The Tunisian national team experienced a significant shock in the World Cup after losing 1-0 to Australia in the opening match of the second round of Group D. This marked Tunisia's first defeat after having secured a point in their opening group match against Denmark with a goalless draw.
**Reasons for the Defeat**
- Jalel Kadri, the head coach of the Tunisian team, emphasized the importance of this match in his pre-game discussions, calling it the key to the World Cup and a matchup the team had been looking forward to. This added pressure on his team, as some thought it would be the easiest game in the group.
- The Tunisian team exerted significant physical effort in their first match against Denmark, which affected their performance in the second match against the Asian representative, particularly in physical contests and speed.
- Kadri faced substantial criticism for leaving talented players at home and not including them in the squad heading to the Qatar World Cup. Criticism escalated prior to the match over the starting lineup, with fans calling for the inclusion of standout players such as Ali Maaloul, Seifeddine Jaziri, Wajdi Keshridah, Wahbi Khazri, and Hannibal Mejbri, all of whom remained on the bench.
**On the Brink of Elimination**
- The situation for the Tunisian team has become extremely complicated within the group. The Eagles of Carthage need to win their final match against the World Champion France, while also needing favorable results from other matches to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
- Currently, the maximum point tally the Tunisian team can achieve is four points, but both France and Australia could reach six points if France beats Denmark and Australia defeats France in the concluding matches.
- Denmark still holds hope even if they lose to France, as they could reach four points by defeating Australia in their final match, contingent on Tunisia losing or drawing against France to secure advancement to the Round of 16.
