France-born Wahbi Khazri scored the game’s only goal as Tunisia stunned World Cup champions France 1-0 at the Education City Stadium, but the victory was not enough for Tunisia to join France in the round of 16 in Qatar.
Tunisia’s Khazri scored the game-winning goal in the 58th minute amidst a cluster of defenders for their third victory in six World Cup appearances, but they were eliminated because Australia defeated Denmark 1-0 in the other group match.
France, who made nine substitutions from the team that defeated Denmark and had already qualified for the round of 16, finished ahead of Australia in Group D based on goal differential.
Following a VAR review, Antoine Griezmann’s stoppage-time goal was disallowed, forcing Tunisia to hang on for the victory in the dying minutes.
Khazri, who grew up in Corsica and currently plays for Montpellier in Ligue 1, was one of six players in the Tunisian lineup who were born in France, and he has been capped at the under-21 level.
There is a sizable Tunisian diaspora in France that will celebrate the result, which marked the country’s first victory against European opponents in a World Cup and its third victory overall in 18 matches.
To have a chance of reaching the last 16 for the first time, they required Australia to lose points in the other Group D match on the same day.
Les Bleus were the first side to advance to the next round after winning their first two matches in Qatar.
