Tunisia held Denmark to a goalless draw in a Group D opener of the 2022 FIFA World Cup played at the Education City Stadium.
Denmark was coming into this match with an unblemished record against African opponents at the FIFA World Cup. The Dens are unbeaten against all the African teams they have faced at the World Cup winning twice and drawing the same number of matches.
Tunisia on the other hand was looking for their first win against European opposition at the tournament. The have lost 7 matches with only 3 draws. Tunisia have also failed to keep a clean sheet in all the matches they have been involved in at FIFA World Cup.
Led by the enigma of Youssef Msakni the Carthage Eagles were up for the task taking the game to Denmark.
Like most of the matches seen at this World Cup so far, the game had a frantic start but with neither side finding it hard to put their foot on the ball and pass it without being pressed into a mistake or launching it forward.
There was particular threat from Tunisia in the 11th minute as Mohamed Drager let fly from range only for his shot to deflect off Andreas Christensen and wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s goal.
Dolberg and Olsen who were expected to make the moves in midfield for Denmark were struggling to find inroads in the Tunisia defense.
Issam Jebali nearly broke the deadlock on 43 minutes. He was played into the area by Msakni. The striker with only Schmeichel to beat attempted a dink it over him – but the goalkeeper stuck his right hand up and flicked it round the post to deny the Eagles a lead.
The two teams went into the break with no goals on the score-sheet. Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri was perhaps the happier of the two Managers going into the halftime team talk.
The second half started on a high just as the second, with the Tunisians frustrating Denmark in all areas of the pitch.
Christian Eriksen was denied a goal by the Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen. The midfielder drove through the middle of the pitch and fired at goal from the edge of the box with his left foot but Dahmen pushed it behind with his left hand for a corner whish was eventually dealt with.
There were very few chances in the second half except for a late shout for a handball in the Tunisian box. There was a VAR check but it came to nothing.
Tunisia holding on for a point after the final whistle was blown.
