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The Tunisian players competed as if every minute spent on the pitch at the Education City Stadium consumed the most important game—the night—of their lives.
Khazi, Ben Silmane, Skhiri, Laïdouni and the rest of their friends fought for each ball with the eagerness and self-confidence of someone who no longer has anything to lose.
Half eliminated as they reached the final round of Group D, they concentrated on proving to themselves that they knew what they were doing with a ball.
It was not based on force but on ingenuity that they stripped the world champion's substitutes naked, justly defeated in a game that they never controlled until Rabiot and Griezmann entered to bring order.
Tunisia, who lost to Australia 1-0 and drew against Denmark 0-0, were eliminated on four points in a move Didier Deschamps used to make France's substitutes feel part of the adventure in Qatar.
From Mandanda, the goalkeeper, to Kolo, the striker, the coach deployed the second unit.
He only kept Tchouaméni and Varane among the starters and lined up Camavinga on the left side, in an attempt to prepare the young Real Madrid interior for eventualities that may arise in the future.
The loss of Lucas Hernández, injured on the first day, requires wasting spare parts for his brother Théo.
Difficulties soon arose.
France could not get out playing.
Tunisia cornered her in her area.
The largely Muslim crowd felt united with the resilient Tunisians, determined from the outset to advance by teaming up with short passes.
The decibels of the whistle soared when Ghandri, coming off a side free kick, sent the ball into the net and the referee ruled it offside.
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The 1-0 came in phases.
Like a sequence in slow motion, around game time Skhiri stole a ball from Fofana after several seconds of fighting, Tchouaméni was slow to help his partner in the pivot and Laïdouni sent the ball in a low and vertical pass that he did not find the foot of any French midfielder or centre-back.
Khazri pocketed it near the stick with a light touch.
Alarmed by the wiggle, Deschamps brought in Griezmann, Rabiot, Mbappé, Dembélé and Saliba.
Together they besieged the arch of Tunis.
The riot reigned more than the good game.
In the 97th minute Griezmann scored and the VAR annulled it for offside.
After several minutes of expectation, the crowd celebrated jubilantly.
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Classification
Group D | PT | P.J. | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 FRA | 6 | 3 | two | 0 | 1 |
two AUS | 6 | 3 | two | 0 | 1 |
3 YOU N | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
4 DIN | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | two |
Group D | PT | P.J. | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 FRA | 6 | 3 | two | 0 | 1 |
two AUS | 6 | 3 | two | 0 | 1 |
3 YOU N | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
4 DIN | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | two |
