DENMARK were held by an impressive Tunisia side as the Danes opened up their World Cup campaign. with a 0-0 draw.
And the Danes have Kasper Schmeichel to thank after the ex-Leicester man pulled off a stunning save in the first half.
Denmark thought they had an injury time penalty, but after a VAR check there was wild celebrations from Tunisia when it was not given
- Result: Denmark 0 Tunisia 0
- Denmark XI: Schmeichel, Kristensen, Kjaer, Christensen, Maehle, Delaney, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Damsgaard, Dolberg, Skov
- Tunisia XI: Ben Said, Drager, Bronn, Talbi, Maaloul, Laidouni, Skhiri, Ben Romdhane, Khazri, Jaziri, Msakni
BETTING SPECIAL – GET £66 IN FREE BETS ON THE WORLD CUP
All to do for Danes
Denmark next face France on Saturday with the game taking even more significance after today’s draw.
Tunisia meanwhile, face Australia on Saturday with a real chance of gunning for their first win of the tournament.
Until France and Australia play this evening, the Carthage Eagles sit at the top of Group D.
Jebali puts in shift for Tunisia
Leading the line as the sole-striker Issam Jebali was all over the pitch, trying to offer the Carthage Eagles options.
More than happy to get back and lend a hand to keep Denmark out, despite Kasper Schmeichel denying him a first-half goal, the striker can be pleased with his performance today.
His touch-map shows just how much of the pitch he covered for his team.
Eriksen puts trauma behind him
Today’s focus prior to the game was the return of Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen to the world stage after he collapsed on the pitch less than 18 months ago.
In this side, Eriksen makes The Danes tick and is integral to everything they do.
Despite his involvement throughout the game, Tunisia made sure they got players around him and pressed Denmark whenever in possession of the ball.
In the ground – Full time analysis
Sun reporter Martin Blackburn reports from the Education City Stadium:
KASPER SCHMEICHEL saved Denmark from a nightmare start to their World Cup with a stunning first half save.
The former Leicester keeper spread himself to deny Issam Jubali a certain goal – with an intervention his dad Peter would have been proud of.
The Danes could have had no complaints if they had ended up empty handed against a spirited and energetic Tunisia.
It meant a low key return to the big international stage for Christian Eriksen, 18 months after his cardiac arrest in the Euros.
The Manchester United star did produce his team’s best moments and how Andreas Cornelius did not nick an undeserved win for the Danes is something only he knows.
Thousands of Tunisia fans have descended on Doha for the tournament to join the many who already live here.
They made such a racket in the Education City Stadium that it must have felt like a home game for Jalel Kadri’s team.
The Carthage Eagles responded too with their dynamo midfielder Aissa Laidouni flying into a challenge on Eriksen in the first minute.
He got the ball perfectly but the Manchester United star’s big comeback would have been short-lived had he connected.
It set the tone for the first half though with Jebali racing clear to score only to be denied by a marginal offside.
The best chance came shortly before the break when Jebali went through again and lifted the ball over Schmeichel – only for the former Leicester keeper to stick out an arm and push the ball wide.
After the break Lassouni played a clever one-two to go clean through on goal but surprisingly seemed to lack the belief to finish it off.
Tunisia failed to keep clean sheet in 14 of their 15 world cup matches – last time they did it was 1978 – but they were doing so quite comfortably here.
Eriksen had their best opening when he thumped a 20 yard shot which Aymen Dahmen did superbly to push round the post.
He took the resulting corner and former Chelsea man Andreas Christiansen headed back across goal.
Andreas Cornlius could not get the connection he wanted and could only bundle his untidy effort against the post.
Tunisia were appealing for a penalty when Abdi’s flick seemed to be handled by Joachim Andersen but nothing was given.
And they were almost robbed right at the end when a Cornelius flick from Eriksen’s corner hit the arm of Yassine Meriah.
The VAR recommended a review and everyone expected a spot-kick but the Mexican ref Cesar Arturo Ramos stood by his initial decision and over-ruled it.
Carthage Eagles upset the odds
Tunisia have surprised many in the footballing world with their performance this afternoon.
Most expected them to be like a rabbit in the car headlights but the North Africans did not get the memo.
Kasper Schmeichel denied them the goal that their first-half performance warranted.
They had to dig deep towards the end to keep The Danes at bay but Tunisia managed it and claimed themselves a hard earned point.
Credit: Reuters FT: Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
The referee blows his whistle to huge cheers all around this stadium.
Late drama with that VAR intervention and the lack of penalty.
After their performance today the North Africans did not deserve that.
What a great point for the former AFCON champions.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
90+4. Tunisia have had a big let off there.
The Danish fans cannot believe they weren’t given a penalty.
It is usually the next thing to follow when the referee goes to the monitor.
Tunisia breath a sigh of relief.
No penalty
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
90+3. Denmark loft a corner into the box.
The ball is not cleared and as the second ball drops the Denmark players appeal for a handball.
VAR is checking it and has sent the referee to the screen.
Anyone order late drama?
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
90+2. Jensen with the long throw into the box.
They are looking for Cornelius who flicks the ball towards goal.
Dahmen catches comfortably as he has all afternoon.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
90. We are going to have an additional five minutes.
To concede a goal now for either side would be heartbreaking.
Denmark lose possession, giving Tunisia the chance to break.
It all breaks down as they look for a free kick but the referee is not playing ball at all.
Credit: EPA Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
88. Double change for Tunisia.
Sassi and Kechrida join the party.
Some tired legs coming off the pitch, they have given their all for Tunisia.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia – Khenissi yellow card
86. Jensen is caught and a free kick is awarded.
Khenissi is awarded the first card for Tunisia today.
This is still high octane stuff from the Tunisians as they attack.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
84. Maehle looks despairingly at the referee.
He takes the ball to the byline and chips it over the sliding Hannibal.
As he looks to go passed him, the momentum of the slide takes him down.
The referee is not interested at all.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
82. Whistles and boos accompany Denmark possession again.
Whether it is affecting the players we will never know but it does seem to spur loose passes from The Danes.
Into the final ten minutes of the game, both sides still looking for the winner.
Credit: AP Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
80. Hannibal and Khenissi come on for Msakni and Jebali.
Some fresh legs up top for the North Africans.
Can either of these subs get the winning goal for Tunisia to send this stadium into raptures remains to be seen.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia – Jensen yellow card
78. Both bookings today have gone Denmark’s way.
Tunisia knock the ball forward and they manage to hold it up well.
There is no support for him as he looks to lay the ball off.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
76. Tunisia are defending for their lives every time Denmark attack now.
The longer this game goes on the more desperate The Danes are to find that goal.
It should offer the chance for Tunisia to hit them on the break.
Hannibal seems to be warming up for the North Africans.
He’s been known to conquer Europeans before.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
74. The Tunisia defenders have been dominant in the air today.
When Denmark look to get direct balls forward there is always a Tunisian defender coming crashing through the Danish player to win the ball.
Most of us are still wondering how Cornelius missed that chance.
Apart from Cardiff City fans.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
72. Nothing doing with the handball.
Replays show it does touch his hand but whether it was intentional is another thing.
You always wonder if these are going to be given with the inconsistencies of VAR but they didn’t even look at it.
Somebody must be on a lunch break.
Credit: PA
VAR checking possible handball
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia – Cornelius chance
70. The corner comes in and Christensen heads it back across goal.
Cornelius is on the back post but somehow heads it onto the post.
Surely it was easier to score there.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
68. Denmark are dominating possession a little now.
Tunisia counter attack and slip the ball through for Jebali but the pass was a little too heavy.
Dahmen makes a great fingertip save from an Eriksen effort from outside the box.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
66. Denmark are looking for more of a focal point up top with the introduction of Cornelius.
The manager must have felt with those early dangerous crosses into the Tunisia box, they need someone who will look to get on the end of them.
Tunisia are staying firm defensively.
Sliti comes on for Slimane.
Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
