French-born Wahbi Khazri scored the only goal of the game as Tunisia upset World Cup holders France 1-0 at the Education City Stadium on Wednesday, but the shock victory was not enough for them to join the defending champions in the last 16 of the tournament in Qatar.
Khazri steered home a 58th-minute winner amid a cluster of defenders for only a third victory at six World Cup tournaments for Tunisia but they were still eliminated.
France, who made nine changes for this match from the team that beat Denmark and had already booked their place in the knockout stages, finished top of Group D on goal difference from runners-up Australia, who beat Denmark 1-0 at the same time.
France now take on the runners-up in Group C, which will be concluded later on Wednesday.
Tunisia bowed out of World Cup 2022 despite claiming their first-ever competitive victory against France thanks to Wahbi Khazri’s second-half strike.
France, who had a late Antoine Griezmann strike ruled out by VAR in the final few seconds, still finished top of Group D, with Australia beating Denmark to join them in the Round of 16 as runners-up.
With both sides making wholesale changes, it was Tunisia — needing a victory to have any hope of progressing — who made the brighter start, Nader Ghandri having an early effort ruled out by the offside flag.
The African side remained on top for the remainder of the first half, although France’s reshuffled attack still carried a threat, Kingsley Coman passing up the best chance of the opening period as he sliced wide having been played in by Youssouf Fofana’s run.