Duke makes Australia dream

His name is Mitchell Duke and he plays for Fagiano Okayama in the Japanese second division. His name is already part of the history of Australia after being the almost absolute protagonist of a triumph of merit against Tunisia in the World Cup in Qatar. A perfect header. Three crucial points in their desire to reach the round of 16 of the tournament 16 years later. Led by their striker, the Oceanic team stopped the momentum of Jalel Kadri’s team, too predictable in his game and with the feeling of having lost his opportunity in this event in Qatar. Only Msakni threatened, but his punch was absent.

Graham Arnold’s bet worked better than Jalel Kadri’s early on. Tunisia wanted control, but the ball got stuck from the start due to intense pressure from Australia, who quickly sought the verticality of Leckie and Goodwin. Neither Msakni nor Jebali came into play. Too physical on stage for the Tunisian construction to be simple. Each individual duel found Australian triumph. And that excessively weakened the initial premise of Kadri’s set. In one of its transitions, Australia found a piece of paradise. From the goal to the rival area in three touches. Goodwin found yards down the left and served up a poisoned cross that Duke decorated with a sensational header. Impossible for Dahmen.

Tunisia tugged at the heart to react. But what he needed was football. Msakni had it, which however delayed his position excessively to try to help in a creation that went from being slow to hasty. Two appearances by Jebali put Australia in check before the break. In his first run into space, he gave up Msakni for the latter to subtly give up Drager. The winger’s shot was precisely blocked by Souttar. His second foray allowed a perfect service to the area that Msakni wasted by finishing wide when he had everything in his favor to sign the tie.

Tunisia was braver at the restart. Sassi entered and Laidouni advanced his position. Then more Sliti appeared, incisive near the box. Also Jebali, who kept crashing into a wall. Australia played with the spaces and launched Goodwin and Leckie to try to solve on the counters. All in the waiting room of the nerves. Those of some and those of others. Tunisia found itself out of Qatar and pulled Khazri. Australia feared and launched Hrustic on the scene to pause what was already almost a round trip. And it was Leckie who was inches away from making it 0-2.

Tunisia was already what Msakni tried to be. She dribbled, feinted, accelerated, shot and crashed into Ryan when the clock was already a real enemy for his selection. He insisted on the African cadre until the end. With Sliti entering the danger zones again and again. With Khazri testing Ryan. With Msakni challenging the world. But Australia was already an impenetrable wall. Mooy multiplied in the middle area. Souttar was huge in the area. And the dream of the eighth is present in the group of Graham Arnoldthat everything will be played against Denmark while Tunisia is left in the hands of a utopia.