The Education City stadium turned into a sea of red as the Danes weathered a fierce test both on the pitch and from the stands.
Kasper Hjulmand’s side, peppered with Premier League talent throughout, had to withstand a fierce barrage as the north Africans claimed a moral victory. Qatar’s capital city is filled with Tunisian ex-pats and they created a fevered atmosphere with which the Danes struggled to cope.
Whistles constantly rang around the stadium whenever the Danes - ironically dressed in red - had the ball. Whenever they were in possession, the white-shirted Tunisians roared their men forward.
Within the first minute, burly midfielder Aissa Laidouni smashed into Christian Eriksen with a tackle that could have ended the Manchester United playmaker’s career. But he won the ball, stood up, thumped his chest - setting the tone for an uncomfortable afternoon for Kasper Schmeichel & Co. who were chased down from the first whistle to last.
In fairness, they enjoyed the better chances - particularly as the Carthage Eagles tired in the final quarter. Eriksen brought out a superb stop from keeper Aymen Dahmen with a drive that was parried over the bar.
And then from the resulting corner, met by Joachim Anderson at the far post, sub Andreas Cornelius managed to nod the ball against the upright from less than one yard out.
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Tunisia had their moments, too. Laidouni ran from deep inside his own half after swapping passes with Issam Jebali but ran out of steam after a 60-yard charge.
In the opening half, Kasper Schmeichel somehow pulled off a save from Jebali after the striker feigned to shoot, sitting down the Leicester City shot-stopper. The forward attempted to flick the ball over him but the Danish No. 1 flung an arm upwards and managed to divert the ball around the post.
In the dying seconds, Denmark thought they had created a chance to seal it. Eriksen’s corner struck the arm of Yassine Mariah but the defender was unsighted when the ball came over.
VAR officials called the attention of referee Cesar Ramos to the potential offence and the stadium held its collective breath.
But the Mexican official saw something else as the players jostled for position and awarded a free-kick in Tunisia’s favour as the crowd rejoiced in winning a point their efforts deserved.
