FIFA WC 2022: Australia advances to round of 16, beats Denmark 1-0 & Tunisia beats defending champions France 1-0
Australia advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup, beating favored Denmark 1-0 on Wednesday on Mathew Leckie’s 60th-minute goal.
It is Australia’s first time in the knockout stage since 2006, the only other time they advanced out of the group stage.
Leckie took a pass just around the center circle and moved in and around a Danish defender, eventually lacing a left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel diving to his left.
Australia finished with six points in Group D.The World Cup proved to be a major disappointment for Denmark after reaching the semifinals in the 2020 European Championship. They slogged through a 0-0 draw in their opening match with Tunisia and then recovered in a 2-1 loss against France.
The Danes attacked from the start against Australia but could never break through with the Socceroos.
In another game, defending champion France won its World Cup group despite losing to Tunisia 1-0 Wednesday.
Wahbi Khazri scored in the 58th minute to give the Tunisians the victory, but it wasn’t enough to get them into the round of 16.
Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in other Group D game and finished second on goal difference.
Khazri ran at the heart of the French defense and beat two players before poking the ball into the bottom corner. It was Tunisia’s third victory at a World Cup.
France forward Antoine Griezmann thought he had evened the score in the eighth minute of stoppage time but he was ruled offside following a video review.
