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First Step Towards WC 2010: Tunisia vs. Kenya Preview

March 27th, 2009 | By: Rami | 48 Comments »

On Saturday our Carthage Eagles will take on the Harambee Stars in Kenya. I’ve already poured over lots of different stats, trends, and news to write a separate preview for the match a few days ago but more has happened since then…

1. The team is in Kenya already after a six and half hour trip on a chartered flight straight for the Djerba training camp to Nairobi. The players went straight from the airport to the training field in order to get a light run in and release some stress and fatigue from the voyage.

Some thoughts from the players prior to take off and after landing are available here. Sounds like everybody is in a pretty jovial mood. Pictures here. The pics are not to be missed… looks there was some serious Nintendo DS action on board.

2. Lassad Nouioui underwent an MRI on his hamstring in Tunis before returning to Djerba to fly out with the rest of the team. Nothing serious for the Depo striker, just a little knock that was bothering him two weeks ago in training. I never thought that he should start this match due to a number of factors (first match with our side, first match in Africa, possibly first time at altitude) and this further entrenches me in this view. I’d still like to see him take part though… This article says he was a “sensation” during the free kick/set piece session.

3. The article also says that Bilel Ifa might just start at right back. If he could go to Accra and hold his own against the Blackstars then its not such a stretch to say he can handle taking on Kenya.

4. According to Radhi Jaidi’s interview with Mosaique, the team has focused a lot of time on set pieces which have been identified as one of Kenya’s weaknesses.

I’m not going to go too far into this because its really quite simple: We have to win. The question of how or by how much matters little. I don’t care if we play well or not (I think we’ll play well), the result is of the utmost importance. We’ve seen flashes of excellence from this current cycle of players but honestly a great performance to go along with the 3 points will only be a bonus.

We can’t afford to start off on the wrong foot if we wish to top this group. Kenya didn’t lose once at home in the previous round of qualifying in a group with Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Namibia and we’re playing at altitude this time (this is the only factor making me slightly nervous) so they will be confident. It’s time those gladiators I saw in the second half of our quarter final with Cameroon come out and keep that tempo for 90 minutes.

According to Mosaique the match is at ~~4:00 pm~~ 2:00 pm Tunis time which means its at 9:00 am for those of you in the states like myself.

Possible Lineup

Infosfoot is saying this could be the lineup and so is Jawhara FM. What’s worrying is that Mikari was injured according to Jawahara FM’s report. I’ll update if I hear any more on this. Whoever plays will have to contribute.

Kasraoui, Bousaidi, Ghezal, Jaidi, Jmel, Raged, Yahia, Ben Kalfallah, Bellaid, Ghariani, Jemaa

Announcing The First Ever Liveblog On Tunisia WCB

I’m going to have to send a match report to Goal.com ten minutes after the game so I’ll be writing throughout but Houssem from the Etoile Offside graciously stepped in to cover it live. It’s going to be fun. Visit the blog at match time and join the discussion as you watch it!

Join Tunisia WCB On Facebook

I mentioned it before in the comments but in case you didn’t know, Tunisia WCB has a Facebook page (click here to join). We only have 11 fans though right now, and I’m one of them lol. Is there really only 11 people on Facebook who read or even peruse this site from time to time? Come on, I know there’s gotta be more of you out there

It’s 2:42 in the morning and I’m exhausted, I’m going to play with this a little more and pass out. Can’t wait for the match!

Get Yourself In The Mood

Tags: Bilel Ifa, CAF World Cup Qualifying, Carthage Eagles, Group H, Lassad Nouiuoi, Radhi Jaidi, Tunisia Football, Tunisia vs. Kenya

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 48 comments.

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By Abdullah | March 27th, 2009 at 1:37 pm

ok i assume it must be the official esperance site, i will look for it :p

Posted from Netherlands

By Roddy | March 27th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

You guys seem pretty confident on a win as you should be but if you have any chance of winning against Kenya, I advice Tunisia to Control tempo by keeping the ball or score an early goal. This will help keep the crowd in check, the longer the game stays nil-nil the more confident Kenya will get.

Go Harambee Stars, I hope this game will be on the internet

Posted from United States

By thamer | March 27th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

yea, tunisia will definatly come out firing. they’ll probably aim for a goal within the first 15 and another before halftime. if we do that, we’ll be fine.

Posted from United States

By Feedi | March 27th, 2009 at 2:03 pm

Inshaalah marbouha.I think the best line-up for now is:
——-Balbouli———
–Bousaidi-Jaidi-Ifa-Jmel
——–Ragued——–
khalfallah——–Belaid–
—Alagui——-jomaa—

Zitouni can play too.

Posted from Netherlands

By Yassine | March 27th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

lol Feedi you put only 10 players in your line-up

By Rachid | March 27th, 2009 at 6:43 pm

With Kasraoui at the helm, we need not worry!!! What qualifies that dude, he keeps coming back like a bad check. He sure does not instill confidence in me and I’m not biased against him. We can do better, much better! If we don’t learn from the past (0-3 against Guinea), we’re condemned to relive it. Let’s pray it won’t be tomorrow that we pay for yet another half-assed decision. I’ll be looking forward to a win, but if we lose; it’s all over. Good luck!

By Marwen | March 27th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

i was watching the news for a bit on tunis 7, they said this will be the line up
i really hope not though

Kasraoui-Bousaidi-Ghezal-Jaidi-Jmel or Mikari-Raged-Yahia-Ben Kalfallah-Bellaid-Gheriani-Jemaa”

I really don’t get why zitouni doesn’t start instead of gheriani

By thamer | March 27th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

gheriani won’t start, im almost sure of that. he hasnt been in the NT in years. it probably will be zitouni, although i prefer allagui.

Posted from United States

By Ali Hassan | March 27th, 2009 at 10:30 pm

TUNISIA LINE-UP

Hamdi Kasraoui (E.S.Tunis)

Anis Boussaidi (Red Bull Salzburg/AUS)
Seïf Ghezel (Young Boys/SWI)
Karim Hagui (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)
Yassine Mikari (F.C.Sochaux/FRA)

Tijani Belaïd (Slavia Prague/CZE)
Fahid Ben Khalfallah (F.C.Caen/FRA)
Houcine Ragued (R.A.E.C Mons/BEL)

Wissem Ben Yahia (C.Africain)
Sami Allagui (Grüther Fürt/GER)
Issam Jomaa (R.C.Lens/FRA)

Posted from United States

By Bassem | March 28th, 2009 at 3:10 am

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=34064&part=sports

Live stream of the match!!!!!!!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Bassem | March 28th, 2009 at 4:35 am

Ali Hassan, i like your line up!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Feedi | March 28th, 2009 at 4:57 am

lol,I forgot Yahia as atacking midfielfer

Posted from Netherlands

By Feedi | March 28th, 2009 at 5:19 am

Jmel is going to replace mikari.That says infoshoot.
hey our

Posted from Netherlands

By Feedi | March 28th, 2009 at 6:03 am

hey Chikhaoui,Mouihbi,Chermiti, comes back from them injurie.and ben saada apoligize who goes out and who goes in.

Posted from Netherlands

By Fred | March 28th, 2009 at 6:51 am

so much talk from Tunisians; let’s wait and see – tomorrow, Tunis will be a very quiet city. one question though will be asked over and over again – ‘what happened?’

By Bassem | March 28th, 2009 at 6:56 am

Hey Fred,

No problem, even if we lose, you ain’t going to South Africa. You are the underdogs in a packed stadium so the presure is on us. Hope to see a good game and may the best team win.

Posted from Netherlands

By Bassem | March 28th, 2009 at 8:19 am

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By lazar | March 28th, 2009 at 10:05 am

Fred? what happened? you guys lost… i wonder if all these kenyans will keep talkin smack?

By Feedi | March 28th, 2009 at 10:08 am

The keinian impressed me,inshaallah they win versu Nigiria or a draw.Inshaalah we win versus nigiria.

Posted from Netherlands

By Bassem | March 28th, 2009 at 10:14 am

Muahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahah!!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | March 28th, 2009 at 10:26 am

They played well, we were smarter, hope you guys learnd ur lesson not to be so arrogant and overconfident.

Tactically good job from Coelho

Posted from Netherlands

By James N Macharia | March 28th, 2009 at 11:30 am

The Tunisians deserve praise.I have jusc come back from the game and the Tunisians played a very intelligent game and punished two defensive blunders by the unbelievably poor Kenyan backline and midfield.I tip Tunisia to pip Nigeria for the world cup slot.

By skander | March 28th, 2009 at 11:33 am

E-MAN WHERE AAAREEE YOOOOUUU, pooor baby….. His unbeatable team lost HAHAHAHAHAHAHA EAT THIS 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1!!!

Posted from Sweden

By Bassem | March 28th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

TUNISIE TUNISIE TUNISIE TUNISIE!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By tounsi | March 28th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

KENIA KENIA KENIA WHAT HAPPENED???????????????
THE PLAYER U GUYS FEARED THE MOST ISSAM JOMAA SCORED THE WINNING GOAL!!
OW YEAH IT HURTS DOESNT IT?? IT BURNSSSS HAHAHA

Posted from Netherlands

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