Defending champions France are the primary crew to qualify for the final 16 stage in FIFA World Cup 2022. AP
FIFA World Cup Group D got here to a conclusion on Wednesday with Australia becoming a member of defending champions France within the Spherical of 16, whereas Tunisia and Denmark had been knocked out.
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France topped Group D on a greater purpose distinction than Australia as each groups amassed six factors from three video games. Then again, Tunisia bowed out with 4 factors, whereas Denmark didn’t win any of their video games and completed final with only a level of their kitty.
Right here’s how issues went in Group D:
France remained unperturbed by accidents
No males’s world champions have efficiently defended their title since Brazil in 1962. It appeared just like the pattern will proceed with title holders France combating harm points earlier than the match began.
Regardless of lacking out on the companies of star midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, central defender Presnel Kimpembe, back-up goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Bundesliga’s main goalscorer Christopher Nkunku, and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, Les Bleus proved that they’re greater than geared up to make a deep run within the competitors as they turned the primary crew to qualify for the knockouts.
France rode on Olivier Giroud’s brace to thrash Australia 4-1 of their marketing campaign opener and adopted it up with a 2-1 win over Denmark as Kylian Mbappe discovered the again of the web twice. The six factors clinched a spot within the knockouts with a sport to spare.
With Les Blues already by way of to the knockout rounds, coach Didier Deschamps made 9 adjustments within the line-up and determined to play their ‘B’ crew towards Tunisia. Nevertheless, the choice backfired because the reserves didn’t step up and take their massive probability leading to France’s surprising 1-0 defeat of their final sport of the group.
Australia create historical past
The Socceroos created historical past on Wednesday by profitable back-to-back video games on the World Cup finals for the primary time and within the course of, they defeated World No. 10 Denmark 1-0 to safe a spot within the last-16 for simply the second time.
Written off as one of many worst Australian sides to ever compete at a World Cup, the Graham Arnold’s underdog crew silenced the critics with qualification to the knockout stage.
Australia, having defeated the Tunisians on matchday two, wanted a victory of their final group match towards Denmark to safe their spot within the spherical of 16 and it was their veteran ahead Mat Leckie who rose as much as the event and struck his first-ever World Cup purpose by way of a solo effort to offer Australia a shock lead and in the end the much-needed win.
Dismal Denmark
Denmark, thought of pre-tournament as one of many title darkish horses, by no means confirmed up on the massive stage and had a forgettable match. The crew, who made it to the semi-final of the Euro 2020, couldn’t handle even a single win in Qatar, struggling a defeat towards France and Australia and enjoying out a draw towards Tunisia.
Tunisia bow out however with heads held excessive
Tunisia exited the World Cup on Wednesday with their heads held excessive as they surprised France of their final match of the match. Tunisia wanted the victory, plus a stalemate within the different Group D conflict between Australia and Denmark, to safe a top-two end and no person would have fancied them to beat the defending champions.
Nevertheless, Tunisia placed on a present to recollect for ages as they pressed relentlessly and performed with need and fervour to upset France.
Wahbi Kazri gave them the lead early within the second half and regardless of France bringing on the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann off the bench to avoid wasting the day, the Eagles of Carthage held their nerves to disclaim France an equaliser.
However, the win was not sufficient for Tunisia to make it to the subsequent spherical as they fell quick by two factors.
What’s subsequent
Group D winners France will tackle the Group C runners-up Poland at Al Thumama Stadium on 4 December. Group D runners-up Australia may also play on the identical day as they’ll lock horns with Argentina, winners from Group C, at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.
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