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Preparations for Oranje Underway

January 24th, 2009 | By: Rami | 29 Comments »

With our friendly versus Holland a little more than two weeks away, the national technical staff embarked on a series of meetings to prepare for the 11th of February encounter. Humberto Coelho will announce his list of 30 preselected players on January 27 and then cut it down to the final 23 on the 5th of February.

For this round of meetings the discussion centered around the potential roster, the training program and evaluating the recent performances of our foreign based players. Coelho and company also took the opportunity to look at tapes of the Oranje. These actions are indicative of just how seriously we are taking this high calibur matchup. A respectable result versus the Netherlands would give us a great deal of confidence before we go to Nairobi in March. The team will be looking to string together two strong halves after starting strong and then fading as the game went on in their last outing against European opposition.

According to La Presse, the list won’t be too dissimilar from previous ones. Nevertheless, Coelho has been full of pleasant surprises since he’s taken over… You never know what to expect especially since he’s been attending quite a number of domestic matches over the last couple of weeks.

Lots of questions in the list if you stop to think: Will Jaidi come back after playing in 11 consecutive matches with Birmingham? Will Messaadi make the team after going on a mini hot streak with Club Africain? What about Ben Frej, Alaeddine Yahia, or Ben Saada? Chikhaoui even? That last one seems the most speculative to me.

Plenty to talk about from here until then!

Tags: Carthage Eagles, FTF, Group H, Humberto Coelho, Oranje, Tunisia Football

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 29 comments.

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By Achraf | January 25th, 2009 at 9:00 pm

I agree rachid about having Khallfallah and Chermiti as keys to winning, and they both look like they are back in their forms after chermiti scoring a couple of goals in the last two weeks and khallfallah giving out assists. It will be nice seeing a triangle of chermiti and allagui up front with Khallfallah at the center mid position.

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | January 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

hope we can see bit of Camus too, it’s a promising player http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=nuj1qPe1I1U

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | January 26th, 2009 at 9:04 am

Thanks Tamim, that’s what I’ve gathered from what I’ve read about them but its good to have confirmation! It’s good Mejri was there to watch that one in person so we can learn how to break them down even when they put 9 or 10 players behind the ball. It’s not gonna be easy but we can do it!

Achraf, not sure about Ben Saada’s excuse yet.

Abdullah, thanks for the highlights!

Posted from United States

By Achraf | January 27th, 2009 at 12:57 pm

Theres rumors that Aïmen Demai will be called up against Holland. I am still waiting for the list to come out.

Posted from United States

By Rami | January 27th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

You and me both Achraf… Rumors connecting Jaidi, Chermiti, Dhaouadi and possibly Chikhaoui as well. Apparently Chikhaoui doesn’t experience pain after playing anymore but his knee retains water after a game which means it is not yet completely stable. They say it’s at 80 percent and they might give him another 6 weeks off. We’ll see how this goes… Didn’t provide a link to the article I read but it’s on Tunisie foot in their section on foreign based players under Chikhaoui http://www.tunisie-foot.com/ips/index.php?showtopic=689&st=1520

Ifa, and Messaadi will probably be in the 30 as well. And maybe even Khaled Korbi.

Posted from United States

By Achraf | January 27th, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Rami, when will the list be out?

Posted from United States

By Rami | January 27th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

I don’t know Achraf I’m confused because it should be out already if you consider the time difference. Usually FTF press conferences are at 11:00 am or midday. I’ll post it as soon as it comes out though. If you find it first just drop a line

Posted from United States

By ahmed | January 27th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

how come they never tryed calling up Sofian Chahed? is he any good?

By Rami | January 27th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Hey Ahmed, he’s good but he played for Germany youth squads and didn’t change his affiliation before turning 21 (he’s 25 now). Apparently he really regrets it. It’s too bad because it’s a loss for him and us…

Posted from United States

By Achraf | January 27th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

Yea, I think you got confused Rami, the list that is out is for the younger kids I think u-20 against france. http://www.ftf.org.tn/fr/home.asp

Posted from United States

By Rami | January 27th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

yea Achraf, I saw that one. I’m gonna post that one later too. What interesting is that Msakni didn’t make that list. I wonder if he’ll be with the senior squad then? Same with Ifa and Mesaadi who are both U21… We’ll find out soon.

Posted from United States

By Yassine | January 27th, 2009 at 2:10 pm

Can’t wait for the 11th February! It’s gonna be a cold night and the match starts a little late, but I’m going, and I expect that Rades will be full two weeks from now.

By Achraf | January 27th, 2009 at 2:56 pm

What surprised me was that there were 5 players selected from CAB.

Posted from United States

By Houssem | January 28th, 2009 at 10:05 am

Bert van Marwijk released a 25 player list for the game against Tunisia today :

Ibrahim Afellay (PSV)
Ryan Babel (Liverpool)
Mark van Bommel (Bayern München)
Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart)
Edson Braafheid (FC Twente)
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord)
Tim de Cler (Feyenoord)
Orlando Engelaar (FC Schalke 04)
John Heitinga (Atlético Madrid)
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid)
Nigel de Jong (Manchester City)
Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
Dirk Marcellis (PSV)
Joris Mathijsen (HSV)
David Mendes da Silva (AZ)
André Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
Arjen Robben (Real Madrid)
Stijn Schaars (AZ)
Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid)
Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax)
Henk Timmer (Feyenoord)
Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid)
Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)
Demy de Zeeuw (AZ)

That’s a decent squad, which shows that the KNVB and van Marwijk are taking this match seriously.

Posted from Germany

By Achraf | January 29th, 2009 at 8:20 am

Coelho will reveal the least for the match against Holland on february 4

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | January 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am

What line up do you guys want to see feb 11th?

I just hope Coelho wil go for a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 this time, although the last one seems unlikely, not impossible but unlikely.
I wouldn’t mind if he took some risks agains holland.

Posted from Netherlands

By Seif Kobrosly | January 29th, 2009 at 2:18 pm

I would like to see 4-3-3 Full attack!!! no holding back against the euros

Posted from United States

By tounsi | January 30th, 2009 at 11:01 am

if they reach their wings then we are screwed!!
attack but with a solid organisation please:D

Posted from Netherlands

By Yassine | January 30th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

Tickets are available: http://www.tunisieticket.com
I’m buying mine tomorrow

By Abdullah | January 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

Hope Chermiti scores tomorrow!

Posted from Netherlands

By Skander | February 1st, 2009 at 5:03 am

Both Jemaa and Yahia scored in the 15th respective 48th minute in Lens 2-0 win against Brest. Good news (Jemaa)

Posted from Sweden

By Achraf | February 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am

Sami Allagui scored 2 goals today, with the team winning 6-1. Very good momentum going into the holland game.

Posted from United States

By Yassine | February 4th, 2009 at 6:41 am

PLayers Called up for theHOlland freindly:
H.Kasraoui, Khalloufi,S.Allagui,T. Belaïd, S.Berradhia, F.Ben Khalfallah, W.Yahia, A.Ben Zekri, F.Camus, K.Chammem,A.Chermiti, A.Gemaii, S.Ghezal, K.Haggui, R.Jaïdi,A.Jamel,I.Jemaâ, H.Ragued, J.Saïhi,M.Selliti et W.Ettayeb.

By Yassine | February 4th, 2009 at 7:01 am

It’s a Lemerrian list.

By Rachid | February 4th, 2009 at 7:49 am

Kasraoui goal keeper! We are screwed! Disappointed Essifi from USMo did not make the list; he sure knows his way to the net much better than Selliti! Glad to see the killer combination of Chermiti and Ben Khalfallah. Wish Felhi was included! Good luck!

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