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Esperance vs. Etoile: Tunisian Cup Final Preview

July 4th, 2008 | By: Rami | 12 Comments »

La Coupe The big day is almost upon us. A rivalry between two of the biggest clubs in Tunisia is to be renewed in the summit that is “el Coupe.” The prior meeting between Esperance and Etoile took place in Sousse on the 22nd of May, the last day of the domestic season. ESS won that game on a shot from Muri Ogunbyi but their victory was rendered meaningless as they still finished second to Club Africain which beat them to first place by a mere two points. This is the Tunisian Cup though and Etoile fans won’t have to worry about anyone but their adversary on the day, Esperance.

Meawhile, the team from the capital will attempt to defend the title without their defensive talisman, Khaled Badra. The fact that EST is the defending cup champion during what can only be described as a rebuilding effort is a testament to their stature in Tunisian football. Only the big teams manage to keep winning silverware when they are not in top form. This cynical efficiency is what has made them giants in Tunisia and in Africa for as long as anyone can remember. Etoile’s good fortune took a turn for the worse recently but this will only make their desire to lift the title that much greater.

The only player missing for ESS will be Moussa Narry who is suspended for yellow card accumulation. Rumor has it he’s gone back to his country to get married. I guess thats as good a way as any to forget about the fact that you’re missing out on what many Tunisians like to call “Al 3irs al kourawi” (the wedding of Tunisian football). The groom is expected to be replaced by the Guinean Mohamed Sacko in the starting lineup.

There’s been a lot of attention being given to the fact that this is the first of three confrontations between the two clubs but this will have no bearing tomorrow as both teams will fight tooth and nail to complete their 2007/2008 season on a positive note.

Expect a festive atmosphere where even the fans will put on a show. Tunisian “dakhlas” (entrances) and tifosi’s are recognized as some of the best in the world and tomorrow will certainly show that. I’ll try to get pictures of the banners and messages that are put on display in the post match report.

Possible/Expected Lineups:

Esperance: Kasraoui, Janvier, Derbali, Chaabani, Chammam, Hammi, Mahjoubi, Khlifa (or Aboucherouane), Darragi, Eneramo, Tayeb.

Etoile: Balbouli, Berradhia, Jmel, Felhi, Meriah, Sacko, Nafkha, Toure, Ogunbyi, Chermiti, Gilson Silva

Referees: Florian Meyer (Germany)

Time and Venue: Saturday, July 5th, at 5:00 PM Tunis Time in Rades Olympic Stadium

How They Got Here: Etoile beat Stade Tunisien in the first Semi and Esperance defeated Gafsa in the second.

To those of you in the USA, Happy 4th of July. Enjoy your day off!

Best of luck to both teams tomorrow in the Classico!

Predictions anyone?

Tags: Coupe de Tunisie, Esperance, Esperance de Tunis, ESS, EST, Etoile, Etoile Sportive du Sahel, Group H, Tunisian Cup Final

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Comments

By Tamim | July 4th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

i don’t understand how u guys are playibg a cup final while all the teams in the world are getting ready for the new season!!!!!

By Rami | July 5th, 2008 at 3:18 am

Hahah, I told you our calendar is messed up man! They kept pushing it back and back and back. It’s the first time one of our teams played in the Club World Cup and we’re not used to scheduling for it. There may be other factors I’m unaware of. Should still be a good game though

By marwen | July 5th, 2008 at 6:42 am

this is going to be a very good game.
i think that the match might go to extra time

By Fahd | July 5th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Salaam to al,

It seems that it is not enough to score goals in order to win your matches. Again Elnejm looses due to lack of Luck!! The played a nice match against Tarajji. Tarajji had two opoortunities in the game were in both they scored. As for Elnejm they were the team that had the match under controle.

Well next year a new season, maybe luck will be with us again.

By the way The president was not present???????

Enjoy the vacation all

Posted from Netherlands

By Rachid | July 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pm

What happened today is yet another proof that all is not well with the game of football in Tunisia. There are powerful forces that are bent on forcing the outcome in a certain direction. I am not for conspiracy theories, but what happened today could be summarized by the expression “what a joke!” The biggest joke was that so-called referee! I have not yet seen any technical evaluations of their validity or lack thereof, but I do not see how the goal that Silva scored was an offside with Shaababi inside the net! Am I missing something? What about the goal that Kasraoui let fly into his net (in another one of his brilliant moves!)? All I can say is that we are far from fair play and playing good football. Every call by the referee was contested by the players; lots of time was wasted. In my case, it did not help that I watched the game on Abu Dhabi TV listening to Hosni Zaghdoudi. Hosni was blatantly biased on the side of Taraji. That was unfortunate!

By Abdullah | July 5th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

I totally agree with Rachid, this could have been a good match though, and i also could not help but to think that something smells fishy.

I wonder what coelho is thinking, it’s a real shame and there alot that needs to be changed.

Posted from Netherlands

By Moni | July 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

FUCK esperance zabor omhom, curupt motherfuckers

Posted from Netherlands

By Moni | July 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Why they didnt took a foreign REF an Italian ?

Posted from Netherlands

By Fahd | July 6th, 2008 at 9:27 am

Yo Moni,

Profoun language is a sign of Weakness homes. Think about that a bit!!!

Elnejm is bigger than what you are saying!!!

By Abdullah | July 6th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

Ur right Fahd there is no need for talking like that.
But nonetheless, i still keep thinking this is somehow politically related.

And im definately not the only one, so i can understand his anger.

Im really disappointed by the weak level of organisation in tunisian football.

Posted from Netherlands

By Moni | July 7th, 2008 at 1:50 am

Yo Fahd , was I talking about Elnejm ??

Tunisia got the Infrastructure and good players but still they cant even organise a decent CUP Finale ? Always the same bullshit over and over.

Posted from Netherlands

By Tarajji | July 10th, 2008 at 5:56 am

What bullshit and what conspiracy you are talking about?
The Etoile goal is not a valid one, and it was counted : A huge foul on the goal keeper in the 6 yards area. The “goal” of Gilson has an evident offside. The “goal” of Ben Dhifallah was preceeded by a hand control, and the “goal” of the last minutes was preceeded by an enormeous foul from Ben Dhifallah on Kasraoui. Add to that the penalty that was not give to Esperance for the foul on Eneramo, I think there is no room for any of these claims of injustice, the score should have been 2-0 for Esperance and 3-0 if the penalty was given and scored. Stop crying and start scoring regular goals. You are always victimizing yourselves to justify your losses. Losers!

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