Whabi Khazri’s 53rd minutes goal gave Tunisia the moment they have been waiting for, as they defeated the two-time champions, France. Fofana was dispossessed before the ball works its way to the Tunisian striker, who glides past Varane and beats Mandanda to put the Eagles of Carthage ahead.
Also, Australia break through Leckie with a stunning goal, who turns Denmark inside and out before a brilliant finish.
Australia have qualified for the last five World Cups, but they only got past the group stage once – in 2006, when they crashed out to eventual champions Italy in the round of 16.
If the current scores hold with draws in the Australia-Denmark and France-Tunisia games, the Socceroos will return to the knockout stage for the first time in 16 years.
LIVE BLOG:
KICK-OFF AT AL JANOUB STADIUM
Australia 1-0 Denmark
KICK-OFF AT EDUCATION CITY STADIUM
Tunisia 1-0 France
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Denmark (Matthew Leckie 57mins)
57:00 – Stunning goal as Australia break through Leckie, who turns Denmark inside and out before a brilliant finish.
GOALLLLLLLLLLL! (Khazri 53 Mins)
Khazri scores to give Tunisia the moment they have been waiting for. The Eagles of Carthage are ahead!
Second half under way!
France get the ball rolling again. Tunisia were the better side in the first period but failed to convert their industry into an opening goal.
France have already qualified for the last 16 but will be keen to finish top of Group D and will want to play with more cohesion in the next 45 minutes.
With Deschamps shuffling his pack for tonight’s fixture, making nine changes from Saturday’s 2-1 win over Denmark, plenty of those on the pitch will want to put a case forward for selection as the tournament progresses.
They have 45 minutes left to do so.
HALF TIME: Tunisia 0-0 France goalless
The other Group D game, between France and Tunisia at Education City Stadium, remains scoreless as the first half edges towards an end.
Tunisia appear to be on the offensive against a French side that resting key players, including Kylian Mbappe.
As things stand, Denmark still need a victory to qualify, and a draw would be good enough for Australia. But a goal by Tunisia against France would change the calculas.
Guendouzi’s bad pass sums up France’s half
France were looking to embark on an attack which just petered out as Guendouzi passed the ball into no-man’s land. Like Guendouzi’s pass, France have lacked cohesion in this half.
41 mins: Tunisia 0-0 France
Duke gives away free-kick
A feisty barge on Maehle sends the Dane flying but the subsequent delivery from Eriksen is easily headed away by the Aussies.
39 mins: Australia 0-0 Denmark
Mandanda produces cool save
Khazri produces a clean and well struck effort from outside the area. He forces an alert save from Mandanda. There is some shoving in the area after the corner and France will play out from the back.
Eriksen doing his thing
Skov Olsen half chance
The forward plays a one-two on the edge of the box but can only scuff his shot at Ryan. All started from Maehle drifting inside from his left hand berth and finding space.
26 mins: Australia 0-0 Denmark
France struggling in attack
France have struggled to get into the Tunisia penalty area. Camavinga tries to find Kolo Muani but his pass is misplaced.
24 mins: Tunisia 0-0 France
Australia can’t keep the ball
It’s nearly all being played in their third since kickoff, with Denmark slowly putting the pressure on their opponents. Eriksen takes a free-kick from distance but Denmark are penalised for being offside.
Two-time winners France are competing at the 16th World Cup. Tunisia was the first African country to win a game at the World Cup when they beat Mexico in 1978.
With qualification to the round of 16 secure, France have unsurprisingly opted to rest a number of players including Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud.
With Tunisia unlikely to get three points against France in the other Group D match, a draw would probably be enough to see Australia through to the knockout stages for only the second time in their history. Win and they will definitely progress, no matter what happens in the other fixture
Australia XI: Matthew Ryan, Miloš Degenek, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich, Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Craig Goodwin, Mathew Leckie, Mitchell Duke.
Denmark XI: Kasper Schmeichel, Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Rasmus Kristensen, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Mathias Jensen, Christian Eriksen, Joakim Maehle, Jesper Lindstrøm, Martin Braithwaite, Andreas Skov Olsen.
Apex Football News 