The final group games of Group D finished with France and Australia qualifying ahead of Tunisia and Denmark to make the knockout phase, despite Tunisia edging France by a goal to nil in their must-win third group stage game.
After an opening 45 minutes that saw Tunisia dominate a relatively weaker French side fielded by Dedier Deschamps, it was Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri’s calm finish in the 58th minute that gave the Carthage Eagle’s the opener which turned out to be the eventual game winner for the Africans.
Tunisia finished third above Denmark with four points but their loss against Australia in the second group game came back to haunt, consequently playing a part in their elimination from the world’s biggest competition.
France and Australia await the outcome of the Group C final fixtures to see who they face respectively in the round of 16.
Tunisia, however, can keep their heads high and hope their next tournament has a better outcome.