World

Africa

Tunisia

Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

June 7th, 2008 | By: Rami | 33 Comments »

Jemaa Flying (Courtesy of Infosfoot) The Carthage Eagles collected their first points of the qualifying campaign, defeating Seychelles 2-0. Not a very impressive scoreline considering the opponents but it’s worth noting that the artificial surface definitely gave our players problems and limited us offensively. One day of training on the main field was not enough time to acclimate to the bouncy turf. As the title suggests, this match was not incredibly entertaining.

I thought that we would go on a tear when Issam Jemaa scored in the 10th minute after good work from Chadi Hammami on the right side. We scored again right before the half ended through Ben Saada but that was the end of the goals for the day. Here’s a few things we can take away from this match:

1. Jemaa loves Victoria Stadium: If not for two incredible saves from the opposition goalkeeper, he could have repeated his hat trick from the last time he visited the island paradise. His ability to look for his own shot is positive but he really needs to work on his field awareness as he delays his passes quite a bit and sometimes doesn’t even give the ball to teammates who are better positioned than him.

2. Nafkha shouldn’t be starting: I barely noticed him on the field. Even Etoile fans on most forums are confused as to why he’s starting. I have nothing against him when he’s in form but Lemerre should know better than to start him… Once again Ben Yahia only got ten minutes as his replacement. Not nearly enough time to make an impact.

3. Radhi Jaidi trying to score at all costs: At some points I thought he was confusing himself for an attacker! I’ll forgive him as it was his 100th game in a Tunisia jersey. Despite some of his mistakes, he’s given a lot to our team over the year and he deserves praise for that. Congratulations on this achievement! Maybe you can get a goal in game 101.

4. Balbouli deserves to be our number one: You might argue that this wasn’t a real test for the Etoile keeper but he made some good saves and communicated pretty well with the backline. He’s yet to get scored on in a national team jersey. Granted he hasn’t played as many games as Kasraoui but you never get the feeling he’s out of control or will do something wild. He’s very assured in his aerial pursuits as well. I think that settles the goalkeeper question…

5. Mouihbi shows what he can do: Lemerre opted for Belaid instead of Mouihbi in the starting lineup today. It’s a debatable choice… He didn’t score a goal but Youssef made a visible impact in the limited time afforded to him. I’d love to see him get a full game for once. One of his best traits is he knows what he wants to do with the ball when he gets it and more often than not succeeds in his execution. Belaid wasn’t at his best but he did create the second goal with a timely pass up field to the onrushing Ben Saada.

6. We need more from Ben Dhifallah: With Chermiti out this was his chance to shine but besides from a few decent shots he really didn’t show up today. If he wants to work his way into this lineup he needs to assert himself better.

What did you notice? Its a little hard to judge our improvements from the last game given that we really are a class above Seychelles. Not aligning three defensive mids definitely helped but I know we’re capable of much better than this. The key will be to build on this result next weekend when we face Burundi in Bujumbura.

Hopefully Coelho took some good notes…

The Goals

La Tunisie s’impose aux Seychelles
Uploaded by Artiste-Tunisien

Tags: CAF Qualifying 2008, Chaouki Ben Saada, Group H, Issam Jemaa, Seychelles Football, Tunisia Football, Tunisie Seychelles

Tunisia World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

digg:Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

newsvine:Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

reddit:Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

fark:Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

Y!:Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

stumbleupon:Tunisia Defeats Seychelles With Relative Ease

Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 33 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By Yassine | June 9th, 2008 at 6:49 am

Leila, WTF are you talking about. You’re serious?
Mohammed Ali Nafkha (He has a name) is one of the best midfielders in Tunisia

By Yassine | June 9th, 2008 at 7:07 am

Since you’re all talking about what could our new formation be I’m gonna suggest one too:
Balbouli
Mikari Ghzel Haggui Ben Frej
Ben Yahia
Jemaa Nafkha Mouihbi
Chikhaoui
Chermiti

Just saw your post Rami, I wasn’t surprised by what happened on Mogulus, when I went to the Burkina Fasso game I heard only CA & EST chants, they were trashing esswa7lia all the game.
Now I’m tryin to forget everything about the NT and enjoy the EURO, I watched all the matches, downloaded them fully and re-watching the highlights.
Pure joy!

By Rami | June 9th, 2008 at 8:35 am

Moni and Marwen, there’s nothing wrong with the players you mentioned but I agree with Thamer. I think that we should build on the team we’ve assembled already and make a few changes depending on their form at the time we need them. Not saying there’s no chance of Ben Achour, Karim Nafti, Boussaidi coming back but I just see better players at their positions right now. Ben Achour is a peculiar case to me. As good as he is, he should have been way better and he should also be playing in Europe. He’s too young to go to the middle east (even though their leagues are improving very fast). I’m guessing our next coach will be open to selecting anyone he deems competitive. It’s up to Nafti and Ben Achour and others to grab his attention with consistently good performances.

Rachid, if you’re sensing anti Etoile rhetoric I can assure you that it’s not coming from me. I try to leave my allegiances to CA at the door when I’m watching the national team. My evaluation of Nafkha and Ben Dhifallah has nothing to do with what team they’re signed to. They simply didn’t perform as well as I think players of their stature should. I still think they are deserving of a selection though. I do acknowledge that I make the case that Mouihbi and Ben Yahia should be starting a lot. This is based not only on their performances with their club and their overall talent but also the determination that they will bring to the field. Since they feel that they’ve been neglected, they would double their efforts to prove that they belong (Yaklou el gazon kima n9oula na7na). That’s what we need in a national team, real determination. If you weren’t talking about me, then sorry for getting defensive hehe. I know we agree on a lot more than we disagree! They key to Balbouli’s success is that almost all goals scored against him are ones that had nothing to do with his individual mistakes. That’s the kind of steadiness we need.

Leila, there’s absolutely no room for racism here. Tunisians come in all colors. If you’re gonna judge a player it should be on the basis of their on field performance, not their skin tone. We have a proud tradition of black players who have represented us with honor (Trabelsi, Jaidi, Nafkha etc…)

Yassine, I like your lineup. As much as he scores, I have some problems with Jemaa’s overall effect on the way the team runs (especially when Chikhaoui is in the game). He holds the ball way too long leading me to inevitably scream “Mais lache ta balle!” on more than one occasion. I think he should be coming off the bench as a super sub when we need goals. Put Belaid or Dhaouadi in his spot and I’d be in total agreement. The only player who should have the right to hold the ball for long periods of time is Chikhaoui because his dribbling is better than Jemaa’s and his vision and passing is unparalleled on the team as far as I’m concerned. Chikhaoui creates opportunities for other players by drawing attention to himself and gives the ball (fi blaset-ha) when a teammate is in a good position.

Keep enjoying Euro!

Posted from United States

By Skander | June 10th, 2008 at 7:15 am

Rami, Adel Chedli is my second-cousin if you know what i mean. My fathers cousins son and we met each other when my family were visiting in France and i showed him this site (he sucks in English) and your articles and he thought it was good of you to write and to see how young people are enthusiastic and to see how “we are thinking” about the national team hahaha and what the people think about the players and so on…. HAhahaha.

And you Leila …… shouldn’t be writing here, f***ing rasist! Don’t write that again. Leave this forum ******

Posted from Sweden

By Skander | June 10th, 2008 at 7:17 am

My homecountry are going to play Greece today in the Euros haha, Ibrahimovic is our hope

Posted from Sweden

By Rami | June 10th, 2008 at 8:32 am

Skander, thats so cool Adel Chedli has seen the site lol! thanks for sharing it with him Best of luck to your Swedish boys. Go Zlatan!

By Hatim | June 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am

Wow leila you sound like a real slimeball. Are you even Tunisian??

Im off to Tunisia in a couple days. I will be at the Burundi game at rhades. I will take some pics. I will post them here if I can. CYA!

Posted from United States

By Rami | June 10th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

Ya Hatim, safe travels and inshallah wijek mabrouk 3ala el mounta5ab! I’m very jealous! Enjoy the home cooking and bring us good luck at the game.

Posted from United States

By thamer | June 10th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

is any one else going to be in tunisia this summer?

Posted from United States

By marwen | June 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

im going to tunisia in the summer
i might go see a game at rades

By Moni | June 10th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

Also going to tunisia, if i dont go I go crazy

Posted from Netherlands

By Skander | June 11th, 2008 at 2:51 am

I’ll go too. Every year ^^

Posted from Sweden

By Skander | June 11th, 2008 at 3:58 am

Could anyone of you guys send me a site where I can see Tunisia’s the matches live, or a link before the game against Burundi.

Thanks

Posted from Sweden

By Tom | June 11th, 2008 at 5:35 am

Off topic but there is news in the UK that Newcastle are very impressed with Amine Chermiti and will be looking to sign him

Posted from United States

By Tahar | June 11th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

Thanks for the news Tom. Do you have any source? I honestly think this would be detrimental to his career. Newcastle would never give him time to play with Viduka and Owen having starting spots and Obafemi on the bench. Obafemi supposedly wants out now because he is always finding himself on the bench or in a wing position. I would hate to see Amine playing as a wing running up and down the field pointlessly. With that said, the premier league is the premier league and I do appreciate Keagans attitude and I am sure Amine would give it 200%.

I too will be at Rades for the game. If you all want to organize in the future to meet up and have a little Rami fan club at the stadium.

Also I noticed a bunch of you are in DC. If you are not working I will most likely be watching the France game at Lucky Bar near Dupont metro station. Seems like a good atmosphere if you all want as well.

Posted from United States

By Rami | June 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/06/11/Premier-LeagueNewcastle-interest-in-Tunisia-star/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/football/

here you go Tahar. I also think Hertha would be a better move but if Newcastle wouldn’t be terrible.

If I was in Tunis I would definitely make a point of trying to organize a get together so we can all cheer for our eagles together. Too bad these fuel prices are killing me and, at present, I can’t afford to go home Inshallah soon though…

Tahar, I’d love to link up for the France game at Lucky bar (I’ve watched champions league matches there and it’s a good time). Let me see if I can get off work early and I’ll get in touch with your through your email (I have all your emails through the your comments…) Would be pretty cool and that should be a crazy game with France needing a result.

Sorry for the lack of posts over the past few days. I’m working on a monster one with all the player movements but it’s been difficult with how busy I am at work right now. It should be coming very soon. Along with a preview for the Burundi game… Thanks for reading guys. I love the input.

Posted from United States

By Tom | June 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

Chermiti will definitely get a fair few minutes.

Viduka can only last 45, Martins may leave. It would be great for him to learn from Owen in my opinion and we play 4-3-3 with 3 strikers so he’d definitely get a fair bit of football. And he can also learn from 2 time European player of the year Kevin Keegan (who was a striker).

Posted from United States

By Tom | June 11th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

Tahar, the scenario you are talking about with Martins on the wing and everything was when Fat Sam Allardyce was our manager, he is gone now

Posted from United States

By Rami | June 11th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Tom are you “Toon Tom” from the Newcastle Blog?

http://nufcblog.com/2008/06/11/transfer-news/newcastle-interested-in-19-year-old-tunisian-winger/#more-8079

Hehe I’m thinking you are. Thanks for spreading the word about our youngster! Cool to have an English advocate for Tunisian talent

Posted from United States

By Rami | June 11th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

While you’re at it, try to spread the word it’s Amine Chermiti not “Armine.” I don’t know where the English press and MTN Football got the idea that was his name! If you guys end up with him I’m sure the spelling with get corrected!

Posted from United States

By Tom | June 11th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Indeed I am, i’ve been mentioning Chermiti on there for about 6 months, now they finally know who he is.

Posted from United States

By Tahar | June 11th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

I appreciate the Tunisian representation online Tom!

I must admit I hate everything to do with english soccer. I have a huge bias against england. I support Arsenal because no one on that team is english. I really hated Newcastle since they got allen smith and nicky butt, and this other english guy who tackles too much (he was famous but his name somehow slipped my mind)but he no longer plays for them.

I must admit though, since Keagan came in theyve been doing awesome and he is really a great character who brings the best out of his men. I guess it could be a good move.

Also note though Shola Ameobi, and Nzogbia and Duff are used as third fowards.

…We shall see

Posted from United States

By Tom | June 11th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

Ameobi and Duff are being sold and N’zogb ia is apparently going to be converted to a CM.

Everyone hates Alan Smith, hes possibly the worst footballer ever to turn pro, so crap. Nicky Butt is great layer for his age though.

Posted from United States

By Moni | June 11th, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Cheap Talent , but yet its not sure of an transfer to europe, I’ve heard many rumours Ajax,HerthaBerlin,Barcelona,Juve,Chelsea, but non is true.
For me its hard to imagine that a EPL team would choose a Tunisian Forward.
Even if he starts there I would think that developing at Ajax would be the best choice. I hate Ajax , but the truth is that they have good conditions to develop proper (Trabelsi learnt also allot of AjaxskoolFootball).
Abou new castle, the club had in the last period , like 50 transfer rumours linking players to NU.
It would be a surprise CHERMITI in an CSS lookalike shirt.
(#9) ?????

Posted from Netherlands

By Tom | June 12th, 2008 at 6:21 am

Ajax would be great for Chermiti, but its not looking so likely is it.

Posted from United States

Comments are closed