So that’s that . . . Australia reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in 16 years, in their third ever appearance in the tournament. Denmark failed to take any of their chances and they head home as a more clinical Australia progress following their second win of the group. Meanwhile France made nine changes and suffered an embarrassing defeat to Tunisia, with VAR to the fore ruling out a 98th minute equaliser.
Two low quality games, but a bit of drama and lots of emotion by the Aussies as they celebrated on the pitch after the final whistle. Great to see. Keep an eye out on the homepage for the incoming match reports, and we will be back later for the Group C final round games.
Scroll down to follow the action as it happened in Group D. Thanks for joining us.
FT Australia 1 Denmark 0
FT Tunisia 1 France 0
That disallowed last minute goal for France
Meanwhile in Sydney
GROUP D - AS IT FINISHED...
GOAL DISALLOWED BY VAR
Well after the ball hit the net VAR make their decision. Griezmann was adjudged to be offside when the ball was first played in!
FT Tunisia 1 France 0 Tunisia’s job was made near impossible by Australia’s win, but thanks to VAR they aren’t denied a famous victory! France will have a very different team out in the knockout stages, but that was a very sluggish and poor performance to bounce back from.
FT Australia 1 Denmark 0 It’s all over and Australia are into the last-16. Behind France who top the group. Wild celebrations by the entire Aussie squad on the pitch!!
Another corner for Denmark, Schmeichel is up. It’s headed back across goal but goes all the way out for a goal kick.
Griezmann’s corner is well cleared in the France game. But then in the eighth minute of added time the same man volleys home an equaliser. GOAL!
Mbappe wins a free, takes it himself but drills it into the wall.
Eriksen sends in a corner but Ryan comes out to gather it. Three minutes of added time played in both games.
Tunisia 1 France 0 (90′) Dahmen makes a brilliant save to deny Mbappe who went on a mazy solo run before being denied by the Tunisian goalkeeper. Eight minutes added on.
Six minutes added on in the Australia v Denmark match. Australia are almost in the last-16. Denmark need two goals. While a draw would see Tunisia through if they can hold on for the win themselves against France
Australia 1 Denmark 0 (87′) Harry Souttar absolutely smashes a header clear and brings the Australian defence out. He then makes a brilliant sliding tackle in the box to deny Dolberg a chance and the follow up is drilled wide. The Aussies are almost there!
Tunisia 1 France 0 (85′) Mbappe and Dembele combine and the latter plays a dangerous cross which is met at the back post by Rabiot but he shoots wide.
Australia 1 Denmark 0 (80′) Australia sitting deeper and deeper and seemingly happy to just clear their lines, are 10 minutes away from the last-16.
Tunisia 1 France 0 (80′) Dembele is on for France now too who are going for it. The Barcelona attacker has a dipping shot well saved after back to back corners come to nothing.
A look at the Australia goal...
Tunisia 1 France 0 (71′) Griezmann replaces Fofana. Mbappe has so far only been able to run offside and overhit a pass, to the delight of the Tunisia fans. This makeshift French team looks beyond lifting, even for Mbappe.
Australia 1 Denmark 0 (70′) Anderson heads an Eriksen corner wide before Denmark replace Maehle and Skov Olsen with Cornelius and Skov.
The referee then points to the spot for a Denmark penalty - Souttart took down Dolberg under a high ball - but then spots the linesman’s flag. Offside. VAR confirms it.
This is how things stand currently...
Denmark had just replaced Braithwaite and Jensen for Dolberg and Damsgaard before that goal. While after conceding, France have replaced Varane, Coman and Veretout with Mbappe, Saliba and Rabiot. Good to see Saliba finally get a chance after a brilliant start to the season at centre back for Arsenal.
Australia 1 Denmark 0 (60′) GOAL! It’s all happening. Mathew Leckie is played through with just one defender to beat. He cuts in and out again, before shooting left footed under Schmeichel into the bottom right corner. Australia are now on six points. Behind France who are four goals better off.
Tunisia 1 France 0 (58′) GOALL!! From Khazri who has been involved in most of the best of Tunisia’s play up to now. Fofana loses it in midfield, Khazri takes it into the box under little pressure before picking his spot and putting it past Mandanda.
As things stand Tunisia will progress behind France with a better goal difference than Australia.
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (52′) Kye Rowles puts his body on the line to block a powerful shot from Olsen and Denmark are well on top again but the Australian’s are defending their goal bravely.
Tunisia 0 France 0 (48′) No changes at half time for either side. Tchouaméni’s tackle on Khazri in the box leads to some Tunisian shouts for a penalty but the referee isn’t interested.
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (47′) The second half is underway. Australia start brightly with their first two corners of the game. Keanu Baccus replaced Goodwin at the interval.
Lots of chances like this for Denmark, they’ll need to take one in the second half or it’ll be the end of their tournament...
HALF TIME
It’s Tunisia 0 France 0 at the interval. With Tunisia on top against a very disjointed France team, an offside goal is the closest they’ve come to scoring.
Meanwhile it’s also Australia 0 Denmark 0 with the Danes starting strongly and causing a lot of danger from their left flank but Matt Ryan has played well and Australia have improved.
Two minutes added on in both games.
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (44′) Degenek’s long throw-in is well dealt with by the Denmark defence. Another a minute later is fisted away by Schmeichel. Australia are growing into this game.
Five minutes left in the first half of both matches. It’s still scoreless in both meaning France remain top on seven points. Australia second on four. With Denmark and Tunisia on two points apiece.
Tunisia 0 France 0 (36′) Mandanda does well to hold on to a dipping volley from Khazri after he was quick on to a half clearance from Varane. France looking very casual thus far.
Tunisia 0 France 0 (31′) Back to back corners for Tunisia and both are headed clear by Camavinga at the front post. Tunisia have now had four corners but need to improve their deliveries.
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (28′) Another promising attack down the right hand side of the Australian defence. This time Christian Eriksen plays a nicely weighted pass to Lindstrom who backs himself and takes on the Australian defender, then closing in on the goalkeeper he plays it back to Eriksen but he can’t make a good connection with his strike.
Tunisia 0 France 0 (25′) Fofana picks out Kingsley Coman inside the area with space but his touch is a poor one and he then slices the ball out for a goal kick. Sums things up so far.
A look at that disallowed Tunisia goal. It’s still scoreless in that game. France looking quite disjointed as you’d expect after making nine changes...
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (22′) A long ball is knocked on twice by Australian heads before McGree takes it on the half volley. He stings the hands of Kasper Schmeichel with a clean connection.
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (18′) Joakim Maehle collects a crossfield ball down the left, he stands up the Australia defender and puts it in low across the goal but Ryan does brilliantly to get a hand to it and then gather.
Tunisia 0 France 0 (15′) A disallowed goal in the other game in the group. Tchouaméni took down Ben Romdhane allowing Khazri to swing in a good free-kick. Ghandri flicked it past Mandanda but he was well offside.
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (11′) A very good save from Ryan denies Jensen, after a lovely set up by Braithwaite. Jensen took it on the half volley, for his second half chance within a few minutes. Denmark are well on top right now.
Australia 0 Denmark 0 (7′) After seven minutes Lindstrom plays in Maehle down the left for Denmark, who whips in a dangerous low cross towards Martin Braithwaite at the near post. Australia goalkeeper Matt Ryan is alert though and comes out to gather. A good move and some solid goalkeeping.
KICK OFF. Both games are underway! As things stand right now with two scoreless draws, France will top the group with Australia in second.
Fixtures, results, group stage tables, the route to the final and the race for the golden boot. Check it all out above
Starting lineups
Tunisia: Dahmen; Ghandri, Talbi, Meriah; Kechrida, Maaloul, Skhiri, Laidouni; Ben Slimane, Ben Romdhane, Khazri.
France: Mandanda; Disasi, Varane, Konaté, Camavinga; Guendouzi, Tchouaméni, Fofana, Veretout; Kolo Muani, Coman.
Australia: Ryan, Degenek, Souttar, Rowles, Behich, Leckie, Irvine, Mooy, Goodwin, Duke, McGree.
Denmark: Schmeichel, Kristensen, Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Maehle, Hojbjerg, Jensen, Skov Olsen, Eriksen, Lindstrom, Braithwaite.
Hello and welcome . . . It’s the final round of games in Group D this afternoon. The French are already through but Tunisia - who they face - and both Denmark and Australia all have a place in the last-16 to play for.
We will keep you updated with the latest scores and action from both matches. Keep in touch via Twitter (@DonoghueEamon) but for now, let’s get started!!
