Socceroos edge out Tunisia to keep last-16 hopes alive

With the reigning world champions up against every expert’s pick for dark horses in Group C’s other outing, this was always going to be billed as the battle of its also-rans, in its rightful place as first up and firmly on Saturday's undercard. But if either Tunisia or Australia could beat the other, they would have a good chunk of the points required to have a shot at a surprise last-16 spot, and would only need a result against their European rivals to sneak in.

- MARK CRITCHLEY IN DOHA

Tunisia 0

Australia Duke (23) 0 1

Tunisia started the day in the stronger position but, courtesy of Mitch Duke's deft first-half header, Australia ended it in the ascendancy. Their World Cup campaign was always likely to come down to this specific game and by just about edging it, Graham Arnold's side know that a win against Denmark will see a limited but organised group of players emulate 2006's "golden generation" by reaching the knockout stages.

That may still be a tall task but it is no taller than Tunisia's. The Eagles of Carthage impressed in holding Denmark to a point earlier this week but now have to beat France - and perhaps beat them handsomely - in order to have any hope of extending their stay in Qatar.

Scoring a goal would help. Despite mounting a spell of desperate late pressure, they rarely looked like opening their account for the tournament.