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Eagle of Carthage in search of prey in the sky of Qatar

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Sarah Almas: Tunisia. The African country’s football team is known as the ‘Eagle of Carthage’. Eagles will fly from Carthage to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. With paws almost the size of a grizzly bear, eagles will circle the football green carpet in search of prey. The Eagles of Carthage, naturally fearful, will find any big prey in Qatar?

Tunisia’s football history:

Tunisia was a French colony until the middle of the last century. The country gained independence in 1956. The Tunisian Football Federation was established on March 29, 1957. Since 1960, the country has been a member of FIFA and the African Confederation.

The Tunisian National Party was formed long before independence. Although it had no international recognition. According to history, on March 11, 1928, the Tunisian national team played their first match against the ruling France ‘B’ team. They lost the match 2-8. Until independence, Tunisia played most of its matches against the French ‘B’ team, the military team or French-Algeria (now Algeria).

After independence, Tunisia participated in the first international football match on June 1, 1957. At that time, Algeria, the rival, was fighting an armed struggle to free itself from French rule. Tunisia lost the match 1-2. Although Algeria did not gain independence at the time, there was no ‘official’ recognition of the match.

Tunisia’s first official match was at the 1957 Pan Arab Games. Tunisia won 4-3 in the first match against hosts Lebanon. Brahim bin Farjit scored the first international goal for the country. Tunisia reached the final after defeating Iraq and Lebanon in that event. In the end, however, Tunisia was satisfied with the second position after losing to Syria in the final match.
In August 1960, Tunisia defeated Chinese Taipei 8-1 in a friendly match at the Rome Stadium in Italy. This is Tunisia’s biggest international win so far. Munsef Sheriff scored three goals in that match. He is Tunisia’s first hat-trick man in international football.

Tunisia’s unique history at the World Cup debut:

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Tunisia’s first World Cup participation in 1978. Tunisia was eliminated from the group stage in the debut match of the World Cup held in Argentina. Tunisia made new history in their World Cup debut in ‘B’ group. Beat Mexico 3-1. Ali Kaabi scored the first goal for Tunisia in the 55th minute of the game. This is Tunisia’s debut goal in the World Cup.

Tunisia’s victory against Mexico created a new history. Because this was the first victory of any African or Arab country in the World Cup. In the next match, Tunisia lost 0-1 to Poland. But in the last match, they surprised everyone by stopping Germany goalless.

Despite being eliminated from the group stage of the first World Cup, Tunisia’s debut was memorable.

Overall Performance in World Cup:

Since 1978, Tunisia has been able to take part in the main stage of five World Cups. However, they never got past the group stage barrier. They played consecutively in 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups. No victory was seen in these three World Cups. However, one match has been drawn in each tournament.

After 1978, Tunisia saw its second victory in the finals of the World Cup football in 2018. After the first victory, it takes them forty years to get the second victory! In the first two matches of the group they lost as usual to England and Belgium. However, in the last match, they defeated Panama 1-2 and won their second victory in the history of the World Cup.

15 matches have been played in five times in World Cup football so far. Two wins. Draw four. And defeat is left in nine matches. Their biggest defeat in the World Cup was against Belgium 2-5 in 2018. In the World Cup, Tunisian players scored 9 goals and conceded 13 goals.

Riyad Bouazizi, Kaies Ghodhbane and Hatem Trabelsi have played three consecutive World Cups since 1998. Riyad and Kaies played maximum eight matches. Hatem was on the field in seven matches.

Wahbi Khazri scored two goals for Tunisia in World Cup 2018. He is the highest scorer of Tunisia in the World Cup.

Tunisian football success:

In 2004 came the biggest success of Tunisian football. They won the ‘African Cup of Nations’ title. Tunisia defeated Morocco 2-1 in the final of the tournament held on their own soil. Senegal and Nigeria lost to the Eagles of Carthage in the quarter and semi finals of the season. But at that time, Senegal was one of the football powers with Papa Diop and El Hadji Diouf. The Nigeria team also had global stars like Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.

In 2004, Francileudo Santos was joint top scorer with four goals in Africa’s best tournament.

Tunisia participated in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup as the African champion. Although they lost to Argentina and Germany in the first two matches, they lost to the best Australia in the Oceania region in the last match. Francileudo Santos also scored two goals in that match.

Tunisia lost in the finals of the 1965 and 1996 African Cup of Nations. In 2011, Tunisia won the African Nations Championship. Besides, Tunisia has the record of being the best in FIFA Arab Cup and Mediterranean Games.
Tunisia won the title of the ‘Kirin Cup’ tournament held in Japan in 2022. In addition to host Japan, there were Chile and Ghana. Tunisia won the title by defeating the Japanese national team 3-0 in the final.

In which year Tunisia received the honor of the best African team of the year. Was in second place twice.

Tunisia’s best footballer:

Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast or recently Senegal and Egypt have found world stars. No one has ever come to Tunisian football. However, if you want to choose the best Tunisian footballer of all time, the name of Tarak Dhiab will come up. He played 101 matches for the country from 1978-89. He has played the second highest number of matches for his country. His number of goals for the national team is 17. He was part of his country’s debut World Cup in Argentina in 1978. In 1988 Seoul Olympics, he also played for the country. This midfielder played club football in his own country Tunis Sporting and Al-Ahli Club in Saudi Arabia. His number of goals in club football is 148. His number of goals in club football is 148.

In 1977, Tarak Dhiab was selected as the best footballer of the African continent. In 1983, he became the best of the year in the Saudi Professional League. Received the title of “Footballer of the Century” of Tunisia.

From 1996 to 2009, Radhi Jaidi played a maximum of 105 matches for Tunisia. He is the best centre-back in the history of Tunisia. He played in the English Premier League in Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Southampton. He was an important member of the ‘African Cup of Nations’ team in 2004.

Issam Jemâa is the owner of the highest international goal in the jersey of Tunisia. Scored 36 goals in 84 matches. From 2005-2011, he played for France’s Lens team.

If we the name of the best footballers in Tunisia, the names of Noureddine Deva, Hatem Trabelsi, Mokhtar Ben Nacef, Francileudo Santos, Temim Lehzami and Khaled Badra will come up. In addition, Sadok Sassi’s name will be among the best goalkeepers of all time. He is the one who has handled the post in the most 87 matches in the history of Tunisia. He played in his country club African all his life. He manned the goal post for the African team in the 1972 Brazil Independence Cup, also known as the ‘Mini World Cup’. 20 clubs from five continents participated in that event. Among them were the hosts like Brazil, Argentina, France, Portugal. CONCACAF and Africa remained the continent’s combined squads. In the final of that tournament, Brazil beat the Portuguese 1-0 to win the title.

Tunisia on the way to Qatar:

Tunisia played in the ‘B’ group in the second round of the African continent’s World Cup qualifiers. Guinea, Zambia and Mauritania were their opponents. In September 2021, Tunisia started the qualifying mission by defeating Guinea 3-0. Tunisia lost 0-1 in their fifth match in Guinea. But in the end they beat Zambia and made it to the play-offs from the top of the group.

Tunisia had 13 points in six group stage matches with four wins, one draw and one defeat. Guinea put up a great fight with 11 points but were knocked out of the group stage.

Tunisia’s opponent in the play-off was Mali. Tunisia’s participation in the World Cup was uncertain due to a goalless draw at home in the first leg. However, the Eagles of Carthage finally got the ticket to Qatar after winning 1-0 on the opponent’s ground.

Wahbi Khazri scored the most three goals for Tunisia in the qualifiers. And two goals of Ellyes Skhiri.

The star footballer of the current team:

Wahbi Khazri is the biggest star in Tunisia’s current squad. This 31-year-old star scored 24 goals in 71 matches for the country. He is the second highest scorer in the country. Khazri, who is very good at controlling the game from the midfield, has also played club football in teams like Bordeaux, Saint Etienne and Sunderland in England. He is currently playing in the French league in Montpellier. Club football also scored 101 goals in 441 matches till October. In 2018, he won the Tunisian footballer of the year award. Born in France, Wahbi Khazri also played for the France Under-21 team.

Youssef Msakni has 17 goals in 84 matches for the national team as a winger or forward. He was in the team that won the Kirin Cup this year. Currently playing in Al-Arabi club in Qatar. In the 2018-19 season, he played on loan in the Belgian first division league. He has an experience of 147 goals in 345 matches in club football. The weight of the country’s captain can be on his shoulders in the World Cup.

Ellyes Skhiri who was born in France, currently plays for German Bundesliga team FC Cologne. Played for France’s Montpellier team. He has 3 goals in 45 matches for Tunisia. In 2019, he was elected the best of the year of his country.

At the age of 19, Hannibal Mejbri as played 18 matches for the country. He is also a midfield player. Born in France. As a footballer, he joined the academy team of France. Was in Monaco’s age group. Joined English giant Manchester United in 2021. Played five matches. Currently a loan player of Birmingham. Won the 2021 Africa Rising Star Award. He has already won the Kirin Cup for the country and became the runner-up in the Arab Cup.
In addition, Naim Sliti, Ghailene Chaalali, Ali Malaul, Dylan Bronn are becoming big stars in Qatar.

Tunisia’s recent performance:

Until September 2022, Tunisia has played 13 international matches. Out of which victory came in 9 matches. Teams like Nigeria, Chile and Japan lost. Tunisia lost 1-5 in the last friendly match against Brazil on September 27.

Coaches and tactics of Tunisia:

In January 2022, Jalal Qaderi took charge as the head coach of the Tunisian national team quite unexpectedly. The head coach of the time, Mondher Kebaier, as diagnosed with Covid-19 before the African Cup of Nations knock out stage match. Jalal defeated Nigeria 1-0 with the responsibility of the national team.

However, Jalal’s relationship with the Tunisian national team is not new. He was the assistant coach of the team for the first time in 2013. He was Mondher’s assistant in 2021. Mandhar stood up against Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals of the Nations Cup after recovering from Covid. He was dismissed for that. Jalal got full responsibility as the head coach of the national team.

Under Jalal, Tunisia is well on its way to the final stage of the African region qualifiers. Won the Kirin Cup trophy in Japan.

Jalal is playing Tunisia in 4-3-3 formation. His preferred XI for the World Cup could be –

Bechir Ben Said (goalkeeper), Mohamed Drager, Dylan Bronn, Montassar Talbi, Mortadha Ben Ouanes, Ghailene Chaalali, Aissa Laidouni, llyes Skhiri, Youssef Msakni, Wahbi Khazri, Seifeddine Jaziri.

Qatar World Cup Probability:

Tunisia, ranked 30th in FIFA rankings in October, will play in Group ‘D’. Where their opponents are 2018 champions France, Denmark and Australia. Tunisia has no possibility to catch up with France in terms of strength. However, a strange sense of nationalism was at work among the Tunisian players during the fight against the former rulers. Maybe that’s why they have a winning record in five matches against a strong team like France. In 1971, Tunisia defeated France in the first appearance of the Méridien Games. Also against the French. There are two draws and one draw. However, the two countries have never met in the World Cup. The last friendly match between the two teams ended in 1-1 in 2010.

Tunisia lost 0-1 in only one friendly match against Denmark in 2002. And their record against Australia is one win and one loss. In the last appearance in the Confederations Cup in 2005, Tunisia defeated Socceroo 2-0.

Tunisia has not met against any team in the group in the last era. So it can be said that everyone is each other’s recent unknown opponent. However, Tunisia is behind France and Denmark in terms of strength. They are not even clear favorites against Australia. So once again Tunisia will be eliminated from the group stage – it would not be wrong to assume that.

Tunisia’s first match in the World Cup is on November 22. The opponent is Denmark. November 26 match against Australia. And the last match of the group is against France on November 30.

Tunisia’s World Cup Squad:

Tunisia’s possible 26-man squad could include –

Goalkeepers – Mohamed Sedki Debchi, Aymen Dahmen, Bechir Ben Said

Defence- Bilel Ifa, Montassar Talbi, Nader Ghandri, Mortadha Ben Ouanes, Ali Maaloul, Rami Kaib, Hamza Mathlouthi, Ali Abdi, Dylan Bronn

Midfield – Saif-Eddine Khaoui, Anis Ben Slimane, Ghailene Chaalali, Ellyes Skhiri, Chaim El Djebali, Hannibal Mejbri, Ferjani, Aissa Laidouni

Forwards- Sayfallah Ltaief, Seifeddine Jaziri, Youssef Msakni, Wahbi Khazri, Naim Sliti, Issam Jebali

Conclusion:

In every World Cup football tournament, some African country shows surprise. However, those teams are already discussed because of their performance. As such, there is no discussion about Tunisia, which is very ordinary. Yet if the Eagles of Carthage can successfully make even one hunt in Qatar, that will be their greatest achievement.

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