MY ACCOUNT
– France have secured qualification from Group D and are sure to make a number of changes
– Tunisia need a mini-miracle to qualify but will be going all out to try and work one
– Recommended bet: France to win and both teams to score
Defending champions France are already safely into the last 16 but Tunisia are facing an early exit from Qatar ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s final Group D clash.
While the Eagles of Carthage cannot influence what happens in the other group stage game — where a draw between Australia and Denmark is the best result for them but an Australian victory ends their World Cup — the north African side will be fully focused on trying to do their part by beating France.
However, even against an already-qualified and likely rotated Les Bleus side, it is a big ask for Tunisia.
France have impressed so far, outclassing Australia and a strong Denmark side. And with Kylian Mbappe on the hunt for the golden boot, it is unlikely the red-hot Paris Saint-Germain attacker will ease off in the final group game.
Tunisia will give it all they have — and will be buoyed by a strong performance in their 0-0 draw with Denmark — but even a second-string Les Bleus will be a formidable opponent.
Team news
France have had Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe, Christopher Nkunku and Lucas Hernandez ruled out of the tournament and Eduardo Camavinga is a slight doubt for this game with an adductor issue.
With qualification secured, manager Didier Deschamps is likely to rotate several key men. However, three-goal Mbappe is unlikely to be rested as he chases the Golden Boot.
Tunisia manager Jalel Kadri was unable to select defender Omar Rekik for the World Cup due to injury but otherwise he has no absences.
The stats
Tunisia have just one point in Group D but have racked up 27 shots in their matches against Denmark and Australia.
However, just five of those shots have been on target and Tunisia have yet to score, drawing 0-0 against the Danes and losing 1-0 to the Socceroos.
Captain Youssef Msakni has accounted for exactly a third of his country’s goalscoring attempts so far in Qatar, but just two of his nine efforts have hit the target.
During World Cup qualifying, Wahbi Khazri was Tunisia’s most potent player with three goals but has seen only 24 minutes of action in Qatar and manager Kadri must surely be tempted to turn to the veteran attacker against France.
Les Bleus conjured a whopping 44 shots in beating Australia 4-1 and Denmark 2-1, but also allowed 14 shots against them in those two outings.
Prediction
While Tunisia have yet to score in Qatar it has not been for a lack of trying. They were unfortunate to not find the net against Denmark as they had a goal narrowly ruled offside, missed one shot by inches and forced Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel into one of the saves of the tournament.
And while Tunisia were far too cautious in the first hour of their meeting with Australia, when Kadri’s men started pushing forwards they again looked dangerous, raining in 10 shots in the final 30 minutes.
France should still be too good for Tunisia but the north Africans know it is now or never so will go for broke against a rotated French side who may lack cohesion and may also lack some motivation to match Tunisia’s tackling aggression.
Attacker Khazri turned the match when he came on against Australia and Msakni is always keen to get shots away, so both would be interesting additions as goalscorer options.
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