Denmark held to frustrating point by stubborn Tunisia

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Denmark held to frustrating point by stubborn Tunisia
Updated
Andreas Cornelius was unable to turn in this header from point blank range
Andreas Cornelius was unable to turn in this header from point blank rangeAFP, StatsPerform
Denmark and Tunisia meet for just the second time in their history at Education City Stadium to start proceedings in Group D with both sides looking to get a positive result before their game against reigning champions France later in the tournament. Join us for live text coverage of the sixth game of this World Cup.

Full Time - Denmark 0 Tunisia 0

16:01 CET: Danny Lewis brings you the report if you missed any of the action from today's clash - a point for both sides in a game that never really got going.

15:59 CET: And that's it, Denmark and Tunisia cannot be separated in what will be a better point for the North Africans. Denmark will feel they had the better chances on the day, but were left frustrated by a fierce Tunisian resistance. Our report from Education City Stadium will be with you soon and attention in Group D now turns to France against Australia later tonight.

Second Half

15:57 CET: A late corner for Denmark, can they find a winner? It seems not, the attack fizzles out.

15:54 CET: Late drama! The referee is now checking VAR for that handball, but he decides it is still no penalty.

15:53 CET: Handball? No! A Denmark corner seems to hit the hand of a Tunisian defender but the referee sees nothing doing. Then sub Jensen hits a fierce knuckle shot that the goalkeeper can only tip out for a corner. 

15:50 CET: End of the 90 as we head into five minutes of stoppage time.

15:48 CET: Last two changes for Tunisia with Ferjani Sassi and Wajdi Kechrida on for Aissa Laidouni and Mohamed Drager. Hugs on the bench for these two, they have both put in a good shift today.

15:45 CET: Five minutes left in normal time - can either side find a late winner?

15:40 CET: Jebali and captain Msakni are making way for Hannibal Mejbri - who has some great hair - and Taha Khenissi. Looks like the North Africans could be settling for a point.

15:36 CET: All the momentum with Denmark according to our stats - can they make it count in the final 15 minutes?

Denmark building momentum against Tunisia
Denmark building momentum against TunisiaStatsPerform

15:32 CET: What's this then? Tunisia are claiming a penalty on Andersen for a raised arm, the referee points for a corner instead. On the replay it looked like a 50/50 decision.

15:29 CET: Eriksen is starting to show his class and nearly opens the scoring for the Danes, shooting from the edge of the box, the effort is well saved and turned away from a corner.

HOW DO THEY NOT SCORE?! From Eriksen's corner, Andreas Christiensen rises highest to nod the ball back across goal only for substitute Cornelius to semi-block his own header on the line. THe Danes are knocking on the door.

15:27 CET: Tunisia then make their first change with Naim Sliti coming on for Anis Slimane. A straight swap in midfield.

15:24 CET: Denmark blink first with a triple swap in the 65th minute. Simon Kjaer, the captain, Dolberg and Skov Olsen all off in place of Mathias Jensen, Andreas Cornelius and Jesper Lindstrom. A positive move from the Danes.

15:16 CET: After Tunisia's disallowed goal in the first half, it's now Denmark's turn to feel that pain. Joakim Maehle thinks he has given his side the lead from a rebound, only to see the assistant referee raise his flag for an earlier offside. A correct call - Andreas Skov Olson is a yard off.

Soon after the Danes go closer, Kasper Dolberg glancing a header across goal, only to see his effort well saved. 

15:13 CET: A concerted bit of pressure for Tunisia at the start of the second half with three corners in a row. But they can't make much happen. Time for some changes?

15:06 CET: Back under way in Education City Stadium - which side can get on the front foot in the second half?

Half Time

14:55 CET: As our momentum graphic from StatsPerform suggests, it's been an even half with Tunisia having the best chances right at the end. Will it change in the second 45?

First half momentum
First half momentumStatsPerform

14:51 CET: Goalless at the break as both sides have had some chances, but both goalkeepes have stood firm. Tunisia will feel they deserve the lead more - Denmark may need to add some more firepower onto the pitch if they are to get all three points today.

First Half

14:46 CET: Before that, Thomas Delaney had gone down in a challenge with Msakni. He tried to play on until half time, but that hasn't happened. He leaved the pitch angry and for good reason if the injury is serious. He is replaced by Mikkel Damsgaard in midfield as enter stoppage time at the end of the first half.

14:43 CET: A penalty shout for Denmark as Hojbjerg seems to be pushed to the ground, however the referee points for a goal kick and VAR does not check it. There have been some weak penalties given in this World Cup, that looked a good shout from the Danes. From the goal kick, Jebali has the best change of the game, splitting the two centre backs, only to see his dinked effort saved by Kasper Schmiechel. We have some life before the break!

14:41 CET: Laidouni, who was in the action earlier with a fierce tackle, gets the ball from a corner and fires a vicious shot just wide for Tunisia from close range - perhaps their best chance of the game so far?

14:34 CET: Corners seem to be Denmark's best way through Tunisia and from another Eriksen cross, the ball breaks to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who lashes a shot on the bounce straight into the arms of the Tunisian goalkeeper. 10 minutes or so left until half-time - both managers may need to make changes for the second half if they want all three points.

14:30 CET: Half an hour gone inside the Education City Stadium, and we are yet to see either goalkeeper forced into a save just yet. With both sides playing similar systems, they seem unable to break each other down. Both sides seem unable to find their fluid best and the statistics show the same story. 

Stats after 30 minutes in Denmark v Tunisia
Stats after 30 minutes in Denmark v TunisiaStatsPerform

14:24 CET: Tunisia look to have opened the scoring through Jebali, however he strayed just offside in the buildup. It was some good defensive play from Denmark to make sure that Tunisia did not get the first goal of the game. Twenty-three minutes gone in this game, still goalless.

14:21 CET: Set plays have seemed like the best route to goal for both sides so far. Eriksen whips in a corner for Denmark, but they can't make anything more of it. They then have a free kick moments later taken by Eriksen - again threatening but nothing doing so far.

14:12 CET: A speculative shot from the edge of the box earns Tunisia a corner, but a near post header from captain Msakni sails over the bar harmlessly.

14:09 CET: A bit of a midfield battle far in this game with neither side able to get going and our friends at StatsPerform think this could be the case throughout, giving a 61% chance of the draw in today's game.

Denmark v Tunisia win probability
Denmark v Tunisia win probabilityStatsPerform

14:02 CET: Christian Eriksen is back in a major tournament for the first time since his cardia arrest and midfielder Aissa Laidouni is quick to welcome him into the game with a crunching challenge. It's a fair one and it is fair to say Laidouni loved it, pumping his chest like he had scored a goal. Up the other end, Tunisia have the first shot of the game but it comes to nothing.

14:00 CET: We are under way between Denmark and Tunisia with the Danes getting us started. It looks Denmark are setting up in a 3-4-3 system with Tunisia opting to match up with their opponents in a similar system.

Pre-match

13:55 CET: Back in Education City Stadium, the two teams have taken to the pitch before the national anthems. It looks pretty full for this clash, so let's hope for another great game.

13:08 CET: It's all over in Lusail, where Saudi Arabia have pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history to beat Argentina 2-1. Two second-half goals and an incredible defensive display saw the Saudis pull off the first major shock of this tournament. Head here to catch our report and reaction to this match where Argentina have had their 36-match unbeaten run ended in the most shocking way.

Here are the match stats from a crazy game in Qatar.

Stats from Argentina v Saudi Arabia
Stats from Argentina v Saudi ArabiaStatsPerform

Team News

Kasper Dolberg will be leading the line for Denmark against the North Africans after impressing for Sevilla this season. Elsewhere in the Danish side, Christian Eriksen makes his first appearance in a major tournament since he suffered cardiac arrest at last year's European Championships in Copenhagen. 

For Tunisia, Youssef Msakni will lead his side into their second-straight World Cup, where they will be looking to get out of the group stage for the first time in their history.

Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel, Joakim Andersen, Simon Kjaer (c), Andreas Christensen, Joakim Maehle, Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg, Thomas Delaney, Christian Eriksen, Andreas Skov Olsen, Kasper Dolberg, Rasmus Kristensen

Tunisia: Aymen Dahmen, Ali Abdi, Montassar Talbi, Yassine Meriah, Dylan Bronn, Mohamed Draeger, Aissa Laidouni, Ellyes Skhiri, Anis Ben Slimane, Youssef Msakni (c), Issam Jembali 

Find full team news here.

Introduction

Welcome to live text coverage of Denmark against Tunisia - the second game of Tuesday's quadruple header - from Group D. We will bring you all the major moments from this clash along with detailed statistical analysis from our partners at StatsPerform. We will also bring you the lineups an hour before the kick-off, which is at 14:00 CET.

Can't watch today's game? Do not fear, we have live audio commentary for free that will have you covered. 

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