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World Cup 2022: Tunisia, a sense of waste after the defeat against Australia

Tunisian Ali Abdi trying to contain Australian Ajdin Hrustic.

REUTERS - SUHAIB SALEM

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

2 mins

Against Australia, Tunisia, which had the opportunity to confirm its promising match against Denmark (0-0), missed the boat.

The defeat against the Soccerros (1-0) cut off a momentum that will have to be regained as the Eagles of Carthage already have one foot out before their last confrontation against France next Wednesday.

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From our special envoy to Qatar,

How to spoil the party when you play in a stadium all committed to your cause?

The Tunisians fell

into the trap set by the Australians

.

“ 

We were up to it physically.

We have adopted a very aggressive approach with pressing

 ,” explains Australian striker Mitchell Duke, who is hugely combative and voted man of the match.

The carrots are not cooked

Like Naïm Sliti, or even Wahbi Khazri, -who looked like he had bad days after the defeat-, everyone knows that it will take a feat against France, reigning world champions in the third group stage match, to hope to see the round of 16.

"

 For the match against France, the carrots are not cooked

," advances coach Jalel Kadri, obviously without enthusiasm.  

We will work on the finish for this last confrontation of the first round

 ”.

Against the Australians, the Carthage Eagles shot 12 times on goal, including 4 shots on target.

We changed tactics in the second half, but did not manage to pack the game

 ", regrets Jalel Kadri.

After its draw against Denmark (0-0), Tunisia knew it had something to play against Australia which was beaten (1-4) by the Blues on the first day.

But the stake seemed to paralyze the Eagles of Carthage.

Struggling to find the last pass

Australia was able to back down to maintain its advantage and go for an unexpected victory.

At the end of the game, the Australians were attacked by Montassar Talbi (84th) and Montpellier's Wahbi Khazri (88th).

In vain.

They defended well and got us tactically

," conceded Hannibal Mejbri, Birmingham City midfielder on loan from Manchester United.

Then they closed the game well after their goal and it was difficult for us to score.

We had to find the last pass and the right finish to score and we couldn't do it.

The first period was not good.

We went from a huge game against Denmark to the one against Australia where we couldn't give the same performance.

Against France, there is no choice but to give everything

 ”.

Against Tunisia, Australia obtained only the 3rd victory in its history in six participations in the World Cup.

The last victory dated back to 2010 in South Africa against Serbia.

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