Australia advanced to the World Cup last 16 for the first time since 2006, thanks to a 1-0 win over Denmark in their final Group D match on Wednesday.
Denmark created chances in the first half of the match at Al Janoub Stadium in Wakra and could have taken an early lead, but Jesper Lindstrom’s close-range shot was blocked, and Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan parried Mathias Jensen’s attempt.
In the 19th minute, Australia’s defence gave Joakim Maehle space on the left and the defender drilled the ball into the box, but Ryan came to Australia’s rescue again, kicking the ball away. As forward Duke Mitchell took aim from range, Australia began creating chances and threatening the Danish defence, while Riley McGree had a shot saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
They finally broke the deadlock after an hour when Mathew Leckie perfectly timed his run and sent the ball through Maehle’s legs before beating Schmeichel. The Danes thought they had a chance 10 minutes later when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul on Kasper Dolberg, but the penalty was quickly overturned after the flag was raised for offside.
After a scoreless first half in which Denmark had more possession, Australia scored on the counter in the 60th minute when Leckie got past the Danish defence and twisted into space before slotting the ball home.
After losing 1-0 to Tunisia, Australia finished second with six points, level with group winners France. Denmark was last with one point, while Tunisia was third with four. They will now face Lionel Messi and Argentina in the Round of 16 on December 3 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Meanwhile, Tunisia claimed a famous victory over a France team comprised mostly of backup players on Wednesday, but the North Africans’ 1-0 victory over the reigning champions was insufficient to advance them to the World Cup knockout stages.
Tunisia needed to beat already-qualified France and hope for Denmark to avoid defeat against Australia in the other Group D game to advance. However, their victory over the 2018 World Cup champions was not enough to advance them to the next round, as Australia claimed the second place.
Tunisia’s third World Cup victory came in the 58th minute when French-born Wahbi Khazri dribbled into the box and slipped the ball past back-up goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who, at 37, is the oldest Frenchman to play in a World Cup match. Tunisia’s victory also ended France’s six-match World Cup winning streak.
The Tunisian captain’s goal galvanised the French, with Deschamps bringing in Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to kickstart an otherwise sluggish attack. The duo energised the French, who were helped by Tunisia, sitting back in the hope of retaining their lead. In the dying minutes of their own match, Tunisian substitutes and staff were fixated on the other crucial group stage game.
France pressed on, hoping to avoid the embarrassment of a defeat, but Griezmann’s stoppage-time goal was disallowed due to offside.
