Tunisia grab lifeline

Tunisia found an unlikely lifeline and plunged Belgium into trouble as the north Africans came from behind to earn a deserved draw yesterday. Another defeat would have eliminated Tunisia, but, playing with a new panache and spirit, they impressed throughout and were rewarded by Raouf Bouzaiane's 17th-minute equaliser.

Bouzaiane curled home a marvellous free kick just four minutes after Belgium captain Marc Wilmots had given his side the lead. Belgium were left to settle for their fifth World Cup finals draw in succession and, after their poor performance, they must now secure victory against Russia in their last group game on Friday to stand any hope of progressing.

Tunisia also have to win their last group match against Japan and improve their goal difference at the same time. But the players rescued a great deal of pride from this performance and will still hope to reach the last 16 for the first time.

Tunisia coach Ammar Souayah said: "I'm generally satisfied. The players showed great spirit, great character and we showed good technique in parts. The game was generally balanced but we had the better of it. I challenge any team to have known each other for only a month - as we have - and to be in the position we are in the competition."

Belgium coach Robert Waseige was certainly impressed. "The Tunisians were quick, marked well and stuck to the job. Before the game everybody thought Tunisia would be easy to play, but as we saw today it was not like that."

Wilmots wasted little time in underlining his importance to Belgium when he pounced on a 13th-minute knock-down from Branko Strupar to sweep his side into the lead from close range.

It should have ushered in a period of dominance for the European team, but with Tunisia's Hassen Gabsi and Slim Ben Achour linking well with lone frontman Ziad Jaziri, Belgium relinquished the initiative.

Just four minutes later, Bouzaiane stepped up to curl his left-footed free kick past goalkeeper Geert de Vlieger from 25 metres. That came just moments after Khaled Badra had seen his long-range strike ruled out for the infringement which led to Bouzaiane's free kick.