Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
Tunisia played out an entertaining 0-0 draw with Denmark on Tuesday, a result which keeps both teams in the Group D hunt. Denmark were backed to win the game, but the main thing for any nation is to avoid losing its tournament opener. So it’s not the end of the world for the Danes while for Tunisia it was a superb day.
This fixture came on the back of Saudi Arabia’s stunning win over Argentina and while World Cup: Denmark vs Tunisia didn’t quite provide that level of dramatic still turned up a surprise of sorts as the African nation gave as good as they got against a side fancied as a serious dark horse. Both sides had a goal ruled out for offside and there was late VAR drama but, in the end, Denmark just couldn’t break down the brave Tunisians.
Highlights of the game
The return for Christian Eriksen to top flight football and the world stage is such a welcome sight after the horror of his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. He scored his first goal for Manchester United in the Red Devils clash with Fulham just before the break, and the Great Dane was in the thick of the action in the early exchanges, sending in a series of dangerous crosses to stretch the Tunisia defence. But his strikers failed to make the crucial contact, Skov Olsen getting within inches of one cross, while Pierre Emille Hojbjerg tested the Tunisia keeper with a low shot.
The pre-match Denmark vs Tunisia betting odds backed the Danes at 1.59 to win the game, but the Africans had plenty of confidence; and they had the ball in the net first when Issam Jebali thought he’d sprung the offside trap when he collected a long ball and slid it past Kasper Schmeichel and into the net. But a late offside flag saved the Danes. As Tunisia grew into the game Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen earned himself a yellow card for a nasty challenge on the lively Aissa Laidouini. And the Tunisian attacking midfielder almost made the perfect reply when he fired a shot goal-wards which whistled just over the angle of the goal. And, just before the break, Schmeichel was called on to make a brilliant save when Issam Jebali was played through by Youssef Msakni to keep the scores level at the break.
Tunisia started the second half as they finished the first, with Laidouni breaking at pace but the Denmark defence recovered to make a crucial interception. And then the favorites began to control the game again. As the Danes upped the ante Skov Olsen fired into the bottom corner but Mikkel Damsgaard was offside in the build up.
And then the Tunisian keeper, Aymen Dahmen, made a brilliant one handed save to keep out a fierce strike from Eriksen. When Andreas Christensen headed the ensuing corner back across the goal the ball was almost bundled home before it bounced away off the post.
Denmark dominated the ball while Tunisia remained dangerous on the break and five minutes of injury time gave hope of a winner, but the African defence battled hard to preserve their point, and when Dahmen kept out a dangerous swirling ball it was almost job done. There was a late scare when the referee went to review a VAR decision for a penalty for a handball, and the Tunisia fans held their breath, but the expected spot kick didn’t come and the celebrations in Tunis began.
Key statistics
The first half Denmark vs Tunisia highlights told a story of an uncomfortable first 45 minutes for the Danes who had over 60 percent possession but only three shots to Tunisia’s eight.
By the end of the game Denmark had upped their shot count to 11 against Tunisia’s 13, and they had five to one on target as they continued to control possession at over 60 percent.
What’s next?
The action keeps on coming thick and fast and, here at SBOTOP we’ll be first off the mark with all the news, action, results, and the best range of Asian Handicap Betting odds. On Tuesday night the Group D first round concludes when France play Australia when Les Bleus will expect to take a stranglehold on the group.
This group was a tough draw for Tunisia but they have made a good start and they have a huge match against Australia on Saturday before they round up their group campaign against highly fancied France.
Next up Denmark face France, before playing their last group fixture against Australia next Wednesday. It’s all in the balance.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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