Comments on: Step 3: Tunisia vs. Nigeria Preview

By: Nabil

Nabil — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:52:05 +0000

Drew CIV twice and qualified and drew Morocco twice and qualified so result in Abuja is hardly an impossible task.

SE will be better than today but so can we esp if get the likes of Chika, Ben Sadda, Jemma and Mikari return. SE will go all out for a goal or two come the Abuja game as unlike today a draw will not suffice for them. We will have ample opportunities to hit them on the counter attack.

By: Rami

Rami — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:38:35 +0000

Razak, you forget that our team is full of players who have have experience of big matches in hostile territory with their club teams. It’s a young team but even the youngest players have played decisive matches away from home and Tunisia’s achievements in club competitions must not be forgotten. WE CAN DO THIS. It’s only a question of whether we will or not. We dropped 2 points today but we also didn’t lose which would’ve been way way worse.

By: Razak

Razak — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:14:22 +0000

It is obvious that Tunisia will not be in South africa next year.I dont see this very team getting a draw or win against Nigeria in their home land.The Tunisian team does not have the required character to pull such a big string to a team like Nigeria when they(Nigerians) will want to fight for the maximum point in their country.Right now,i am disappointed because our chances is faint,I wonder why we couldnt get the 3 points to stay save.It will be a different ball game in Abuja ,this is the fact.

By: Abdullah

Abdullah — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:07:11 +0000

Moni i disagree we dominated this game but our lack of attacking/finishing players was the reason we didnt win this one by 2 or 3-0, it wouldve been deserved.

I see some very positive changes , we’re still not there thoug.

By: Tahar

Tahar — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:03:53 +0000

I actually watched the majority of the Morocco game and they missed a pk in the first half. Lemerre looks hopeless.
As for the Tunisia game, I’m going to say this… I don’t agree with the defensive scheme and the starting lineup, but I do believe this was done to throw off the Nigerians game plan. Keep in mind they studied our last few games where we had the same team. I think in this regard Coelho was successful because they weren’t prepared for our strategy. Ill also give Coelho this, we didn’t have all of our players but you all know those stories. With that said, I was only specifically disappointed in Souissi. I dont think putting him in central defense would change much. My honest opinion is that Felhi could have done much better. In the heat of the moment.I argued with my father that it was a risk putting Felhi out of position but he was quick to say “he’s a sahli, you can put him anywhere and he will work wonders. He grew up playing barefoot and eating olives” (mind you my dad’s an etoiliste and I am clubiste… makes more sense in tunisian). Luckily Bousaidi helped him a lot on Obina. Zitouni and Allagui had mediocre games, and for this reason I can’t say I would change them up top, but initially I would have opted for FBK instead of Zitouni. Coelho did explain after the game that he was only going to play with one “# 10″ and he chose Darragi.Can’t argue much with that. Ragued, Ghzel and Haggui were critical and we need this exact performance from them in the next leg.
Moni I also respect your argument, and youre absolutely right to say we played too defensive, but I still disagree about the ball control and the possession. You also must understand that Egypt right now has players at the peaks of their carreers (like us in 2004) so this is there moment. But the reality of things still stands, as Rami said, we are top of our group and Egypt is facing not making the WC as Algeria are in the drivers seat. This isnt to say that I agree with it, but its just the reality of things. Bet

By: Rami

Rami — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:57:09 +0000

Hey Sammieo, it was 0-0

By: Sammieo

Sammieo — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:55:37 +0000

I did not watch the match. What is the score line please?

By: Nabil

Nabil — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:45:55 +0000

What do people expect sans Chikaoui, Jemma, Ben Sadda and Mikari?

We’re not known for our depth esp in-terms of match winners. Passing in the final third was mediocre but overall the tactics and execution of the boys was spot on. This was 1000 times better than the gutless display against Mozambique.

Bottom line Nigeria are no mugs, this was always going to be a difficult group and odds are it will come down to the last day and whom ever can pull out a victory in Kenya and Mozambique will qualify for SA 2010.

By: Rachid

Rachid — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:50 +0000

I think we just set ourselves up for a major heartbreaking disappointment in these WC qualifiers. We cannot expect miracles from players active in European second leagues. There is a reason that’s where they play. We have to have realistic expectations and stop claiming hero status for players that are mediocre at best! Chermiti: what have you done for us lately? I certainly miss the Chermiti I knew with l’Etoile. But, they say playing in a big European team will make you a better player. We’ll keep waiting for that to happen. It could be much worse, though. Morocco, with Lemerre, have 2 points from 3 games after another major disappoinment at home against Togo. Proof once again that Lmerre sucks!!!

By: thamer

thamer — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:34:09 +0000

i do see some of moni’s points. our defenders just kicked the ball up field like they always do, giving away countless possessions. khaled souissi HAS to go. i dotn mind him playing in central defense, but we don’t have an acceptable right back. ifa is our best option and hes only 19…thats a disgrace. korbi and ragued didnt really bring anything offensively but they did their jobs well, so no complaints there. i cant really complain about anything, nigeria is a very good team and they played well. maybe if we had mikari, chikhaoui and lassad we could have created more, but those players who did play did their best. and i agree with rami about the draw in lagos. i said on an online nigerian news article last week that i thought both “legs” would be draws…and they laughed at me. but then again those are the same ppl who predticed 3-0 in tunis…