Denmark failed to win against Tunisia on Tuesday afternoon: 0-0. The number ten in the world ranking therefore starts with a great disappointment at the World Cup in Qatar. After the break, Andreas Cornelius was close to 1-0 with a gigantic header, but his attempt found the woodwork. Tunisia therefore kept a clean sheet for the ninth time in the last ten international matches.
Denmark started Tuesday with no less than three ex-Ajacieds in the first group match with Tunisia: Christian Eriksen, Kasper Dolberg and Rasmus Kristensen were all at the kick-off. Joachim Andersen, who was under contract with FC Twente between 2013 and 2017, also received a starting place from national coach Kasper Hjulmand. The Danes warmed up before the game in a black shirt, as a silent protest against the organization of the World Cup in Qatar. At Tunisia, top talent Hannibal Mejbri started on the bench.
Denmark had a bad day at the Education City Stadium. The first chances were therefore for the team of national coach Jalel Kadri. The Tunisians thought they would take the lead halfway through the first half when Issam Jebali managed to outwit goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, but the striker was in an offside position. Only after half an hour of play did the Danish Dynamite a big chance for the first time, but Andreas Skov Olsen was unable to hit the ball, so the glasses remained on the board. Just before the break, Jebali failed to score the opening goal due to good goalkeeper work by Schmeichel.
Strongholder Thomas Delaney was then forced to step aside. The Sevilla midfielder suffered a knee injury in the 43rd minute and was replaced by Mikkel Damsgaard, who was one of the best players for Denmark during the 2021 European Championship. After the break, the Danes were regularly whistled for the disappointing game. A goal from Skov Olsen was rightly disallowed for offside. Eriksen saw a great long shot being caught by a great reflex from keeper Aymen Dahmen. From the ensuing corner kick, an almost unmissable header chance for Cornelius ended up on the post.
In the final phase, the Danes lacked a powerful final offensive. A good long shot from Jesper Lindstrom was cleverly parried by Dahmen. Referee César Arturo Ramos was then called to the VAR, but refused to give a penalty after an alleged handball from Tunisia. Hjulmand’s team simply failed to make a fist, so that both countries start Group D with only one point. France and Australia will play in that group at 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening.