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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tunisia had arguably one of their finest footballing nights on Wednesday, but it was not enough to save them from yet another early exit at the World Cup, and they remain one of the tournament’s also-rans.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The North Africans beat champions France 1-0 in their last Group D match in Al Rayyan but the celebrations were muted by the fact it was not enough for them to advance to the last 16.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It meant they kept up their unwanted record of not getting out of the group stage, now extended to a sixth World Cup finals appearance. But they won for a third time in 18 games, registering a rare victory that was celebrated vociferously by their supporters.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1482938\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11168011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"475\" /> Aissa Laidouni of Tunisia reacts after his shot went wide against France. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Tolga Bozoglu)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A win over the former colonial power in a competitive international game ranks with their triumph in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and their 1978 World Cup win over Mexico, when they became the first African country to record a victory at the tournament.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, Tunisia’s four points and third place in the 2022 standings far exceeded expectations, especially after they were drawn in a tough group which included Denmark and France.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s a historic win for us over the defending champions, but we wanted to qualify for the next round; this was our main aim,” Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri told journalists after the match.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Unfortunately, we exited the tournament, but we also left the game with a lot of honour and pride.”</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-01-argentina-and-messi-begin-to-flex-muscles-for-world-cup-playoffs/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Argentina and Messi begin to flex muscles for World Cup playoffs</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holding the Danes to a goalless draw in their opening game in Qatar and finishing ahead of the 1992 Euro champions in the standings will somewhat console the Tunisians.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When they look back, they will need to admit the passionate support of the large Tunisian migrant community in Qatar proved inspirational but also contributed to their undoing.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The red-clad army of supporters, who dominated the terraces in their three group matches, created a fever-pitched atmosphere in their opening game against Denmark, lifting the Tunisian players and helping them to play out of their skins.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rarely has a north African side competed in a match at such a high tempo. But with many players coming from clubs where that sort of intensity is uncommon, it was no surprise that they looked fatigued and flat for their next game against Australia – the one they had targeted for the points.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1482939\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11168200-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"447\" /> Dejected Tunisia players after their match against France. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Tolga Bozoglu)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In losing 1-0 to the Socceroos, they left themselves a near-impossible task against France, but came so close.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Had Wednesday’s other Group D game between Australia and Denmark ended in a draw, Tunisia would have advanced to the knockout stages for the first time, allowing them to write a different kind of history which they would have been happier with. But it wasn’t to be. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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"name": "epa10339370 Dejected players of Tunisia after the FIFA World Cup 2022 group D soccer match between Tunisia and France at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar, 30 November 2022. Tunisia won 1-0 but still failed to qualify for the next round. EPA-EFE/Tolga Bozoglu",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tunisia had arguably one of their finest footballing nights on Wednesday, but it was not enough to save them from yet another early exit at the World Cup, and they remain one of the tournament’s also-rans.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The North Africans beat champions France 1-0 in their last Group D match in Al Rayyan but the celebrations were muted by the fact it was not enough for them to advance to the last 16.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It meant they kept up their unwanted record of not getting out of the group stage, now extended to a sixth World Cup finals appearance. But they won for a third time in 18 games, registering a rare victory that was celebrated vociferously by their supporters.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1482938\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1482938\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11168011.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"475\" /> Aissa Laidouni of Tunisia reacts after his shot went wide against France. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Tolga Bozoglu)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A win over the former colonial power in a competitive international game ranks with their triumph in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and their 1978 World Cup win over Mexico, when they became the first African country to record a victory at the tournament.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, Tunisia’s four points and third place in the 2022 standings far exceeded expectations, especially after they were drawn in a tough group which included Denmark and France.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s a historic win for us over the defending champions, but we wanted to qualify for the next round; this was our main aim,” Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri told journalists after the match.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Unfortunately, we exited the tournament, but we also left the game with a lot of honour and pride.”</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-01-argentina-and-messi-begin-to-flex-muscles-for-world-cup-playoffs/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Argentina and Messi begin to flex muscles for World Cup playoffs</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holding the Danes to a goalless draw in their opening game in Qatar and finishing ahead of the 1992 Euro champions in the standings will somewhat console the Tunisians.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When they look back, they will need to admit the passionate support of the large Tunisian migrant community in Qatar proved inspirational but also contributed to their undoing.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The red-clad army of supporters, who dominated the terraces in their three group matches, created a fever-pitched atmosphere in their opening game against Denmark, lifting the Tunisian players and helping them to play out of their skins.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rarely has a north African side competed in a match at such a high tempo. But with many players coming from clubs where that sort of intensity is uncommon, it was no surprise that they looked fatigued and flat for their next game against Australia – the one they had targeted for the points.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1482939\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1482939\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11168200-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"447\" /> Dejected Tunisia players after their match against France. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Tolga Bozoglu)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In losing 1-0 to the Socceroos, they left themselves a near-impossible task against France, but came so close.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Had Wednesday’s other Group D game between Australia and Denmark ended in a draw, Tunisia would have advanced to the knockout stages for the first time, allowing them to write a different kind of history which they would have been happier with. But it wasn’t to be. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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Aissa Laidouni of Tunisia reacts after his shot went wide against France. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Tolga Bozoglu)
Dejected Tunisia players after their match against France. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Tolga Bozoglu)