World

Africa

Tunisia

Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

June 20th, 2009 | By: Rami | 82 Comments »

The headline of the article basically sums it up. We just couldn’t find that finishing touch today in a match that we dominated from start to finish. A few defensive lapses could have cost us but thankfully no such thing happened.

It’s hard for one to hide their disappointment when we were rather close to putting one foot in South Africa. Ultimately this result works in the favor of Nigeria as they will come out of this match confident that they can overcome us at home in September. However, even our young players are experienced in this type of high pressure encounters in hostile territory thanks to their appearances in continental and regional tournaments with their clubs.

On the positive side, we’re still in first place and it should be known that we are one of best traveling teams in Africa (I think statistically we’re actually THE best but that’s a Chawali statistic, not something I looked up myself).

I said in the preview that we don’t want to be traveling to West Africa in search of a result but a draw is not something that is beyond us, especially with the possibility of having Jemaa back as well as Mikari and potentially others (Ben Saada, Chikhaoui- although for Chi5a I doubt it).

For this match in particular we saw a well drilled side assert their control over the midfield. We weren’t troubled like I thought we would be in that area of the field. Everyone performed their duties admirably but the lack of a Fahid Ben Khalfallah to add some speed to our build up was perhaps the missing ingredient.

The pleasant surprise was Ali Zitouni who may not have provided the goal we need but he was constantly harassing the opposing defense and if not for his pressure things could have been different. That’s not to say other players didn’t step up because Ghezal delivered a practically error free performance in place of Jaidi.

Also, before the match when I saw the lineups I didn’t know how to feel about us playing Boussaidi in the middle but he did his job. Ben Khalfallah could’ve done better but apparently Boussaidi isn’t unfamiliar with that position since he plays there for his club side.

A win would’ve been fantastic but it wasn’t in the cards today. At the end of the day we’re still in first place and fully capable of securing a World Cup ticket. It was never going to be easy in this group. If anyone thinks we can’t do something in Abuja I’ll refer you to Nigeria’s last home match versus Kenya in which the Harambee Stars missed no less than three one on ones. If we can be more clinical than them (something we are fully capable of) then I see us doing something positive.

Furthermore, you won’t see the same Nigeria on September 5th, they’re going to have to attack because they have no choice. You might say that’s a bad thing but if you say that then you’re not familiar with our counter attacking prowess! They sat back today and we nearly beat them so imagine when they leaves spaces for our attackers to exploit!

No match is won in advance and overconfidence on the part of the Super Eagles may come back to haunt them. As Coelho said, I’d rather be in our position than theirs.

What’s your take?

A bit of skill from Darragi. Highlights to be embedded once they’re available. You can find parts of the game here.

Highlights

Some more video and analysis from Al Jazeera Sport.

Tags: 2010 World Cup qualifying, Carthage Eagles, Group H, Tunisia vs. Nigeria, Tunisian Football

Tunisia World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

digg:Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

newsvine:Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

reddit:Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

fark:Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

Y!:Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

stumbleupon:Carthage Eagles Unable To Strike Killer Blow

Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 82 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By Feedi | June 26th, 2009 at 3:34 pm

4000th comment on this blog!!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Hatim | June 26th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Rami your just like me. Mom is American and dad Tunisian.

Alex what you said is very true!! haha I consider Tunisia my team and the USA a distant second.

By Achraf | June 26th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

I was born in America and both my parents are Tunisian. But I am no Ben Arfa, I support Tunisia 100% and I dont even know what I will do If they are not in a world Cup.

By Rami | June 26th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

Same here Achraf, especially since I already have my tickets!

Feedi, congratulations lol! first one to 5000 gets a prize

Hatim, haven’t heard from you for a while man welcome back. I’ve noticed throughout the years that most the time if a Tunisian is half half its his or her father who’s Tunisian and the mother who’s from another country.

Posted from United States

By Hatim | June 26th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

Rami your right the dad is always Tunisian. Welcome back?? Man I come on here multiple times everyday. I just don’t post much as you noticed. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

By Achraf | June 26th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

Fifa.com has an article on Roger Lemmere poor quotes during his coaching career. The one that made me mad was when he said “It’s not the end of the world. It won’t be the first time you’ve failed to qualify for a World Cup or African Nations Cup.” Lemerre after Tunisia went down to a 2-1 defeat against Burkina Faso.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1076854.html#the+things+they+say+lemerre

By lazar | June 27th, 2009 at 12:42 am

I never knew there so many tunisians in america lol. I was born here too, but I go to Tunis like every single summer and never forgot where my roots

By Yassine | June 27th, 2009 at 6:14 am

I guess this makes me the only 100% Tunisian reader, I live in Tunisia and both my parents are Tunisian.
It’s nice to see that Tunisians in America are really following their country’s football.

By Feedi | June 27th, 2009 at 6:16 am

Saidi is going to play with Tours,they play in the Ligeu 2(France).
For the people that can read Dutch:
http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=81174
For the people that can read France:
http://www.gnet.tn/revue-de-sport/mercato-karim-saidi-signe-a-tours/id-menu-323.html
I wish him luck and I hope he can mean something to Tunisia.

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | June 27th, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Congrats to Tunisia U-21!!!! Which won today 2-1 where Bilel Ben Messaoud (29′) et Khaled Ayari (32′) scored. We did not win by much but it is still a win. We will see what happens to Spain.

By Fahd | June 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

HI Rami

Boston College that’s nice. I am at the moment conducting a Global MBA at UNC and Erasmus University. and for Work I travel very often to Boston where Headquarters is located. Would be great if I could meet with Tunisian there for Dinner or something to get connected!! Maybe we can create a US Europe tunisian Connection :0)

ciao and enjoy the vacation in Tunisia!!

later

By tounsi | June 27th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

i dont really know much about this player khaled ayari, but he’s doing very well i guess..big talent for the future??

Posted from Netherlands

By Sami | June 27th, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Yes it was good result but i think it wasn’t enough Tunisia should have won 0-2. Spain will win the game against Albania for sure 2-0 or 3-0. But who knows at least it’s not in their hands.

Quote from Rami “I’ve noticed throughout the years that most the time if a Tunisian is half half its his or her father who’s Tunisian and the mother who’s from another country”.

Do you know any who has just a Tunisian mother? Or is it a rare thing.

Oh and by any chance does anyone know a sport called floorball?

By Rami | June 27th, 2009 at 6:39 pm

Achraf, thanks for the article on Lemerre. That guy has a way with words!

Hatim, my bad man haha. Sometimes when people don’t comment I just assume they’re not reading but I should know better since there’s a lot of blogs that I read personally that I never ever comment on.

Hey Fahd, my organization’s headquarters are in Cambridge MA which is right across the river from Boston. I don’t live there though, I’m in Washington DC. If you or anyone is ever in town get at me.

Tounsi, did you watch our U17 team in South Korea? He started on that team and Chawali kept saying he’s the new Jaziri in that he’s like a fox (Tha3loub) in the penalty box and that he provokes a lot of fouls. Plus he has my last name as Rachid pointed out before

Sami, it’s true we should have beaten Albania by a lot more. Now we have to wait for Spain to slip up. Hopefully Albania can pull a USA on them hehe. And no I don’t know any with a Tunisian mother and foreign father now that I think of it…

Posted from United States

By Alex | June 28th, 2009 at 1:49 am

I know of half-half girl in Tunis with an American dad and a Tunisian mom whose last name is Johnson, though I never actually met her. The fact that Tunisian la requires foreign men (but not foreign women) to convert before marrying a Tunisian might be the reason behind the scarcity of half Tunisians from the mother’s side.
About the U.S soccer team , I think one of the reasons they manage to pull off some impressive upsets is their physical training. Looking at them it is obvious that the guys train like football or basket ball players. No matter how daunting their opponent, they know at least that they will be in control of the physical aspects of the match. Now look at our guys who have the minimal amount of good shape necessary for a professional soccer player, but nothing more. Hence the collapses toward the end of the game like the 2006 one against Spain.
Rami, why does your blog keep telling me I am in Australia, when I am fairly certain that I am in Japan?

By Alex | June 28th, 2009 at 1:51 am

I meant ‘Tunisian law’, not ‘Tunisian la’.

By tounsi | June 28th, 2009 at 9:49 am

the name Ayari is a real football name i guess:D
ok Rami thanx for the info about Khaled Ayari..
i didnt watch the u17 team when they were in south korea unfortunately, but if he’s a ”Jaziri Type” then thats a good thing to read, i actually miss those kind of players. always unpredictable, speedy and always play with HEART & SOUL!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | June 28th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Mediterranean game highlights: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=…7416&ref=nf

Posted from United States

By Rami | June 28th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Oh and Alex, I don’t know why the blog is saying you’re in australia. I’m pretty sure that’s happened to Skander too. I guess it’s reading your IP wrong or smthn. Agree with your assessment of our physical level too. It’s a problem in the Tunisian league because it’s choppy and there’s lots of stoppages in play and time wasting. It means the players are used to getting a breath during the match but in international play its not as easy for that to happen and the pace is a lot faster. We need to start by addressing that in the Tunisian league but I’m afraid we’re not there yet…

Posted from United States

By Alex/Skander | June 29th, 2009 at 3:46 am

(Alex –> Alexander –> Iskandar –> Skander),…you should connect the dots . Had to change aliases because the Egyptians banned me from their WCBlog for too much gloating. I brought up the Australia thing again because I had a new stable IP connection which shouldn’t be confusing JP and AUS (what this is really telling me is that the ISP is cheating me somehow.)

Actually what I really wanted to ask for is if you could please repost the link to the Spain-Tunisia goals since facebook is telling that I can’t watch them.

Posted from Japan

By Rami | June 29th, 2009 at 9:28 am

Haha, damn I didn’t make that connection! The Facebook post wasn’t mine and isn’t working right now but here are Khaled Ayari’s goals:

http://www.zshare.net/video/619483018a4f19cd#

Posted from United States

By Achraf | June 29th, 2009 at 9:45 am

Man Khaled Ayari has some speed, he is really fast, on the play where he outran the defender. How old is he?

And I am off to Tunis tonight!!!!

By Sami | June 29th, 2009 at 10:36 am

Ayari is only 19. I saw him once on Tunisian cup match against ES Sahel mayby 1 or 2 years ago. He came in as a substitute. He should get more minutes on EST next season, after this kind of break through.

By Rami | June 29th, 2009 at 10:47 am

Safe travels Achraf and have fun! Salemli 3al bled

Sami, he’s got a lot of competition at EST but hopefully he gets some time here and there. Msakni is ahead of him in the rotation, its too bad he didn’t play this tournament (he had to leave due to a back injury he sustained in Syria in our 2-1 win against them).

Posted from United States

By Rami | June 29th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

We were eliminated from the Med games today… Spain beat Albania 3-0. I had a feeling that would happen after we could only put two past Albania. Spain had the advantage of knowing exactly how many they had to score and did it quite easily I guess. Annoying since we could have beaten them in that first game. Oh well…

Posted from United States

Comments are closed