AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — As France looked for a late equalizer, the gamers on Tunisia’s bench have been watching one other World Cup match on TV hoping for a purpose.Neither of them got here, giving Tunisia a momentous 1-0 win over defending champion France that also wasn’t sufficient to forestall the north African crew from being eradicated.Wahbi Khazri scored within the 58th minute Wednesday to guide Tunisia to solely its third victory at a World Cup event. However in stoppage time, the Tunisians on the sidelines have been extra within the different Group D sport, crowding round a TV display screen on the bench hoping Denmark would be capable to rating towards Australia — a circumstance that will have lifted Tunisia into second place and likewise into the spherical of 16 in Qatar.“We have been praying for a Denmark purpose but it surely by no means sport,” Khazri mentioned. “However that’s the factor with soccer, it’s best to solely rely on your self. We didn’t do sufficient within the first two video games, in any other case we’d be by.”France ended up profitable the group with six factors, forward of Australia on purpose distinction. Tunisia completed with 4 factors in third place. Denmark, which misplaced to Australia 1-0, ended up in final place with one level.It was France’s first loss on the World Cup for the reason that 2014 quarterfinals, when Germany beat the crew 1-0.Khazri broke the impasse early within the second half, operating on the coronary heart of the French protection and beating two gamers earlier than poking the ball into the underside nook.He fell to his knees in celebration and was mobbed by teammates. When he bought again up, he made a coronary heart form to the Tunisian followers behind the purpose after which limped off, showing to harm himself as he fell when scoring his twenty fifth worldwide purpose and his third at World Cups.France ahead Antoine Griezmann thought he had evened the rating within the eighth minute of stoppage time however he was dominated offside following a video evaluation.A couple of minutes after Khazri’s purpose, a person ran onto the sector at Training Metropolis Stadium with what gave the impression to be a Palestinian flag. He did some acrobatic jumps earlier than six safety officers dragged him off.With France already certified for the knockout stage, coach Didier Deschamps rested Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and most of his common starters. Solely 4 of the crew lining up at first had even began a World Cup match earlier than.“It is going to be lesson for them. Now they know what the very best stage is all about, towards a Tunisia crew that was supercharged,” Deschamps mentioned. “However we have been too timid, late within the sort out and made technical errors.”Deschamps defended his choice additional, saying his crew’s sizeable purpose distinction over Australia was sufficient of a security internet.“We didn’t want one level,” he mentioned. “Until one thing catastrophic occurred (within the different sport).”Khazri mentioned he didn’t consider France was disrespecting Tunisia by fielding such a weakened crew.“An absence of respect? No. (Aurelien) Tchouameni performs for Actual Madrid and so does (Eduardo) Camavinga,” Khazri mentioned. “It’s an honor to play towards them. I grew up in somewhat nook of Corsica that no person’s ever heard of, so it’s wonderful for me to play on the World Cup.”Khazri’s purpose, nevertheless, prompted Deschamps to carry on Mbappé and Griezmann and the elevated urgency nearly led to an equalizer.“I needed to present Kylian half-hour, which is what I’d deliberate to do,” Deschamps mentioned.Deschamps had chosen extra of a “C” crew than a “B” crew. Randal Kolo Muani struggled to make an affect at heart ahead and Kingsley Coman — who scored Bayern Munich’s winner within the 2020 Champions League closing — was remoted.France central defender Raphael Varane, nevertheless, mopped up on the events Tunisia bought near the penalty space within the first half.WHAT’S NEXT?France will face Poland within the final 16. The Poles completed second in Group C behind Argentina however superior on purpose distinction forward of Mexico.RARE APPEARANCEWith goalkeeper Hugo Lloris among the many rested, 37-year-old Steve Mandanda performed solely the second World Cup match of his lengthy profession. The opposite was additionally within the crew’s third group sport 4 years in the past.Mandanda’s look means Lloris must wait somewhat longer to equal defender Lilian Thuram’s nationwide file of 142 appearances. Lloris has made 141 appearances for Les Bleus.Striker Olivier Giroud additionally must be affected person. He nonetheless has 51 objectives, equal with Thierry Henry as France’s all-time main scorer.PAVARD’S ABSENCEDeschamps defined why he didn’t choose Benjamin Pavard for the match. The World Cup-winning defender began the opening sport towards Australia.“I had a number of discussions with him,” Deschamps mentioned, “and determined he was not able to play.”___
France loses to Tunisia 1-0 however nonetheless wins World Cup group
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