France World Cup fans miss VAR check vs Tunisia because TV cuts to advert break
France suffered a first defeat in the World Cup group stages for 12 years on Wednesday but fans watching at home thought they'd snatched a 1-1 draw, as an ad break meant they missed a vital VAR check
France football fans following the World Cup at home missed a vital VAR check at the end of their final Group D match as TV broadcasters cut to an ad break.
Didier Deschamps' side were the first team to book their spot in the round of 16, following a 4-1 romping against Australia in their opening fixture and a subsequent 2-1 win over Denmark.
As a result, the World Cup holders opted to field a heavily rotated 11 for their final group-stage fixture, making nine changes to the team that faced Denmark, with top spot in Group D also wrapped up.
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Despite boasting the majority of possession at Al Rayyan Stadium, Les Blues conceded a shock goal to former Sunderland forward Wahbi Khazri, who breezed past the France defence before slotting into the bottom corner.
In response, Deschamps immediately looked to the bench for world-class reinforcements, sending on Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba and Adrien Rabiot in a triple substitution. Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele were later sent into the fray by the France boss, whose substitution looked to have paid off when Griezmann hammered in an equaliser deep into injury time.
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However, the 98th-minute strike was ruled out following an intervention from VAR, after the full-time whistle, which spotted the Atletico Madrid man had strayed offside in the build-up. But French fans watching along at home missed the goal being ruled out as broadcaster TF1 had cut to an ad break at the end of the contest.
"7:40 p.m. I have just learned that France has lost," posted one aggrieved supporter. "I was part of it. I learned of our defeat on Twitter," jibbed another.
"@TF1 did not want to spread the joy of the Tunisian supporters,' harked a third. "I swear to you, my partner took off TF1 and then I go on the internet 5 minutes later I see 1-0 for Tunisia," slammed a fourth.
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