World Cup 2022: France go through despite Tunisia loss, as Australia beat Denmark

Eight more teams are in contention on Wednesday, in their last games of the pool stage of the competition, and fighting for a spot in the final 16.

Three European teams take to the pitch: France, Denmark and Poland on the final day of play for both Groups C and D, as simultaneous kickoffs continue.

The practice of starting two games at the same time began in 1986, four years after a match dubbed the “Disgrace of Gijon.” The match was scandalous because West Germany and Austria both knew that a German win by one or two goals would advance both teams at the expense of Algeria.

Here's our at-a-glance guide to Wednesday's World Cup action:

Tunisia 1-0 France

• Tunisia fans celebrated as the match against France ended with a 1-0 for their team, after a goal scored by Wahbi Khazri in the 58th minute.

• France's Antoine Griezmann thought he had evened out the score in the eighth minute of stoppage time, but his action was ruled offside following a video review.

• Despite the defeat, defending champion France still won its World Cup group. 'Les Bleus' have not won all three of their World Cup group matches since claiming its first title in 1998.

• Tunisia -- who hasn't even won three matches in its World Cup history -- unfortunately didn't qualify for the round of 16.

• The Tunisians have never been past the group stage in five World Cups and their two wins were 40 years apart -- against Mexico in 1978 and against Panama four years ago in Russia.

Australia 1-0 Denmark

• Australia made it among the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time since Germany in 2006, beating favoured Denmark.

• Australia's winning goal was scored by Mathew Leckie in the 60th minute.

• For Denmark, the match was a major disappointment, as the team needed to win and hope that Tunisia would not beat France to advance to the round of 16.

• It wasn't a bad game for the Danes, who attacked from the start but never managed to break through the Australian team's defence.

• The two teams drew 1-1 in the group phase of the last World Cup in 2018.

Argentina 2-0 Poland

• Lionel Messi had a penalty saved but his team still beat Poland 2-0 Wednesday after second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez and advanced to the last 16.

• It’s a strong position for Argentina to be in, especially considering the team opened the World Cup with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in one of biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.

• Argentina finished in first place in Group C to set up a match against Australia, a surprise qualifier for the knockout stage.

• Poland was looking to advance beyond the group stage for the first time since 1986.

Mexico 2-1 Saudi Arabia

• Mexico won 2-1 against Saudi Arabia with goals by Henry Martin and Luis Chaves, but the victory Wednesday night over Saudi Arabia was not enough for the team to advance out of Group C.

• Mexico tried desperately in the final 20 minutes to get another goal -- including an effort by Uriel Antuna in the 87th minute that was ruled offside -- but came up short.

• Mexico has reached the round of 16 at the last seven World Cups, tied for the longest current streak with Brazil. But in Qatar, the team sat at the bottom of Group C ahead of the must-win match against Saudi Arabia.

• But because of Argentina's 2-0 victory over Poland in a simultaneous match, Mexico failed to advance out of its group for the first time since 1978.

• Saudi Arabia reached the round of 16 back in 1994, the team's World Cup debut, but hasn't made it past the group stage since.