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Team Building: Tunisia vs. Holland Preview

February 10th, 2009 | By: Rami | 49 Comments »

Tomorrow our Carthage Eagles take on the Oranje in a rematch of the 1994 encounter between the two teams. Few who witnessed the match will forget the happiness they felt when Faouzi Rouissi and Ayadi Hamrouni scored their goals versus the star studded dutch squad. While Koeman ended up snatching a late equalizer on a free kick, the final result (a 2-2 draw) was no less than we deserved after going toe to toe with some world class players.

Now with 1994 a distant memory, things have come full circle, and Holland is back in town. Once again, they brought their big guns with them. Facing them is a talented but young and unproven team that is still in construction. Thankfully, we have shown promise under Coelho and our last outing against Ghana in Accra was full of positives: Increased off the ball movement, improved linkages between midfield and attack, more creativity and better range of passing, and heightened fighting spirit.

All of these and more will have to be on display tomorrow if we are to achieve a positive result against Van Persie and company. That finishing touch which proved elusive against the blackstars is a definite area of improvement. The reappearance of Amine Chermiti could do wonders in that department and the continued excellence of Sami Allagui is another good sign for the Tunisia faithful.

While Kenya and Holland may have nothing in common footballistically speaking, this match will serve as a valuable barometer of how far we have come under Coelho. A point that has been stressed by the technical staff is reaching a high rhythm of play. We saw in our 3-1 defeat against France that we started strong and then faded in the second half as the players wilted. Though we scored first in that game, the speed of transition from defense to attack and vice versa took its toll and eventually we looked completely out of it. This must not happen against the Dutch as they are notorious for their rapidity and flowing buildup play.

Coelho will also use this opportunity to test as many players as he possibly can before World Cup Qualifying begins in March. This is his last chance to tinker and he has said that he has 80 percent of the group for Kenya in Nairobi already finalized but is still searching for the other 20 percent that he will rely on. Some have questioned his decision to incorporate new talent this late in the game but the coach has yet to lead us astray.

Will we finally see reconciliation between the national team and its disillusioned fans? Rades hasn’t been packed since we drew Morocco 2-2 to qualify for Germany 2006. It is time to end this self induced exile. Lemerre is gone and his tired defensive tactics are gone with him, if you’re in Tunis you owe it yourself to go support your national team and watch them take on some quality opposition. Apathy won’t help us secure a place in South Africa 2010.

Kickoff: 8:30 PM Tunis Time

Tunisian Squad: Hamdi Kasraoui (Esperance Tunis), Jassem Khalfaoui (CS Sfaxien), Ben Radhia Souheil (Etoile du Sahel), Yamen Ben Zekri (Bastia, France), Khalil Chammam (Esperance), Aymen Damai (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Seif Ghezal (Young Boys, Switzerland), Karim Hagui (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Radhi Jaad (Birmingham, England) Ammar Jemal (Etoile du Sahel), Khaled Souissi (Club Africain)Tijani Belaid (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Wissem Ben Yahia (Club Africain), Houssine Ragued (FC Mons, Belgium), Jamel Saih (Montpellier, France), Sami Allègui (Grutterfurth, Germany), Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Caen, France), Béchir Fabien Camus (Sporting Charleroi, Belgium), Amine Chermiti (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Issam Jemaa (Lens, France), Mohamed Selliti (Stade Tunisien), Walid Tayeb (Esperance)

Dutch Squad: 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)

Probable lineup according to infosfoot: Hamdi Kasraoui, Karim Haggui, Radhi Jaidi, Souheil Berradhia, Yamen Ben Zekri, Houcine Ragued, Jamel Saihi, Fahid Ben Khalfallah, Aymen Demai, Sami Allagui, Amine Chermiti

So it turns out Demai is a midfielder not a right back like was once announced. It’s not final but the lineup doesn’t look so bad apart the inclusion of Yamen Ben Zekri on the left. He’s too slow for that position. I really hope they opt for Chammem at the last minute. Also not sold on starting Jaidi… It’s time to turn the page in my opinion. Our attack (as long as they opt for Chermiti and not Selliti or Jemaa) looks turbo charged!

Coach and player thoughts: Hear what Coelho, Jaidi, and Chermiti have to say.

Pictures: Tunisia training here and here. Pictures from Dutch team landing in Tunis/Carthage Airport here.

Reminder: Don’t forget about the other important matchup tomorrow.

Tags: Amine Chermiti, Group H, Humberto Coelho, Robin Van Persie, Sami Allagui, Tunisia vs. Holland, Tunisian Football

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 49 comments.

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By thamer | February 11th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

we are being dominated…

Posted from United States

By Achraf | February 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

this half was not very well played. Selliti has done nothing, not using any speed. Chermiti needs to be put in his regular position and give us chances. in order to score we need to have allagui go in for selliti, belaid in for saihi, and camus for demai.

Posted from United States

By Rami | February 11th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Pretty boring game. 10 behind the halfway line almost the entire time. Changes now please!

Posted from United States

By Rami | February 11th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

We have blastoff!

Posted from United States

By thamer | February 11th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

what a result against the third best team in the world. Second half we really tore it up.

Posted from United States

By Achraf | February 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Very happy about what happened in the second half, Jamel Saihi had a great goal and did remind me of the goal Traoui scored against Senegal. I think Coelho was still testing somethings in the first with demai and the other new guys. But I hope we play 90 minutes of the way we played in the second half from now on.

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | February 11th, 2009 at 6:07 pm

i think we saved our honor but i’m really not happy about what i saw today guys.
Demai is crazy, and 4 yellow cards wow!
I think with the b-team we played the first half we should be very happy the ref didnt give us a few red cards(though heytinga also gave chermiti an elbow).

the only time i saw some reasonable football was late in the second half, when even Jaidi(who played suprisingly well) was starting counterattacks and linking up balls with the midfield and ocassionaly even reach the far side of hollands half.

Haggui disappointed me today

Sloppy work on the midfield, basically everything but he aggresive defence and the ocassional combinations on the midfield in the second half was rubbisch.

But hey, on the bright side we tied to one of the greatest football teams, and we can learn a lot about what to improve.

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | February 11th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

I enjoyed the few minutes i caught of the france – tunisia U-21 in the second half much more than the senior squad today.

It was really a joy to watch them play

anyone have a link where i can watch the whole game of france – tunisia U-21?

Posted from Netherlands

By Ramzey | February 11th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

The game was pretty much the same as before (Lemerre). We sit back on defense and have no coordination on offense. BTW Whoever sees SAIHI at a bar should buy him a drink for that hail mary shot that he had today,….. I’m sorry guys i’m being pessimistic but i’m a loyal tunisian fan and the game was an embarrassment. We couldn’t keep the ball for 10 seconds. We need to find a coach who knows how to bring in the right players for the game. Also we need to find someone who can hold on to the ball and know how to pass it….Someone like slim ben achour maybe, i’m sure if the coaches look hard enough they’ll find someone like that.

On a side note that player that Chermiti tackled deserved it even though its unsportsman like but still i applaud chermiti. Thats the right mentality he displayed. “Take crap from no one”..

By Ramzey | February 11th, 2009 at 6:28 pm

One more thing that i’m sure most of you will agree with. Jomaa is a nutcase!!!! He needs a shrink. He has soo much potential but his head isn’t screwed on properly…what did you think of that handball(Maradona) trick he tried to pull lol… Oh and Rami keep up the good work!!

By Rachid | February 11th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

A great goal, for the memories! Never expected it based on how we sucked during the entire first half. Enjoy

http://www.zshare.net/video/55471752f4d3c5fb/

By Feedi | February 12th, 2009 at 1:42 am

This was a boring match.We play to defensif and we kick in evry duel.I missed Allagui,Benachour,Belaid,Camus,Essifi and Ifa.I if we play versus Kenia we play with these players.Kasraoui playd very good.Inshaallah we dont make any more mistakes like that!

Posted from Netherlands

By Fahd | February 12th, 2009 at 3:32 am

Horrible!!!!

I believe Holland or any other European team would think twice before they play us in a friendly. This was by far the worst game I have ever seen. It is even worse than with Lemerde.

Unbelievable that our players where such cowards. Always when they play Europeans they have this complex!!! I was furious and could not believe this discrase. Holland played whithout any single effort and where able to have 75 % ball posession. It is clear that Chermiti has his mind on not being injured first we did not see any action apart from the stupid unprofessional attack on the dutch player Heitinga. We are not even smart to get revange in a professional way, we always screw up.

The only players who played with passion where Jmel and Soussi, local players. The wonderfull second ranked players from France and germany (ehhum), I did not see anyone showing promising football.

Coelho is like other trainers not able to create a well playing team. He was not succesfull in Portugal, Marocco nor South Korea.

And please spare me the same story of we have to wait Give him some tome and all that nonsense. In that case if we have time let’s give that precious time at least to a promising good Tunisian Trainer who can work on the team for 4 years. But ofcourse this is not a reality as the only thing Tunsians want is to just be arrogant and show off how well they are copying the western sports mentality instead of just copying the football smartness.

I zapped to the moroccan channel during the match to see a very promising Morrocan squad who played attractive even FANTAStic football at some times against a strong tsjech Team. Morocco has a lot of quality players who do not have any complex at all!!!!

Now I realy believe that Lemerde was not stupid att all when he played so defensive, that is just the Tunisian way of playing. We are by definition not an attacking team at all. The proof is that we do not have any attackers at all. We just have defenders and we play boring couter attack football.

Again if you have great palyers and spirit the Coach will just have a coordination role and nothing more. An European coach has not a magic Stick what ever the tunisian Federation may think. What a waste of our money!!

Again Horrible, it really hurts!!

Rabbi yihdi ou khaw

By tounsi | February 12th, 2009 at 8:16 am

this match was really a nightmare! i think if Chikhaoui played we would have a lot more control on our midfield..

anyway it seems that Jaidi was our best player yesterday..kasraoui also dit a good job. still dont understand why he let jemaa play instead of Allegui. one thing is 4 sure..there is a lot of work to do

Posted from United States

By Yassine | February 12th, 2009 at 9:24 am

Yesterday the supporters weren’t supporting the Tunisian team but their clubs + they were insulting el swa7lia and they sung “Se7li ya 7awi” more than once. It was raining hard and we weren’t covered.
One would think that it was a mistake going but seeing Van Persie + Van der Vaart + Robben in front of you is priceless and deserved 15 dinars.

By Rami | February 12th, 2009 at 9:36 am

Yassine, I heard those songs too and was appalled. Really disappointing stuff. Pretty sure there weren’t songs insulting “jabris” in the U21 game in Sousse from what I’ve read…

Posted from United States

By Rachid | February 12th, 2009 at 9:59 am

I beg to differ on Issam Jemaa. I thought he did very well, and the overall team did well too during the second half. So, it’s not a complete loss! We have to be realistic and not go down the road of pessimism. I think we have what it takes to beat Kenya and get going with a good start for the WC qualification games. Some players (such as Selliti) clearly have no place in the NT; others need some time to acclimate. No matter what, we should encourage, and if we have to criticize, we need to do so constructively. As I said earlier, given the lousy performance in the first half (despite the big guns we had, such as Chermiti and Ben Khalfallah), I really never expected them to do as well as they did in the second half. It at least showed that we can mount a come back. That’s seeing the glass half full, from this side. Great day!

Posted from United States

By Fahd | February 12th, 2009 at 10:00 am

Hi Rami and Yassine,

I am glad you brought that up, because I did not want to mention it as being the creme a la creme of that excellent football match!

It really urges me to Just support Our beloved Nejma even more and More and skip this nonsense with our national team!!

By Fahd | February 12th, 2009 at 10:04 am

Rachid,

You are so positive:0)but whther it is constructive that is the question mate!!

regards

By Rami | February 12th, 2009 at 10:09 am

Fahd, I know its difficult to swallow that. I’m a clubiste and even I felt insulted. Very disappointed in how they acted but don’t let these foolish people take away your love for the national team. It’s YOUR team no matter what.

Posted from United States

By Rami | February 12th, 2009 at 10:10 am

BTW, sorry for the delay on a post match article. I’m trying to get up the highlights and pics etc but analysis might have to wait till later tonight. We’ll see how my day at work goes…

Posted from United States

By lazar | February 12th, 2009 at 11:11 am

i really dont get why everybodys being so negative. We tied one of the best attacking teams in the world! wtf? and fyi its a friendly. and y is everybody saying coelho isnt a good manager? this is like his 4th or 5th match..

By Abdullah | February 12th, 2009 at 11:31 am

I am not a pessimist, and i can still see the bright side, but i hope Coelho does too, because there are certain players who he should never let on the pitch again.

How frustrating this match was, i’m still in a bad mood because of yesterdays match!

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | February 12th, 2009 at 11:32 am

I agree lazar, but you got to agree that the match was horrible!

Posted from Netherlands

By paul | February 25th, 2009 at 7:39 pm

hi tunisian, i am a nigerian. How are u people preparing for our wrath of soccer punishment. Considered your world cup dreams over because you’ld see our big guns fly into your country to dismantle and clip the wings of the carthage eagles have you heard of our player called W.M.D(weapon of mass distruction). If i were u guyz start preparing for 2014 w.c, 2010 is over for u guyz. Ha ha ha!!!

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