• Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia celebrates with teammates after scoring their winner against France in the World Cup Group D match at Education City Stadium on November 30, 2022, in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Getty
    Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia celebrates with teammates after scoring their winner against France in the World Cup Group D match at Education City Stadium on November 30, 2022, in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Getty
  • Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia celebrates his goal. EPA
    Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia celebrates his goal. EPA
  • France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is beaten by Wahbi Khazri's strike for Tunisia. AP
    France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is beaten by Wahbi Khazri's strike for Tunisia. AP
  • Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri celebrates his goal with teammate Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. AFP
    Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri celebrates his goal with teammate Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. AFP
  • Ali Maaloul celebrates after Wahbi Khazri put Tunisia ahead. Getty
    Ali Maaloul celebrates after Wahbi Khazri put Tunisia ahead. Getty
  • Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal. Getty
    Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal. Getty
  • Antoine Griezmann of France scores a goal that was later disallowed due to offside after a VAR check. EPA
    Antoine Griezmann of France scores a goal that was later disallowed due to offside after a VAR check. EPA
  • Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen makes a save. Getty
    Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen makes a save. Getty
  • Kylian Mbappe comes on as a substitute for France. Getty
    Kylian Mbappe comes on as a substitute for France. Getty
  • France's Kingsley Coman blazes a shot wide of the target. AFP
    France's Kingsley Coman blazes a shot wide of the target. AFP
  • France's Kingsley Coman reacts after missing a chance. AP
    France's Kingsley Coman reacts after missing a chance. AP
  • Tunisia's Nader Ghandri celebrates scoring a goal against France that was flagged offside. AFP
    Tunisia's Nader Ghandri celebrates scoring a goal against France that was flagged offside. AFP
  • Tunisia's Nader Ghandri flicks the ball into the France net but the goal was disallowed for offside. AFP
    Tunisia's Nader Ghandri flicks the ball into the France net but the goal was disallowed for offside. AFP
  • Tunisia's Nader Ghandri scores a first-half goal that was ruled offside. AFP
    Tunisia's Nader Ghandri scores a first-half goal that was ruled offside. AFP
  • Eduardo Camavinga of France runs with the ball from Anis Ben Slimane of Tunisia. Getty
    Eduardo Camavinga of France runs with the ball from Anis Ben Slimane of Tunisia. Getty
  • Tunisia's Wajdi Kechrida, left, gets a yellow card from referee Matthew Conger. AP
    Tunisia's Wajdi Kechrida, left, gets a yellow card from referee Matthew Conger. AP
  • France's William Saliba and Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri tussle. AP
    France's William Saliba and Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri tussle. AP
  • France's Dayot Upamecano battles with Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri. AFP
    France's Dayot Upamecano battles with Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri. AFP
  • Tunisia's forward Wahbi Khazri attempts a shot on goal. AFP
    Tunisia's forward Wahbi Khazri attempts a shot on goal. AFP
  • France's goalkeeper Steve Mandanda makes a save. AFP
    France's goalkeeper Steve Mandanda makes a save. AFP

World Cup

'Real football': Dubai Ruler says Tunisian World Cup team made Arabs proud

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid says region's teams have made a 'distinctive imprint' - and thrilled fans along the way

Rory Reynolds
Rory Reynolds

December 01, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

LIVE: Latest from the Fifa World Cup 2022

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has praised Tunisia's performance at the World Cup, saying the team made Arabs proud.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai said watching the Carthage Eagles was "real football".

Tunisia defeated France 1-0 in Qatar on Wednesday night but did not score enough points to progress to the second round.

The defeat was profound for France who are fourth in Fifa's current world rankings and won the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

"An Arab victory and a distinctive imprint on the World Cup," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.

Tunisia - ranked 30th by Fifa - will return home to a heroes' welcome.

In Tunis, fans celebrated late into the night.

“I felt as if we got our revenge for 75 years of colonialism,” said law student Sarah Abdel Majid, 26, at a cafe in the Tunis neighbourhood of L'Aouina.

“We beat the world champion, so it’s fine if we did not go through to the next round,” she added, tears of joy streaming down her face.

Saudi Arabia and Mexico both crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday night - but entertained spectators with an at times wild back and forth play.

The Green Falcons' Salem Aldawsari scored in the 95th minute, after two goals from Mexico early in the second half, to make the score 2-1 by the final whistle.

"This game is officially bananas," wrote The Athletic's Felipe Cárdenas.

Saudi Arabia's performance has captivated the Gulf and sent the Kingdom football-mad.

For Mexico, supported by thousands of fans who made the 13,000km journey to Qatar, it is the first time in 44 years that the El Tri have not progressed to the second round.

  • Saudi Arabia's Salem Al Dawsari fires the ball past Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in their World Cup Group C 2-1 defeat to the Central American team at Lusail Stadium, Qatar, on Wednesday, Novemeber 30, 2022. AP
    Saudi Arabia's Salem Al Dawsari fires the ball past Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in their World Cup Group C 2-1 defeat to the Central American team at Lusail Stadium, Qatar, on Wednesday, Novemeber 30, 2022. AP
  • Salem Al Dawsari of Saudi Arabia scores against Mexico. Getty
    Salem Al Dawsari of Saudi Arabia scores against Mexico. Getty
  • Saudi Arabia's Salem Al Dawsari runs back with the ball after scoring against Mexico. AP
    Saudi Arabia's Salem Al Dawsari runs back with the ball after scoring against Mexico. AP
  • Mexico's Henry Martin after scoring the opening goal against Saudi Arabia. AP
    Mexico's Henry Martin after scoring the opening goal against Saudi Arabia. AP
  • Mexico's Cesar Montes and Uriel Antuna celebrate after Henry Martin's goal. AP
    Mexico's Cesar Montes and Uriel Antuna celebrate after Henry Martin's goal. AP
  • Mexico's Henry Martin, left, celebrates with Jesus Gallardo. AP
    Mexico's Henry Martin, left, celebrates with Jesus Gallardo. AP
  • Mexico's Luis Chavez, right, celebrates scoring the second goal. PA
    Mexico's Luis Chavez, right, celebrates scoring the second goal. PA
  • Luis Chavez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring. Getty
    Luis Chavez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring. Getty
  • Mexico's Hector Moreno tussles with Saudi Arabia's Firas Al Buraikan. AP
    Mexico's Hector Moreno tussles with Saudi Arabia's Firas Al Buraikan. AP
  • Saudi Arabia's Hassan Tambakti pulls the jersey of Mexico's Henry Martin. AP
    Saudi Arabia's Hassan Tambakti pulls the jersey of Mexico's Henry Martin. AP
  • Saudi Arabia's Sultan Al Ghannam in action with Mexico's Jesus Gallardo. Reuters
    Saudi Arabia's Sultan Al Ghannam in action with Mexico's Jesus Gallardo. Reuters
Updated: December 01, 2022, 3:02 AM
World CupSheikh Mohammed bin RashidTunisiaQatar