[한국강사신문 한상형 기자] According to Yonhap News, Australia won the World Cup finals in eight matches, raising hopes of advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in 16 years.
Australia defeated Tunisia 1-0 in the second leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Group D group stage held on the 26th at the Al-Wakrah Al-Janub Stadium in Qatar, defending the goal scored by Michul Duke.
Despite losing 1-4 to ‘favourites’ France, Australia, who gained three points once morest Tunisia, moved one step closer to qualifying for the round of 16, where they finished second in their group. Australia will play Denmark in their last Group D match on December 1 at 00:00 GMT.
Tunisia, who drew 1-1 with Denmark in the first match, was defeated by Australia with France remaining, putting their dream of advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in danger of being shattered.
Tunisia failed to break through the group stage at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, where only 16 countries participated, and failed to advance to the round of 16 in France in 1998, Korea and Japan in 2002, Germany in 2006 and Russia in 2018. In this tournament, they were driven with 1 draw and 1 loss in 2 matches.
Australia, which made its first World Cup finals in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, where 16 countries participated, suffered the agony of being eliminated in the group stage.
Australia, which failed to advance to the round of 16 in South Africa in 2010, Brazil in 2014, and Russia in 2018, took a golden opportunity to reach the round of 16 once more following 16 years.
It is also the first time in 8 matches and 12 years that Australia has won the World Cup finals since the third group match once morest Serbia in the 2010 South African tournament.
Australia and Tunisia, who picked each other as the ‘first opponents to win the tournament’, had a search match in the early part of the first half. In Tunisia’s counterattack in the 18th minute of the first half, Isam Gibali dug into the right side of the penalty box and connected a ground pass to Yusif Masakini to create a threatening scene. However, Masakini might not connect with a shot.
The first shot from both teams by Muhammad Daragir in the 20th minute also flew over the crossbar. In the 23rd minute of the first half, Australia broke the balance. In the center, Riley McGray opened up space on the left with a low and quick pass. Craig Goodwin, who received the ball, attempted a cross near the left corner of the penalty box, and the ball flew towards Mitchell Duke, who was rushing to the goal following being hit by Tunisian Muhammad Daragir’s foot. Duke rocked the net as he twisted his head to change the height and direction of the ball.
Tunisia fought back fiercely. However, the goal might not be opened. In the 40th minute of the first half, Masakini’s ball from within the penalty box was turned into Daragir’s shot, but Australian defender Kai Rawls threw himself to block it.
In the extra time of the first half, Masakini, who received a clever pass from Isam Gibali, shot the ball non-stop and went slightly to the right of the goal. In the second half, Tunisia launched an all-out attack centered on Masakini. However, no goals were scored in the end.
In the 26th minute of the second half, Masakini’s strong left-footed shot was blocked by Australian goalkeeper Matthew Ryan. In the 30th minute of the second half, the ball hit Masakini’s head and headed over the crossbar. A mid-range shot from Muntasar Talibi in front of the penalty arc also flew right in front of the goalkeeper.
He even blew his chance in the 42nd minute of the second half. Wajdi Kashirida dug through the right and laid the ball low, and Wahbi Hajri pushed the ball with his left foot, but it was caught by Australian goalkeeper Ryan. Australia played ‘preserving football’ in the second half with a strategy of putting more emphasis on defense and threatening the opponent with a counterattack.
As the strategy worked, Australia played a ‘World Cup final match without a goal’ in 48 years following a 0-0 draw once morest Chile in the third round of the 1974 World Cup group stage in West Germany. According to FIFA’s live stats, the number of shots on the day was 12 for Tunisia and 5 for Australia. But it was Australia who had the last laugh.
