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Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg is stopped by two Tunisians
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IMAGO/Javier Garcia/Shutterstock / IMAGO/Shutterstock
In the first game of Group D, Denmark and Tunisia drew 0-0.
The pressure is increasing for both teams, France are the top favorites in this group.
The French are also in action for the first time at the 2022 World Cup in the evening, against Australia at 9 p.m.
Through the EM 2021, when Denmark only failed in the semi-finals, and the two Nations League successes against world champions France, the team of coach Kasper Hjulmand has earned the status of a secret favourite.
Tunisia appeared unimpressed by this, the eagles of Carthage went into the duels aggressively, animated their own supporters with gestures and scored more goals in the first half (8:3 shots on goal).
More importantly, Tunisia also had the higher quality chances.
Mohamed Dräger's deflected shot from distance went just wide of the Danish goal (11'), Issam Jebali's goal was disallowed for offside (23') and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel made a strong save against Jebali, who was possibly offside again (43'). .
Denmark had to replace the ailing ex-Dortmunder Thomas Delaney shortly before the break - and didn't get into the game any better at the beginning of the second half either.
For a long time it looked as if the Scandinavians had been surprised by the physical play of the Tunisians.
With the offside goal by Andreas Skov Olsen (55th), previously Mikkel Damsgaard had been in the forbidden zone, the Danish game became more purposeful.
Tunisia were now lower, allowed themselves to be put on the defensive and were lucky not to score when Christian Eriksen (69') and Andreas Christensen (70') had a double chance.
After that, the game leveled off again, and in added time Tunisia were lucky again when a possible penalty for Denmark was not awarded after video evidence (90+4).
It remained a goalless draw.
kra