Will there ever be a more bittersweet moment for the Tunisian national team?
The North African side entered their final group stage fixture needing a miracle in order to progress to the round of 16. While the Eagles of Carthage needed Denmark and Australia to share the points in the other game, the bigger task was beating France, their final opponents, in order to even have a chance of going through.
Despite the odds, however, Tunisia were able to achieve a historical victory. Didier Deschamps rotated heavily, resting Mbappe, Griezmann, and Giroud, which was beneficial. Nonetheless, Wahbi Khazri and Co. took on a talented squad and shocked everyone, beating the reigning champions thanks to a lovely goal from the aforementioned Montpellier forward.
The 31-year-old ace netted just before the hour mark, making history along the way as he became the first African to score in three consecutive FIFA World Cup starts. Furthermore, the former Sunderland man has been involved in all of his nation's last five goals in this tournament. Check out his goal in the clips below (videos are geo-restricted).
3 - Wahbi Khazri is the first African player in World Cup history to score in three consecutive starts, while he has been directly involved in each of Tunisia's last five goals at the tournament (3 goals, 2 assists). Guided. pic.twitter.com/vVHRMP8Fq9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2022
Tunisia are the first team to beat France in a World Cup game since Germany in the 2014 quarter-final.
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 30, 2022
But their first-ever World Cup win against a European nation - the reigning champions - still was not enough. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/xgUzwzJvW3
Tunisia might have been knocked out of the #FIFAWorldCup
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 30, 2022
But what a historic moment for them as their first goal of the tournament beats the reigning world champions #BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/1ouGFz3G12
TUNISIA TAKES THE LEAD
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022
As it stands Tunisia is through to the knockout stage pic.twitter.com/qSwvafgY16
The world champions trail against Tunisia
— SuperSport Football (@SSFootball) November 30, 2022
Stream #TUN vs #FRA live: https://t.co/Tg69y0m5GD | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/v63Iv4sHAw
GOAL!
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) November 30, 2022
WOW! Tunisia take the lead, an amazing solo goal from Wahbi Khazri. #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/tbspXTbu6Q
Antoine Griezmann thought he had scored a stoppage-time equalizer but that goal was chalked off for offside after intervention from VAR. As a result, Tunisia saw out the game and beat Les Bleus 1-0, their very-first victory over a European team at the FIFA World Cup.
Unfortunately, this was not enough for Jalel Kadri's side as Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in the other game. This means the Socceroos finished on six points, level with France but behind on goal difference, while Tunisia managed an admirable – but ultimately insufficient – four points.