French left fuming at decision by Kiwi
The French football federation is filing a complaint with Fifa over Antoine Griezmann’s disallowed goal at the end of a 1-0 loss to Tunisia at the World Cup yesterday.
Griezmann drilled in a low shot in the eighth and final minute of stoppage time at Education City Stadium. Kiwi referee Matthew Conger ruled out the equaliser following a video review.
The FFF’s statement said the goal was “unfairly refused” but did not elaborate, amid reports it focused on the fact Conger restarted the match then blew the final whistle — after which he consulted VAR and ruled out Griezmann’s goal.
Griezmann was in an offside position when a cross came over but then retreated and appeared to be played back into an onside position following a Tunisia defender’s deflection when he shot into the bottom left corner.
As France were searching for a late equaliser, the players on Tunisia’s bench were watching another World Cup match on TV hoping for a goal.
Neither of them came, giving Tunisia a momentous win that still wasn’t enough to prevent the north African team from being eliminated.
Wahbi Khazri scored in the 58th minute to lead Tunisia to only their third victory at a World Cup tournament. But in stoppage time, the Tunisians on the sidelines were more interested in the other Group D game, crowding around a TV screen on the bench hoping Denmark would be able to score against Australia — a circumstance that would have lifted Tunisia into second place and also into the round of 16 in Qatar.
“We were praying for a Denmark goal but it never came,” Khazri said. “But that’s the thing with football, you should only count on yourself. We didn’t do enough in the first two games, otherwise we’d be through.”
France ended up winning the group with six points, ahead of Australia on goal difference. Tunisia finished with four points in third place. Denmark, who lost to Australia 1-0, ended up in last place with one point.
It was France’s first loss at the World Cup since the 2014 quarterfinals, when Germany won 1-0.
With France already qualified for the knockout stage, coach Didier Deschamps rested Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and most of his regular starters. Only four of the team lining
We didn’t need one point. Unless something catastrophic happened.
France coach Didier Deschamps
up at the beginning had even started a World Cup match before.
Deschamps defended his decision further, saying his team’s sizeable goal difference over Australia was enough of a safety net.
“We didn’t need one point,” he said. “Unless something catastrophic happened.”
Khazri’s goal, however, prompted Deschamps to bring on Mbappe and Griezmann and the increased urgency almost led to an equaliser.
“I wanted to give Kylian 30 minutes, which is what I’d planned to do,” Deschamps said.