Darkhorses Denmark held to disappointing draw against Tunisia

Denmark started their World Cup campaign with a point as an energetic and plucky Tunisia side held them to a 0-0 draw at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. 

In the opening game of Group D, a shocking miss from Andreas Cornelius and a world class save from Kasper Schmeichel ensured the game ended goalless.

Tunisia started the brightly and put Denmark under huge pressure early in the game. The African side gave the Danes no time and space on the ball, aggressively closing and pressing at every chance.

Denmark couldn’t handle Tunisia’s high press and found themselves lucky not to be behind after a deflected effort from Youssef Msakni looped just wide of the far post, leaving Schmeichel rooted to the spot.

The Danes eventually grew into the game and fashioned their first shot on target 22 minutes in after a sensational cross from Christian Eriksen. The ball was missed at the back post but deflected out to Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen whose long-distance effort was comfortably saved.

Tunisia thought they had opened the scoring when Issam Jebali broke on the counter, held off two Danish defenders and slotted into the bottom left corner but a very late offside flag was raised to end the jubilation of the travelling fans.

The African side remained on top and should have opened the scoring before half time twice more, with the best chance falling to Jebali. The 30-year-old forward tried to chip Schmeichel after being played clean through on goal and forced the former Leicester City keeper into a phenomenal save to preserve his clean sheet.

Tunisia kept up their aggressive playing style in the second half but failed to create many clear-cut chances and allowed Denmark to grow into the game.

Kasper Hjulmand’s side thought they had taken the lead after 56 minutes when Joakim Maehle slotted the ball home following a scurry of shots in the box but again the offside flag was the bearer of bad news.

Denmark kept up their pressure and should have taken the lead 15 minutes later after Cornelius produced argubaly the miss of the tournament. Eriksen’s corner was headed back across goal to the Copenhagen striker who only had to tap the ball home from a yard out to become the hero – but he got his diving header all wrong and it scuffed off the post to Denmark’s despair.

Mexican referee Cesar Arturo Ramos cruelly gave Danish fans late hope when he went to the monitor to check a potential penalty in the fourth minute of added time, but controversially decided against awarding a spot kick after the ball struck the hand of Yassine Meriah, condemning World Cup fans to their first 0-0 of the tournament.

The sixth game of the 2022 World Cup finishes Denmark 0-0 Tunisia.

There was only one goalless draw in the whole of the 2018 tournament 🙃 pic.twitter.com/DdZtWdkoDv

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 22, 2022

Denmark will be disappointed with the draw, but it will be seen as a precious point gained for Tunisia who will have seriously boosted their chances of claiming a place in the round of 16.

France will take on Australia in the second game of Group D later tonight.