Tunisia: The Ultimate 2022 FIFA World Cup Review #23

over 1 year ago

Group D continues today with Tunisia. We reviewed the Danish yesterday. Can the unfancied Tunisians cause a boil over in a very tough group? 32 teams in 32 days! This is the Ultimate FIFA World Cup review guide. Check what we've done so far below.

Country: Tunisia
Nickname: Carthage Eagles

Last World Cup Appearance: 2018 (Group Stage)
Previous World Cup Appearances: 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018

World Rank: #30
Star Players: Ellyes Skhiri, Wahbi Khazri, Naïm Sliti

Tunisia topped their World Cup qualifying group securing a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by beating Mali in a two-legged African play-off. Qualifying out of Africa shouldn't be discounted, where only five spots are on offer - an outrage if you ask me. The next World Cup we'll see a change to that however with an increase to 48 teams.

This is a team that won only their second ever game at a World Cup after beating Panama at the 2018 tournament. They however couldn't progress out of a group that contained England and Belgium. You almost get the same feeling they could be in for the same thing when they take on a group that includes Australia, Denmark and France.

This is a Tunisian team that beat Chile 2-0 and Japan 3-0 in June. But just got hammered by Brazil 5-1. Could we be in for a big surprise however?

World Cup Group: Group D - France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia

Prediction: Nobody is giving Tunisia a chance to progress from this group. It's hard to see them doing so in a group that contains Denmark, France and Australia. If they can manage a draw against Denmark in their first game, they'll fancy their chances against Australia. They'll then relish the prospect of playing the world champions France a former French protectorate from 1881 until Tunisian independence in 1956.

There's certainly a French flavour as France's Wissam Ben Yedder will likely make the French squad and is of Tunisian heritage. Tunisia's stars Wahbi Khazri, Ellyes Skhiri, Naïm Sliti and many more Tunisians in the squad were born in France.

Khazri played in the Premier League for Sunderland and is currently playing for Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1. He bangs in goal on average every three games for Tunisia and scored two goals in the World Cup in 2018. He'll be looking for service from Naïm Sliti who's currently playing for Saudi team Al-Ettifaq and formerly played in Ligue 1 also.

Ellyes Skhiri will be the key to bring this Tunisian side together. He's currently plying his trade in the Bundesliga and in 2020/21 covered the most ground out of anybody in the league covering more than 246 miles (396 kilometres). He's comparable to Germany's Joshua Kimmich which says alot. He's work ethic, defensive ability, strength and stamina gives Tunisia a fighting chance and the ability to stun any opponent.

Skhiri can't be everywhere however. Tunisia's lack of world class talent across the rest of the park will be too much of a hurdle for them to overcome.

Group Stage.

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