Wahbi Khazri who scores the goal to give Tunisia amore than deserved lead. And doesn’t he and the crowd love it. So they should. 17 steals the ball off an apathetic French defender and he finds Wahbi Khazri who weaves his way through le French wall of defenders, and his left foot strike rolls past the French keeper for Tunisia’s first goal of the tournament. Better late than never. Amazingly Wahbi Khazri is subbed off after the goal. Strange decision if you want and need to win. He’s been one of their best.
FRANCE 0 TUNISIA 1
60’ Min Kilnsmann nomination for Aïssa Laïdouni, and this is quite the dedication to stay down for minutes as the French continue on in attack. Sure there was a bit of contact but it wasn’t worth a two minute lie down.
63’ Min France shows their first sign of wanting to win this match by subbing on Kylian Mbappe among others. It doesn’t take Mbappe long to show that he is going to breath some life into this French performance.
72’ Min France brings on Antoine Griezmann too. Then Ousmane Dembélé a few minutes after that.At least it shows they want to try and win the game now.
80’ Min France are building pressure now they have a decent forward line. A few corners and a shot on target from Ousmane Dembélé show that Tunisia is going to have a hard time keeping their lead/.
84’ Min More French attack, they are really having a go now. Tunisia must hold onto their lead and hope for a Danish goal in the other game to progress to the knockout stage.
88’ Min Kylian Mbappe goes for goal at the near post and is denied by the Tunisian keeper Dahmen. Kolo Muani shoots wide a minute later. Followed by a couple more corners. Tunisia are bravely holding on but look stuffed.
90’ Min Hard to believe but there are eight minutes of extra time to come. What for we’ll never know.
90’ +2 Min Kylian Mbappe wins a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area. Soft, but expected at this stage of the match. Can Tunisia hold on? Yes, Mbappe wastes a good minute lining up this kick to smash it straight into the wall.
90’ +4 Min France release the pressure as a Kylian Mbappe cross goes through the penalty area untouched and a goal kick for Tunisia is like an ice cream on a hot day for most people.
90’ +6 Min France win another corner and Tunisia hold on again.
90’ +8 Min GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR FRANCE
With barely a minute left France get an equaliser that they sort-of don’t deserve. And it’s Antoine Griezmann who smashes it into goal in a scramble for the ball around the six yard box. Heartbreak for Tunisia as that was indeed the last kick of the game. Double disappointment as news filters through from the Australia win over Denmark.
Hang about, this game isn’t over yet. What? Geez VAR Sucks.
VAR CHECK…….
There’s potential offside against Griezmann in the play before his strike. The referee has a long think about with a few replays. And………
GOAL DISALLOWED
There’s barely enough time for the Tunisian keeper to kick the ball over the sideline and Tunisia win the game but lose the knockout qualification war to Australia.
Final Score
TUNISIA 1
Wahbi Khazri 57′
FRANCE 0
HT 0-0
Player of the Match
All Tunisian players
Points of Interest
- Tunisian fans must be among the most vocal and abundant at this World Cup. They are eventually rewarded with an upset win over France, but sadly will regret not taking their chances against Australia as they are knocked out as the other Group D game went Australia’s way.
Group D France v Tunisia Match Stats
Group D France v Tunisia Starting Teams
TUNISIA (3-4-2-1)
16 Dahmen
4 Meriah
5 Ghandri
3 Talbi
21 Kechrida
17 Skhiri
14 Laïdouni
12 Maâloul
25 Ben Slimane
15 Ben Romdhane
10 Khazri
FRANCE (4-3-3)
16 Mandanda
3 Disasi
4 Varane
24 Konaté
25 Camavinga
13 Fofana
8 Tchouaméni
15 Veretout
20 Coman
12 Kolo Muani
6 Guendouzi
Group D France v Tunisia Match Preview
Why should you care?
If you are following the Australia v Denmark game, then you’ll need to keep an eye on this one.
However, even more of a reason to follow this game is to watch France play, who are playing some magnificent football at the moment, and being led by Kylian Mbappe.
Who should you care about?
Hopefully Kylian Mbappe isn’t rested, for our sake, as he is in such fine form and maybe heading towards a golden boot, so he may not want to rest.
Antoine Griezmann has been almost a partner in crime to Mbappe and an underrated contributor to the French success so far.
Their combination should lead to goals for France.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
France have won two and lost two games v African sides at the World Cup at this group stage.
Tunisia have never beaten European opposition at the World Cup in 10 attempts (D3 L7)
Who will win?
France 3 Tunisia 0
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
How does the table look?
Team / Played / Points / Goals Scored / Goals Conceded / Goal Difference
| France | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Australia | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| Tunisia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Denmark | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
Group D France 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 France v Tunisia Match Stats
Coming after the match.
