World

Africa

Tunisia

Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

June 1st, 2008 | By: Rami | 14 Comments »

I consider myself a relatively optimistic person. I try to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. However, I’m struggling to come away with positives after watching our team fall to Burkina Faso 2-1 on home soil. It’s games like these that leave me utterly gutted. I accept the fact that losing is a necessary part of sport but I cannot accept a heartless performance.

This match was embarrassing. There’s really no other way to put it. I’m not even talking about the ridiculous mistake Kasraoui made on the first Burkina Faso goal or the comical Zouaghi pass to a Burkina Faso attacker at the end of the match that cost us a draw. I’m talking about the fact that we looked downright frail and unmotivated compared to the aptly named Stallions. Even though they went into halftime down 1-0 after a successful Belaid free kick, there is absolutely no doubt that they were the better team in the first period. They displayed great understanding of their counter attacking strategy and were close to scoring on two clear cut chances they created with their speed and determination.

What did we do? Rien, nyet, nothing. Stringing passes together is nothing to write home about but I’m amazed that we were so bad that I’m reduced to recognizing our ability to find each other better in the second half (ie. actually playing a little game we like to call Football). Being a goal ahead usually liberates players and it did temporarily but there was never an end product to our passing in midfield. Mikari showed me some things but this is not a game where one individual can make the difference. We played like a bunch of strangers and this was exemplified by Chermiti being completely stranded in attack. The lack of understanding between him and Jemaa makes me wonder if they even trained together this past week (I know they did but they were frighteningly inefficient).

I’m baffled by the decision to start three defensive midfielders in a match where we were supposed to press the issue. It lends credence to a Facebook profile created for Roger Lemerre: Under religious views it says “3 pivots”. I laughed when I saw that but I’m not laughing now! And where was Mouihbi, Ben Yahia, Nafkha and Dhaouadi? These are players that would kill to be on the field. Not only are they skilled but their desire to impress would have lit a fire under the team. Instead Lemerre opts for players that acted as if it was a burden to represent their country.

Abdelhak Ben Chikha, who was in the studio at halftime, said that it looked as if these guys were on vacation and I totally agree with him. We were playing a team that is stronger then us physically and instead of being men and pushing back, we shied away from responsibility. This also shows Lemerre’s inability to get these players excited about wearing the Carthage Eagles jersey.

Anyways, good luck sleeping tonight everyone. I know it’s not going to be easy for me to get shut eye after this. I have a feeling I’m going to see Roger Lemerre’s team sheet in my nightmare (Mouihbi not even on the bench!!!), along with Kasraoui flailing wildly at nothing in particular (Mathlouthi pleaaaaaase!), and Zouaghi struggling to make a pass that my little cousins could complete without any problems (is it too much to ask for the leading scorer in the Tunisian league to start a match?)…

Don’t we realize there’s a World Cup at stake here? If this isn’t a wake up call, I don’t know what is. Congratulations to Burkina Faso for their well deserved victory. This is not a disaster as we can still qualify but its a very sad result for the fans that finally showed up to support their country. They deserved better. Now the team needs to redo all the work to win back the fans. So depressing…

Marchand must be laughing somewhere. No wonder he didn’t want to take the team after four matches! I need to stop, I could write forever. I feel like someone slapped me when I least expected it. Ok, I’m done.

Tags: Amine Chermiti, Group H, Roger Lemerre, Tijani Belaid, Tunisia Football, Wissem Ben Yahia, Youssef Mouihbi

Tunisia World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

digg:Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

newsvine:Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

reddit:Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

fark:Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

Y!:Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

stumbleupon:Dazed and Confused: Tunisia Loses to Burkina Faso on Home Soil!

Comments

By Achraf | June 1st, 2008 at 4:53 pm

This is why we should have let lemerre go (just pay him for june and let him go, he has nothing to complain about when you do that). I hear on mozaique fm that they will tell who the coach will be tomorrow.

Posted from United States

By Rachid | June 1st, 2008 at 4:55 pm

Rami, for some reason, I have accepted this disappointing result with a lot of serenity. I have been saying that Kasraoui is a big liability. They keep using him! Logic dictates a bunch of the CA players should be playing today, at least as a show of respect for their fans and to capitalize on their high morale. That did not happen. There is a serious problem in the NT; it’s complete lack of motivation. Lemerre has managed to destroy the team. Why they keep him, I will never know. I’d like to see Maaloul explain this one! Lemerre has promised 12 points before he leaves, now he should know for certain his word means shit! I hope no one shows up for the next game in Rades, espcially if the status quo is maintained. It’s too hard to swallow and it’s time some heads start to roll!!!

By marwen | June 1st, 2008 at 8:39 pm

I was going to watch the game, but then i heard the disapointing result and decided not to watch
i heard that jaidi played well and almost scored at the end
i think that they need to make nefzi the goalkeeper
i don’t like mathlouthi because he doesn’t seem like a good goalie to me
hopefully they win next game

By Skander | June 2nd, 2008 at 7:52 am

It’s Lemerre’s fault. He shouldn’t be playing with Mnari and Zouaghi, that is the main reason of seeing them losing. On the pitch, it’s like they are all boored, and thinking of what they are going to do in their free time.
I hope the next coach gives the chance to the more younger players with hunger!.

I think this is the best players we have right now: Mathlouthi, Ben frej, Jaidi, Haggui, Ghezel, Mikari, Bekri, Felhi, Nafkha, Ben Saada, Ben Yahia, Dhaouadi, Mouihbi, Chermiti, Jemaa, Belaid and Chikhaoui.

I don’t think the rest of them should be included.

Posted from Sweden

By Skander | June 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 am

Are they going to play 6 matches, Home and away?

Posted from Sweden

By tamim | June 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 am

what was really wierd was that he came out to say it isn’t a problem if tunisia doesn’t qualify to world cup!!!!….i don’t know how re you still keeping him as a coach!!!

rami, out of context question: who will u support in the euros?

By Yassine | June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 am

One of the worst Tunisia matches in its history, the crowd went crazy throughout the match and I almost burst into tears after the second goal. Not because we lost, because I feared we were going to be eliminated since the preliminary rounds whilst we’re completely powerless because we were dominated by a cocky careless coach.
Its possible that Lemerre is doing this on purpose, why did he put Zouaghi on the list on the first place? In the last 3 seasons he played less than 20 minutes of competitive football in Russia. How could he choose him and not Wissem ben Yahia? who’s the top goalscorer in Tunisia despite the fact that he’s midfeilder.
There’s a rumor circulating today, Roger Lemerre won’t continue till 30 June and Maaloul will take over until the arrival of Coelho, also Taher Sioud may be resigning.
Let’s hope it’s true..

By Yassine | June 2nd, 2008 at 8:49 am

@ Skander: No, only 4 matches.
7th June: Seychelles - Tunisia
15th June: Burundi - Tunisia
21th June: Tunisia - Burundi

By Rami | June 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 am

It’s such a fiasco that I don’t know how to write about it anymore without using expletives. Mouihbi and Dhaouadi out of the list? WTF?!!! Is he out of his mind? Dhaouadi ok maybe he’s not ready (I think he is) but Mouihbi is the most in form player in the country right now! I can’t believe the lineup we used yesterday. It’s a day later and I still don’t understand.

We have the FTF to thank for this bullshit. Now they’re talking about maybe firing him. Why couldn’t we have done that right after the African Cup!!!!! Then we would have signed Marchand who was the ideal candidate. On top of that he says it’s not a big deal if Tunisia doesn’t make it to the world cup. What kind of attitude is that? Oh yea, he doesn’t care because Morocco won their first match.

If we don’t qualify for the next phase we shouldn’t bother signing Coelho! We’d just be paying for a 2 year vacation! I’m not serious of course but I’m not completely convinced by this decision. The timing is completely off. Sure he plays offensively but what does it matter when he knows next to nothing about Tunisia and our players. If we signed him months ago at least he would have come and seen some of our boys in action. Right now it’s all a joke but just too sad to laugh.

Tamim, I’m supporting France for the euros but am not really that tied to it. I’ll be watching though…

Rachid, maybe you’re right. I guess you have to reach rock bottom before things can change. Nepotism brought us to this point. Tahar Sioud knows nothing about football but everything about networking. I still don’t know how he got elected without us being suspended by FIFA. We should disband the FTF just like they disbanded the Handball Federation after more underachieving on their part! Elections pleaseeeeeeeeee!

Yassine I’m sorry you were there to witness the match. I nearly broke my computer when they scored the second goal. I haven’t felt that since that 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in the world cup.

Posted from United States

By Skander | June 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am

Guys, I am starting to think that we are the Spain and England of Africa. Between our decent domestic league and our single CAN title (won at home…), we are somehow under the illusion that our NT is a major player on the continent. Yet a single look at Egypt or Cameroon’s record should convince us that we really don’t amount to much. The three WC participations in a row thing will soon be forgotten, and we will be relegated to the minor leagues of Africa, where we always belonged.

Posted from Australia

By Rami | June 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 am

Skander I understand your point of view but we have players that could dominate Africa and shine in Europe. That’s the saddest part of all this. Unfortunately there’s a bunch of underachieving incompetent idiots in charge of our sport. We’re not even the Spain or England (the latter has a world cup to its name and Spain actually plays football). I’m usually full of optimism but the game yesterday ruined my week. Maybe we need to miss a world cup/CAN for the people that run sport in our country to wake up and see things as they are (like England just did). Everyone knows where the problem is but no one has done anything about it!

A country that breathes, eats, and sleeps football does not deserve this. Neither do our players. What is Mouihbi supposed to think when he doesn’t get called up and Zouaghi does? What do you think that does to his psyche? What else does he need to show? I’m not saying this cuz I’m a CA fan. Most Tunisians are wondering the same thing. And Ben Yahia got 10 minutes!!! Why not put in Darragi if we’re putting our trust in him? I’m repeating myself sorry.

Posted from United States

By Rachid | June 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am

A minor correction: I think Lemerre said that it’d not be a disaster if Tunisa did not qualify for the African Cup (not the World Cup)! I watched his briefing and he didn’t seem to give a damn how things went. It amazes me that he is still given a Carte Blanche to make a mockery of the entire country. Not sure who’s in charge, but I honestly believe they should be fired IMMEDIATELY!

Posted from United States

By Rami | June 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am

You are correct Rachid but by definition if we don’t make the African Cup, we don’t make the World Cup. The Handball federation disbanded today, why can’t the FTF do the same?

Posted from United States

By Fahd | June 2nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm

Hello,

It is a disgrace!!! Again arrogance and no self esteem of the Tunisians who play with the money and feelings of the people. It is like being occupied by France were we were humiliated and could do nothing about it.

The current people who are in charge give s shit on our opinion and do whatever pleases them. I would say let’s hope Tunisia does not reach any of the big Tournaments with Foreign coaches and Foreign FTF members. Maybe this will cause an earthquake and make the Nationalist do something.

it seems so political unfortunately but you know that everything is politics and needs to be discussed in a political way.

Long Live TUNISIA HURRA MUSTAKILLA!!!!

Comments are closed