Despite a well-deserved win against a B-team of world champions France, the Tunisian national football team missed out on their historic first place in the round of 16 at a World Cup.
The North Africans defeated the defending champions 1-0 (0-0) at the end of Group D and thought they were in the knockout stage for two minutes, but missed second place in the group behind the French people.
Antoine Griezmann's alleged equalizer in injury time was withdrawn due to an offside position.
The defending champions, whose coach Didier Deschamps had changed his starting eleven to nine positions after the already certain round of 16 entry, are probably spared accusations of alleged distortion of competition thanks to the Australian victory.
The strong captain Wahbi Khazri, who plays in Montpellier in France, provided the winning goal (58th) for the team around Ellyes Skhiri from Cologne.
Despite their first defeat in a World Cup match since the quarter-finals in 2014, France won their group (0-1) against Germany.
Opponents in the round of 16 on Sunday will be second in Group C, which will be determined on Wednesday evening between Poland, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico (8 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the World Cup and on Magenta TV).
Deschamps had rebuilt almost the entire starting eleven.
Only midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and defender Raphaël Varane remained in the team, the latter taking over the captain's armband from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Kingsley Coman from FC Bayern Munich and Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt were also flushed into the team, but neither of them could do any self-promotion.
Bayern's Dayot Upamecano rotated out, his club colleague Benjamin Pavard and Mönchengladbach's Marcus Thuram hoped in vain for a chance.
Former Hertha player Mattéo Guendouzi made his first appearance in Qatar, father Mohamed had flown in on time and was sitting in the stands.
But Tunisia's coach Jalel Kadri also made six changes to his team.
Skhiri stayed in, Freiburg native Mohamed Dräger didn't.
The Tunisians had to deliver.
They started powerfully and their loud fans were already cheering the supposed lead in the 8th minute.
Nader Ghandri had sent the ball home after a free-kick, but before that his toe was offside and the goal was conceded.
But the momentum of the North Africans did not let up.
The Tunisians showed significantly more bite than the world champion's motley squad.
According to the statistics, the French still had the first shot on goal, but Coman missed from an acute angle (25th).
The Tunisians were significantly closer through Khazri.
When the 31-year-old shot, Steve Mandanda, who was in goal this time, had a lot of trouble (35').
The 0-0 draw between Australia and Denmark at half-time gave the Tunisians every chance and at that point they were just a goal shy of progressing.
The outsider kept pushing for him even after the change – and was rewarded.
And of course it was the exemplary captain Khazri who completed a strong solo.
The jubilation was great, but just a few minutes later word broke that Australia had taken the lead against Denmark.
The French now have star striker Kylian Mbappé, followed shortly afterwards by Griezmann.
Kolo Muani missed the best chance for the world champion with a shot just wide of the goal (90th).