Tunisia 1-0 France: Player ratings as Eagles of Carthage knocked out of World Cup despite shock win
By Sean Walsh
Tunisia stunned France with a shock 1-0 win, but their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the World Cup were ended by Australia's own unlikely victory against Denmark elsewhere in Group D.
The Eagles of Carthage fought tooth and nail to keep their hopes of advancing alive and put in a solid display against the rotated reigning champions, but their 2022 journey has come to an end at the benefit of the Socceroos.
Tunisia thought they took an eighth-minute lead when a Wahbi Khazri free-kick was flicked on and in by Nader Ghandri, but the linesman had his flag raised for a marginal offside and the goal was chalked off.
France looked very disjointed after making so many changes, though created a decent chance on the break with Youssouf Fofana slipping through Kingsley Coman, but his first touch took him away from goal and his off-balance strike sailed wide.
Steve Mandanda was forced into a save when Aissa Laidouni's second-time cross was nodded on by Anis Ben Slimane, before Eduardo Camavinga - filling in at left-back - had to retreat and prevent a similarly deep ball from reaching the free Nader Ghandri.
Just after the break, Laidouni robbed Fofana of possession in his own box and curled one narrowly over the top of Mandanda's crossbar as Tunisia went closer to finding a crucial opener.
And Tunisia took a deserved lead when Fofana lost possession too easily again, and Laidouni found Khazri to weave his way past the French backline and poke a shot past the flailing Mandanda.
With the clock running down, France finally showed signs of life with substitute Kylian Mbappe forcing a save from Aymen Dahmen and Randal Kolo Muani blasting wide at the end of Les Bleus' only real sweeping move of the afternoon.
Tunisia nearly clung on through eight minutes of stoppage time before Antoine Griezmann's deflected volley found the back of Dahmen's net with essentially the last kick of the game, only for it to be ruled out by a lengthy VAR check.
However, Australia's win had already been confirmed by this point and the Eagles of Carthage's fate was already sealed.
1. Tunisia (3-4-3)
GK: Aymen Dahmen - 5/10 - Didn't inspire a lot of confidence but France barely attacked so it hardly mattered.
CB: Yassine Meriah - 7/10 - Got forward down the wing to support Kechidra. Helped by the fact France played without wingers.
CB: Nader Ghandri - 7/10 - Got his head on most high balls and defended with authority.
CB: Montassar Talbi - 7/10 - Just as Meriah did down the right, Talbi was of great use down Tunisia's left.
RM: Wajdi Kechidra - 7/10 - Gave Camavinga plenty of problems in tandem with Ben Slimane.
CM: Ellyes Skhiri - 8/10 - After a poor showing against Australia, Skhiri came roaring back with a monster midfield performance.
CM: Aissa Laidouni - 8/10 - Took control of the midfield battle and teed up Tunisia's opener.
LM: Ali Maaloul - 6/10 - Found it hard at times to get by Disasi but worked hard for the cause.
RF: Anis Ben Slimane - 6/10 - Brought a good mix of work ethic and quality in possession.
LF: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane - 6/10 - Similarly covered every blade of grass down his flank.
CF: Wahbi Khazri - 9/10 - Gave France all sorts of problems in his hour on the pitch, eventually scoring the opening goal.
SUB: Issam Jebali (60' for Khazri) - 5/10
SUB: Ghaylen Chaaleli (74' for Ben Romdhane) - 5/10
SUB: Ali Abdi (84' for Ben Slimane) - N/A
Manager: Jalel Kadri - 7/10 - Tunisia produced an authoritative performance despite the obvious gap in quality.
2. France (4-4-2)
GK: Steve Mandanda - 4/10 - Looked every bit of his 37 years of age, slow to react to danger and made a hash of saves.
RB: Axel Disasi - 5/10 - Played out of position on his senior debut for Les Bleus but handled himself well.
CB: Raphael Varane - 4/10 - Made captain in Hugo Lloris' absence. Didn't defend with much seniority.
CB: Ibrahima Konate - 6/10 - Put in a few recovery challenges but always looked awkward.
LB: Eduardo Camavinga - 3/10 - Hung out to dry in his first real outing as a left-back.
DM: Aurelien Tchouameni - 6/10 - Tried his best to hold the fort but needed more help.
CM: Jordan Veretout - 3/10 - Way out of his depth. Hid at times and just shouldn't be starting a World Cup match.
CM: Youssouf Fofana - 3/10 - Looked bright early on but continually dribbled his way into trouble, culminating in Tunisia's opener.
AM: Matteo Guendouzi - 3/10 - Failed to link midfield and attack. Gave the ball away loosely.
CF: Kingsley Coman - 5/10 - Progressed the ball well when coming deep to receive it but didn't threaten Tunisia where it mattered.
CF: Randal Kolo Muani - 5/10 - Likewise helped out in deeper areas but not enough in the final third.
SUB: William Saliba (63' for Varane) - 4/10
SUB: Adrien Rabiot (63' for Veretout) - 4/10
SUB: Kylian Mbappe (63' for Coman) - 3/10
SUB: Antoine Griezmann (73' for Fofana) - 5/10
SUB: Ousmane Dembele (79' for Guendouzi) - 4/10
Manager: Didier Deschamps - 3/10 - Sure, it was a dead rubber for France and Deschamps was right to rest his key men, but the XI he picked seriously lacked cohesion.