Tunisia beat France 1-0 but still failed to qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup. 

France had a last-minute goal ruled out for offside, as Tunisia held on to their shock victory over World Cup favourites France.

Tunisia are out of the World Cup after Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in the other Group D match, dashing Tunisian hopes of progressing. 

France’s late goal saw substitute Antoine Griezmann volley a dramatic equaliser at the Education City stadium.VAR ruled the goal out. 

It meant Tunisia captain Wahbi Khazi’s brilliant second-half goal proved to be match winner – even if the team didn’t progress in the tournament. 

“It’s mixed feelings because we’re happy to beat a team like France,” said Tunisia manager Jalel Kadri.

“We can be proud and leave with our head high, but it is a bitter victory.

“It would have been beautiful to beat France and reach the last 16. It is our fault for not doing what we needed to do before.”

France are through to the last 16, they top the group and had already secured qualification with a victory over Denmark in the last game.

Tunisia vs France – a dramatic evening 

Tunisia went into the game knowing they needed to win if they had any chance of progressing. They also needed Australia to lose their game. 

Goalscorer Khazri was a threat, while France defender Eduardo Camavinga was often overloaded out wide and needed support from Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate.

During the first half, Tunisia kept pressing and attacking the goal, and eventually, Khazri opened up space for himself on the edge of the box, he struck the ball at the bottom corner, to score the only goal of the game. 

Tunisia fans were full of hope that they would be heading to the last 16 but two minutes later, Australia scored their goal. 

“I said nothing is impossible. We have been able to win over the world champions,” added Kadri.

“We have been able to prove our efficiency and we did our best. We worked as a team. It wasn’t easy for us to get these four points [in the group stage] but we leave with a lot of honour and pride.”

France’s manager Deschamps didn’t waste time and in the second half bought on Mbappe and Griezmann – and from then France was in control. 

Tunisia did well to hold on after a series of late corners and there was a sigh of relief when VAR ruled out a goal from Griezmann, via a deflection.