Ex-Bundesliga professional maneuvers Australia into the round of 16 – France, despite Tunisia’s bankruptcy, group winners
Joel King, Harry Souttar, Jamie MacLaren
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Australia beats Denmark and advances to World Cup Round of 16! Defending champions France lose to Tunisia but still top the group. In the round of 16, France is threatened with a duel with Argentina.
Group D’s final matchday is in the books. While Tunisia demanded everything from the big favorites France, Australia and Denmark delivered a gripping finish to qualify for the round of 16.
Heading into the final Group D game, holders France were virtually certain to be top of the table (Australia should have beaten Denmark by more than six goals if France lost). Australia and the previously disappointing Denmark fought head-to-head for a place in the round of 16.
Tunisia wrestles France 1-0
Tunisia, on the other hand, had outsider chances for the next round. To qualify for the round of 16, the North Africans not only had to win against world champions France, they also had to hope for a draw between Denmark and Australia at the same time.
At times it didn’t even look so bad for Tunisia. Against a French B-Elf – national coach Didier Deschamps actually rested most of his stars – Tunisia took the lead in the 58th minute through Khazri. In the 98th minute, Antoine Griezmann scored to make it supposedly 1-1, but the goal was withdrawn due to an offside position.
Despite this great success, it wasn’t enough for Tunisia because of the result in the parallel game.
Australia defeats Denmark
Denmark, who have been disappointing so far, could have gone through to the last 16 if they beat Australia. And indeed, the Scandinavians, who were considered the favorites before the tournament, were also the better team for long stretches of the game.
After an hour, however, Matthew Leckie, a former Bundesliga professional (Gladbach, Ingolstadt, Hertha BSC), finally buried Denmark’s hopes of the round of 16. Australia took the lead to move into the next round behind France.
France against Argentina in the round of 16 possible
In the round of 16, France meets as group winners on December 4th. either in Poland, Argentina, Mexico or Saudi Arabia. In fact, before the last matchday of Group C, it would not be unlikely that Argentina would finish second and meet France in the round of 16.
Australia must on 03.12. ran against the corresponding group winner.
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This article was originally published on 90min.de as Ex-Bundesliga professional maneuvers Australia into the round of 16 – France, despite Tunisia’s bankruptcy, group winners released.