In 2018, it remained tied with England for most of the game, but a late Harry Kane goal and a 5-2 loss to Belgium confirmed its destiny as a participant in the group stage. Tunisia is in a difficult group with Australia, France and Denmark. The Eagles will compete in their sixth World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Here, we examine some of their important players and the coaching philosophy.
The Tunisian team of today is very different from the one from Russia 2018. Under the guidance of a new-look technical leadership staff, the Carthage Eagles have completely changed as a squad. Tunisia is in fantastic condition and has garnered praise for a run of standout performances in recent friendlies against formidable opponents. Qatar has enormous expectations. However, it won’t be at all easy to go to the knockout stages. World champions France, a talented Danish team, and Australia stand in their way.
Adroit Strategist Jalel Kadri
Given that Kadri is a manager renowned for his preference for offensive football, it is not surprising that he uses a 4-3-3 configuration. However, the abundance of offensive skill at his disposal is the sole reason he is able to put this philosophy into practise. Youssef Maskni, Naim Sliti, and Seif El-Din Khawi’s ideal offensive trifecta combined with the tenacious midfielders Aissa Laidouni and Elias Skhiri gives the coach a plenty of choices for altering his squad as necessary.
In order to control the centre of the field and neutralise any threat at its source, Kadri used a more defensive five-man midfield versus Chile, showcasing his versatility as a tactician. In a somewhat unusual manoeuvre, he moved the wingers into full-back positions for the first of the two qualifiers against Mali to fortify the defence.
Ellyes Skhiri is a Player to Watch
A crucial defensive element in the midfield is an outstanding box-to-box midfielder. He can thwart assaults, win second balls, and intercept passes with incredible accuracy. From his deep-lying position, he generates a lot of chances offensively with his long balls, making him more observant of possibilities than other players.
His deadly long shots are another arrow in his quiver. With all of these qualities, he is essential to the construction of Kadri in whatever shape it may take. He generates 1.3 chances each game on average in the German Bundesliga, which is significant for someone playing in a deeper position. Additionally, he manages 3.7 interceptions on average every game.
Newcomer: Hannibal Mejbri
One of the most promising young football players in Tunisia is this 19-year-old. He declined the chance to play in the Premier League with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United in favour of gaining more playing time and securing his spot for Qatar 2022. The chance to see young Mejbri display his undeniable skill in front of the lights at Qatar’s glittering stadiums is eagerly anticipated by fans.
Although the player is renowned for his accurate long balls, his true strength is in his defensive performance, which he has often shown with Birmingham this season. Attackers seldom ever manage to get past him since he excels at winning the second ball. He doesn’t use his right-footed shot too much, but he has a nice one in his arsenal. He will be trying to establish himself as a staple in the midfield for the Red Devils upon his return to Old Trafford. It has a good World Cup campaign this winter, it will greatly aid this goal.
At the World Cup, Tunisia
For Tunisia, this will be their sixth World Cup. They made their first participated in the competition in 1978, the year they won their first World Cup game as the first African team. The historic victory against Mexico by the Carthage Eagles, 3-1, with goals from Ali Kaabi, Nejib Ghommidh, and Mokhtar Dhouieb, was the turning point in the match. A greater number of African teams participated in the competition as a result of this landmark event.
Despite winning their opening game, the remainder of the tournament disappointed, was that they lost to Poland and drew with Germany. They left the competition one point short of placing in the top two. After then, there was a 20-year hiatus, during which time many other Arab and African teams prospered.
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When Tunisia returned to the World Cup in France in 1998, expectations were high, but results weren’t quite spectacular. They were defeated by Colombia and England, and their only impressive performance against Romania was a dull 1-1 tie.
The Carthage Eagles made their comeback in Russia in 2018 and managed to win their first match since 1978, but they were unable to advance to the knockout rounds due to two discouraging defeats against Belgium and England.
When he managed a priceless win against Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations in January while the team’s then-manager, Mondher Kebaier, was away with Covid-19, the people fell in love with him. The two members of the team at Argentina in 1978 helped Tunisia win its first World Cup match, defeating Mexico 3-1 in Rosario.
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