2022 World Cup Group D final standings: Who is through to the last 16?
Reigning champions France have made it through to the knockouts after topping Group D, with Australia joining them in the last 16 for only the second time in the nation’s history.
Didier Deschamps is taking part in his third World Cup as manager of France, having previously reached the quarter-finals in 2014 and famously lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy at the tournament’s previous edition in 2018. History aside, Les Bleus travelled to the Persian Gulf having won just one of their six Nations League games earlier this year, while also losing Karim Benzema to injury.
That recent poor form, coupled with the loss of a Ballon d’Or winner hasn’t affected the nation just yet, though. Deschamps navigated a potentially awkward group as table-toppers despite losing their final game to Tunisia, though the Europeans did rotate heavily as they were all but guaranteed first place unless something dramatic happened. They now await the runners-up in Group C which, as it stands, is Argentina.
Australia have also joined the current title-holders in the knockouts, reaching the last 16 for only the second time in the Socceroos‘ history after Guus Hiddink famously carried a ‘Golden Generation’ containing the likes of Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Mark Schwarzer to the latter stages in 2006. Graham Arnold ‘s men sealed progression thanks to wins over Tunisia and most recently Denmark.
Mathew Leckie was the difference-maker against the Danes, scoring a well-taken goal on the hour mark past Kasper Schmeichel. The 31-year-old has become something of a Qatar 2022 cult hero, not for his attacking output, but after it was revealed that his surname ‘Leckie’ is actually a slang term in Australia for ‘electricity’, leading to plenty of quips from online ‘comics’…
I hear this Leckie costs a lot more than he did a few months ago.
— Phil Blundell (@PhilBlundell) November 22, 2022
Clearly no cost of living crisis in Australia, their manager has kept Leckie on the whole game (i’ll get my coat)
— Les Peers (@LesPeers) November 22, 2022
Australia have qualified for the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2006 and only the second time in their history.
The Socceroos are bouncing. 🦘 https://t.co/mZEMrd5PVI
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 30, 2022
2022 World Cup Group D full results
Tuesday 22 November 2022
- Denmark 0-0 Tunisia, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
- France 4-1 Australia, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Saturday 26 November 2022
- Tunisia 0-1 Australia, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- France 2-1 Denmark, Stadium 974, Doha
Wednesday 30 November 2022
- Australia 1-0 Denmark, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- Tunisia 1-0 France, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
2022 World Cup standings
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