Australia’s future at the 2022 World Cup could come down to this game, and the Socceroos made an excellent start as they chase a positive result after their opening 4-1 loss to France.
Mitchell Duke headed home Craig Goodwin’s deflected cross in the 23rd minute to reward a promising opening spell for Graham Arnold’s side.
But Tunisia, who have hopes of reaching the knock-out stages for the first time after an initial draw with Denmark, spurned two good chances to equalise before the interval.
Mohamed Drager, who had earlier drilled a long-range effort over the bar, was denied by a brilliant last-ditch block from Australia defender Harry Souttar.
And just before half-time Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni should have tested Socceroos keeper Mathew Ryan but put an Issam Jebali cross wide of the post.
The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Tunisia vs Australia at the 2022 World Cup. Follow for complete results from the Group D match in Qatar.
MORE: Tunisia vs. Australia prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for World Cup 2022 Group D
Tunisia vs Australia score
1H | 2H | Final | |
Tunisia | 0 | 0 | — |
Australia | 1 | 0 | — |
Goals:
AUS – 23rd min – Mitchell Duke
Confirmed lineups:
Tunisia lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): 16. Dahmen (GK) — 6. Bronn, 4. Meriah, 3. Talbi — 20. Drager (Sassi, 46), 17. Skhiri, 14. Laidouni, 24. Abdi — 23. Sliti, 7. Msakni — 9. Jebali
Australia lineup (4-1-4-1), right to left): 1. Ryan (GK) — 5. Karacic, 19. Souttar, 4. Rowles, 16. Behich — 13. Mooy — 23. Goodwin, 22. Irvine, 14. McGree, 7. Leckie — 15. Duke
MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)
Tunisia vs Australia live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup
64th min: A double change for Australia, and star No. 10 Ajdin Hrustic, who according to Graham Arnold is “95% fit”, is on, along with striker Jamie Maclaren. Riley McGree and goalscorer Mitchell Duke make way.
59th min: Lovely play down the left flank by Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni and a decent ball into the box, but Mat Ryan gets a big hand to it and beats it away.
56th min: Australia win a 50-50 duel in the middle of the pitch and Jackson Irvine has options ahead of him as he drives towards the Tunisia area. He shifts it left to Craig Goodwin, whose cross-cum-shot flies across the face of the goal, without finding a taker.
53rd min: Tunisia with a free-kick in a central position. Naim Sliti floats it in, but the Aussie defence deals with it.
52nd min: Tunisia applying some pressure now, and a shout goes up for handball in the box as Australia clear their lines. Nothing doing though.
46th min: Tunisia have made a change at the interval, bringing on Ferjani Sassi for Mohamed Drager.
Mitchell Duke’s goal celebration, by the way, was for his son, who is in the crowd. Lovely stuff.
Watch if you’re in the UK:
For you, son ❤️#BBCWorldCup #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/wcFYFSLSgS
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 26, 2022
HALF-TIME: Tunisia 0-1 Australia
Great first half from the Socceroos, who deserve to be in front, courtesy of Mitchell Duke’s superb header.
.@mitchduke8‘s moment. 🙌#FIFAWorldCup #GiveIt100 #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/mzx0DjWLhl
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 26, 2022
Fair to say Australian fans enjoyed that goal.
Fed Square: that’s the tweet. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vT3JbuVDYv
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 26, 2022
Watch if you’re in the USA:
Fans in Australia went WILD after scoring 😳🤯
(via @TheRealALM)pic.twitter.com/uzbR7iiNKs
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 26, 2022
45th+2 mins: Big chance for Tunisia! Great ball in from Issam Jebali from the right flank but Youssef Msakni drills it wide. Not the easiest angle, but he should have got it on target. We’re well into five minutes of added time by the way.
44th min: Tunisia living dangerously here. A sliced clearance gives Fran Karacic a chance, but the Aussie full-back slashes at it left-footed and the chance is gone. Aissa Laidouni, already on a yellow card, kicks the ball away in frustration. A bit fortunate the referee missed that.
40th min: Brilliant block from Harry Souttar! Issam Jebali barges his way into the Australia penalty area and the ball is played to Mohamed Drager in space on the right. But as he pulls the trigger, Souttar slides in to divert it out for a corner. Excellent last-ditch defending.
Watch if you’re in the USA:
Fans in Australia went WILD after scoring 😳🤯
(via @TheRealALM)pic.twitter.com/uzbR7iiNKs
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 26, 2022
37th min: First we’ve seen of Youssef Msakni, whose dribbles caused problems for Denmark. The Tunisia captain drives deep into Australian territory before his run is halted.
34th min: Not a great delivery from Craig Goodwin. Jackson Irvine tries to improvise at the near post, but it was asking a lot and the ball trickles out for a goal-kick.
33rd min: A few tackles flying in now. Dylan Bronn fouls Riley McGree, and then Tunisia concede the first corner of the game.
26th min: Aissa Laidouni, who certainly wears on his heart on his sleeve, shows his frustration at this turn of events with a wild hack at Craig Goodwin. Yellow card for the Tunisian midfielder.
23rd min: GOAL FOR AUSTRALIA! Craig Goodwin’s cross from the left takes a deflection but Mitchell Duke adjusts brilliantly and glances a header across the keeper into the far corner. Great finish!
Watch the goal if you’re in Australia:
YOU BEAUTYYYYY! 😍
A wonderful Mitch Duke header has put the @Socceroos in front! 🙌
Watch Tunisia v Australia right now on @SBS and @SBSOnDemand! 🇹🇳 🇦🇺
▶: https://t.co/x4hP22SxVH#SBSWorldCup #WeAllSpeakFootball pic.twitter.com/B1CLafr4jw
— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) November 26, 2022
Watch the goal if you’re in the US:
AUSTRALIA BREAKS THROUGH 🇦🇺
Mitch Duke puts the Socceroos on top! pic.twitter.com/UgDzjNY66l
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 26, 2022
21st min: First half-chance for Tunisia! Mohamed Drager with a bit of space 25 yards out. He sets his sights and gives it a good thump, but that’s always rising.
18th min: Mitchell Duke jumps for a high ball and lands awkwardly, holding his back. But the Socceroos striker is OK to continue.
15th min: Mathew Leckie’s neat turn is too good for Ellyes Skhiri, who brings the Aussie down. Plenty of whistles and jeers from the noisy Tunisian contingent in the crowd.
12th min: Craig Goodwin, Australia’s scorer against France, has space to get a cross in from the left flank. But again a Tunisian defender gets to it first. More quality needed with the final ball…
10th min: Decent start from the Socceroos, who have had the bulk of possession and spent most of the first 10 minutes in the Tunisian half. But no chances to show for it yet.
6th min: Make no mistake, Tunisia are going to be a tough nut to crack for the Socceroos. The Carthage Eagles have had nine clean sheets in their last 10 games, a 5-1 defeat by Brazil the exception. Aaron Mooy slings a free-kick into the box, but Tunisia get it away.
3rd min: A frenetic opening, and Australia coach Graham Arnold is trying to get an urgent message to his players. But he’s struggling to make himself heard amid the din.
1st min: And we’re underway! Australia playing in their black away kit today by the way, with a lime green trim. Tunisia all in white…
5mins to kickoff: It’s time for the anthems. Tunisia first. And now ‘Advance Australia Fair’. It’s nearly time…
7mins to kickoff: What has Socceroos coach Graham Arnold told his team before this game? “Suck it in,” he says. “It’s going to be a great crowd and a great atmosphere and we are here to put a smile on the faces of the Australian fans. We will be doing everything to make them proud.”
10mins to kickoff: A couple of stats for you before the teams make their entrance.
Against Denmark in their opening match, Tunisia recorded just their second ever World Cup clean sheet despite playing 16 matches in the competition before.
After losing 4-1 to France in their opener, Australia have now lost six of their last seven World Cup matches, conceding a whopping 18 goals across that stint.
15mins to kickoff: You’re ready, right?
🚨 First game of the day!
Who’s ready for #TUN v #AUS?#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 26, 2022
20mins to kickoff: Even without Martin Boyle, the Hibernian winger sadly denied a World Cup bow after damaging his ACL knee ligaments, there is a strong Caledonian connection to this Australia outfit.
The ‘Scottish Socceroos’ include Aberdeen-born Stoke defender Harry Souttar, whose elder brother John plays for Rangers and Scotland, and Edinburgh-born striker Jason Cummings, who won two caps for his native country in friendlies in 2017-18 before switching allegiance to Australia, qualifying through his mother.
In addition to Boyle, Dundee United full-back Aziz Behich, Celtic midfielder Aaron Mooy, Hearts trio Nathaniel Atkinson, Cameron Devlin and Kye Rowles, and St Mirren midfielder Keanu Baccus also play in the Scottish Premiership, while Jackson Irvine played for Celtic, Kilmarnock, Ross County and Hibs before heading to St Pauli in Germany.
Mooy first moved to Scotland for a loan spell with St Mirren in 2010 and now resides in Glasgow with his Scottish wife Nicola, after joining Celtic last summer.
Och aye, the Roo!
30mins to kickoff: The Tunisian fans are in good voice as they head to the Al Janoub Stadium! Atmosphere building nicely as we head towards kickoff…
Les supporters tunisiens en route vers le stade Al Janoub 🇹🇳❤pic.twitter.com/0X595ZXtv4#TUNAUS 🇹🇳🇦🇺 #TeamTunisia #FIFAWorldCup
— Tunisie Football (@tunisiefootball) November 26, 2022
45mins to kickoff: Who might have a spot of bad breath in the Socceroos squad?! And who is now known as ‘The Qatar Torch’?
Baggy Green for the @Socceroos? 😅
🇦🇺 Australian team keeping it light before a crucial game! #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/t96rZhrMsC
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 26, 2022
1hr to kickoff: And we also have the Tunisia team. Coach Jalel Kadri also restricts himself to just the one change, with Naim Sliti taking over from Anis Ben Slimane as one of the two players – along with captain Youssef Msakni – providing support up top for striker Issam Jebali. Star player Wahbi Khazri, who wasn’t used against Denmark, is on the bench.
🔴⚪ OFFICIEL :
Le 11 de départ de la Tunisie face à l’Australie !
Dahmen – Drager, Talbi, Meriah, Bronn, Abdi – Skhiri, Laïdouni, Sliti – Msakni (c), Jebali.#TUNAUS 🇹🇳🇦🇺 #TeamTunisia #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/IJICn4oG91
— Tunisie Football (@tunisiefootball) November 26, 2022
1hr 10 mins to kickoff: The Australia team is out! And here are the men from Down Under who will be lining up from the start today. Just the one change from the side which started against France, with Brescia defender Fran Karacic taking over from Nathaniel Atkinson.
STARTING XI 🗒
Our team to take on Tunisia at the #FIFAWorldCup 🇦🇺
⏰: 9pm AEDT, 1pm Local.
📺: SBS, SBS On Demand #Socceroos #GiveIt100 pic.twitter.com/jUrDUPxR2I— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 26, 2022
1hr 20 mins to kickoff: Another Tunisian player to impress in their opening draw with Denmark was forward Youssef Msakni. The 32-year-old was particularly effective running at the Danish defence, completing all his dribbles successfully. Only Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus completed more in the opening round of matches.
Les meilleurs dribbleurs de la 1re journée de la Coupe du Monde :
1- 🇬🇭 Mohammed Kudus (4/4)
2- 🇲🇽 Hirving Lozano (3/4)
3- 🇹🇳 Youssef MSAKNI (3/3)(Mosaique FM)#Tunisie pic.twitter.com/FPTiEkSpsv
— Tunisie Football (@tunisiefootball) November 24, 2022
1hr 40 mins to kickoff: The Socceroos are on their way to the Al Janoub Stadium, where they also faced France in their opening match.
And we’re off! 🚌😤💚💛
🇦🇺➡️🏟️ #Socceroos #GiveIt100 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/6O5jmTYDQz
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 26, 2022
2hrs to kickoff: Tunisia put in a huge shift in their group opener to restrict Denmark to only a point. None more so than midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, who ran more than 13km in the match. Only Germany’s Joshua Kimmich covered more ground in the opening round of matches.
Ellyes Skhiri est le joueur qui a parcouru le plus de km durant cette 1re journée (13,14 km) derrière l’allemand Joshua Kimmich.
(via Mosaique FM)#TeamTunisia #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ASNv63Y1kw
— Tunisie Football (@tunisiefootball) November 24, 2022
3hrs to kickoff: The hype is building in Australia for this one…
Let’s go Australia!#Socceroos #GiveIt100 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/6AFyJA4oB3
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 26, 2022
3hrs 30mins from kickoff: One of the great stories of Australian football is the rise of Garang Kuol, the refugee who fled South Sudan and came through the ranks in Australia, with less than a year separating his senior debut and international debut.
Jetting off to Premier League club Newcastle United in January, this is his story.
4hrs from kickoff: Whilst Australians will be out in force supporting their boys at home, they will be outnumbered at the Al Janoub Stadium by masses of Tunisia fans. Qatar has a high expat population of Tunisians, and many have made the trip, meaning that come kickoff we will see swathes of red all around the stadium.
— Tunisie Football (@tunisiefootball) November 25, 2022
4hrs 30 mins to kickoff: Australia, also known as the Socceroos, won’t be short of support for this one back home; with the match taking place at the primetime of Saturday 9:00 p.m. AEDT, pubs, bars and clubs will be packed full of fans decked out in Green and Gold willing their boys on to victory.
Saturday night, prime time #FIFAWorldCup… HOW GOOD!
🆚 Tunisia
⚽ 9pm AEDT, 1pm local
🏟️ Al Janoub Stadium
📺💻📱: SBS, SBS On Demand#GiveIt100 #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/1dNQUVYNCC— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 25, 2022
5 hrs from kickoff: Australia’s future at this World Cup could come down to today. After that opening 4-1 loss to France, and with Denmark to come on matchday three, they need a win against Tunisia — and a good win, at that.
Scoring at a World Cup was even better than I dreamt it 🇦🇺⚽️ in the end not the result we wanted but we go into the next game with confidence! had to go with my idol Fernando Torres celebration on the same stage that he did it. pic.twitter.com/7Zu7n5DN5W
— Craig Goodwin (@craig_goodwin11) November 22, 2022
Tunisia vs Australia lineups, team news
Neither side picked up any injuries in their opening World Cup games.
The Socceroos make just one change as coach Graham Arnold largely keeps faith with the side beaten 4-1 in their opening match against France.
Nathaniel Atkinson, who struggled against France, is out injured, with Fran Karacic coming in to replace him on the right side of defence.
But there is still no place for No. 10 Ajdin Hrustic, who sat out the France game due to a minor injury. It looks like Arnold will retain a 4-5-1 formation, although that could revert to a 4-3-3 as they chase goals in this game.
Tunisia, meanwhile, also make just the one change after their opening draw with Denmark. Naim Sliti takes over from Anis Ben Slimane as one of two players – along with captain Youssef Msakni – providing support up top for striker Issam Jebali.
Star player Wahbi Khazri, who wasn’t used against Denmark, is on the bench today as is Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.
Tunisia confirmed starting 11
Tunisia confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): 16. Dahmen (GK) — 6. Bronn, 4. Meriah, 3. Talbi — 20. Drager, 17. Skhiri, 14. Laidouni, 24. Abdi — 23. Sliti, 7. Msakni — 9. Jebali
- Injuries: None
- Suspensions: None
Australia confirmed starting 11
Australia confirmed lineup (4-1-4-1), right to left): 1. Ryan (GK) — 5. Karacic, 19. Souttar, 4. Rowles, 16. Behich — 13. Mooy — 23. Goodwin, 22. Irvine, 14. McGree, 7. Leckie — 15. Duke
- Injuries: Atkinson
- Suspensions: None
Tunisia vs. Australia live stream, TV channel
The match will start at 1 p.m. local time and take place at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, which opened in 2019 and has a capacity of 40,000.
Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
USA | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 05:00 ET | FS1, Telemundo | fuboTV, Fox Sports site/app, Telemundo Deportes site/app, Peacock |
Canada | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 05:00 ET | TSN, CTV, RDS (French) | TSN site/app, CTV site/app, RDS app |
UK | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 10:00 GMT | BBC One | BBC iPlayer |
Australia | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 21:00 AEDT | SBS | SBS On Demand |
India | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 15:30 IST | Sports18 | Voot, JioTV |
Hong Kong | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 18:00 HKT | Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) | Now TV |
Malaysia | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 18:00 MYT | Astro | Astro GO |
Singapore | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 18:00 SGT | StarHub (Ch. 251/252), Singtel TV | MeWatch, Singtel TV GO, CAST, StarHub TV+ |
New Zealand | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 23:00 NZDT | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW |
MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)
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