Doha, Dec. 1 -- Defending champions France finished as Group D leaders despite a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tunisia at the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.

Tunisia almost saw their stunning victory over Didier Deschamps' side slip away in the last minute, but Antoine Griezmann's goal was canceled by VAR.

France had better goal difference over Australia, who beat Denmark 1-0 in the other match on Wednesday.

Deschamps' squad went into the match having already secured a place in the knockout stage, so the 54-year-old Frenchman chose to rest most of the regular starters including Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Griezmann and brought them on when his team fell behind in the second half.

Khazri's goal had once sent Tunisia to second place in...