Socceroos hold final training as they look to bounce back against Tunisia
Australia and Tunisia are going head to head in a crucial Group D match at the Qatar World Cup.
Both sides are looking for their first win of the tournament at the Al Janoub Stadium, after Tunisia shared a goalless draw with Denmark in their opening match, while Australia were well beaten by the reigning champions France. Any victory here will give the winners a real shot at progressing to the knockout rounds, with France and Denmark meeting later today, in which these two sides will be hoping France can inflict maximum damage in order to open up second spot in the group.
Tunisia and Australia have met only twice before: the Australians won a friendly in 1997, and Tunisia won their only competitive meeting at the 2005 Confederations Cup.
Follow all the action with our live blog below:
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
72 mins: Close! That should have been the game!
Aziz Behich wins the ball off Wahbi Khazri and slides it down the line to Craig Goodwin. He flicks it over the top and finds Jamie Maclaren who takes the ball alongside the left edge of the penalty area before fizzing a low pass into the six-yard box.
It’s a great ball and one that should result in a goal as Mathew Leckie lunges towards it. All he needs is a touch to beat the goalkeeper but the ball bounces past him and Tunisia are spared more blushes.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
69 mins: Ajdin Hrustic is given the ball out on the right and he flicks it over a defender before looking to sprint in behind. He slips as he rolls off the shoulder meaning the move breaks down but it’s a sign of the imagination he brings to the Australian team.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
66 mins: Australia make a double change to try and wrestle some more possession. Mitchell Duke and Riley McGree go off with Ajdin Hrustic and Jamie Maclaren brought on.
For Tunisia Wahbi Khazri is introduced as another threat up top.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
63 mins: Australia’s main threat is now coming from counter-attacks and Ali Al-Abdi recognises that. Jackson Irvine looks to burst through the middle but the Tunisian midfielder takes him out early and earns himself a yellow card for the trouble.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
60 mins: Nice comeback from Australia who find some room to break on the counter attack with Craig Goodwin flying down the left. He fizzes a low effort into the six-yard box but there’s no-one around to turn the ball towards goal.
Good contest this one.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
57 mins: Tunisia play the free kick quickly but Laidouni is still rolling around on the floor so the referee pulls back play just as Ellyes Skhiri takes the ball into the penalty area.
Tunisia aren’t happy about that but it’s their own fault for the play acting. These are all good signs for the African nation however. They’ve come out from the break with purpose and are taking the game to Australia.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
54 mins: There’s an appeal for handball against Australia. Jebali weaves into the penalty area but loses possession to Aaron Mooy who boots the ball away.
It strikes one of his teammates on what Tunisia say was the arm - it wasn’t - and comes out to Aissa Laidouni who buys a free kick with an extravagant fall following a routine tackle.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
51 mins: Riley McGree brings the ball up to the edge of the box for Australia before running into trouble and sliding the ball back to Jackson Irvine.
He whips the ball out to Craig Goodwin on the left wing who delivers a good cross into the box only for Tunisia to deal with it without too much trouble.
Tunisia 0-1 Australia
48 mins: Tunisia have also changed the formation, electing to go with a back four and send another man into midfield. That control works out for them as they win an early corner but Aussie defender Harry Souttar rises highest to head the ball clear.
Bright start to the second half from Tunisia though.
Second half: Tunisia 0-1 Australia
Kick off: Australia face a tricky 45 minutes as they look to try and hold on to their lead. Ferjani Sassi has replaced Mohamed Drager for Tunisia during the break in the only change in the teams.
The African side get the match back underway.
