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Tunisia vs. Cameroon: The Preview

February 2nd, 2008 | By: Rami | 37 Comments »

Probable Lineup

GK: Kasraoui
Defense: Felhi, Jaidi, Haggui, Bekri
Midfield: Traoui, Nafti, Mnari, Ben Saada
Strikers: Chikhaoui, Santos

According to Mosaique FM (which hasn’t been wrong so far), that is the lineup we will play with. It’s basically the defense from the Senegal game mixed with the midfield and strikers from the South Africa game. I honestly do not know how I feel about the decisions in defense especially. Some might cast a doubtful eye towards the glaring omission of Chermiti from the starting lineup but I was kind of expecting this after he played a full 90 minutes against Angola. Given that Lemerre favors using all the players at his disposal, I had a feeling Chermiti would only come on as substitute after expending a lot of energy in his first outing of the tournament. This leaves quite a bit of firepower on the bench with Jemaa and Ben Dhifallah also on the sidelines. It is no secret that Chermiti is a great player and my only hope is that he doesn’t come into the game at the 70th minute or something. Basically I say give Santos 55 minutes and if he doesn’t score sit him down and let Chermiti stretch the slow and aging defense of Cameroon.

It is clear when you look at who we’ve picked in defense that our chief concerns are Eto’o and Geremi as we took away Ben Fradj and Mikari who usually come up the flanks to offer support to the attack. I guess Lemerre and Maaloul don’t want to see Eto’o and others take advantage of the large spaces they leave behind them. I am leaning towards disagreeing with them though because their presence also gives us more options in attack and stretches the opposing team. Our coaches are the ones getting paid by the federation though and hopefully they earn those paychecks in this next game. We don’t want to come out of this wondering “what if.”

Their thought process must be that we will beat them on the counter attack using a solid and defensive back four as a base to start out attacks from once we steal the ball. It’s risky business considering we didn’t really show much in the first game besides the Jemaa goal. There wasn’t much build up play in the Senegal game and that would be a nightmare scenario. On the other hand, this is the fourth game of the tournament and you would expect more chemistry to have built by now so maybe this will work.

One thing that our technical staff has proven so far is that they are good at studying the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and retooling their lineup accordingly. Hopefully the next game is no different as it is clear they’ve identified Cameroon’s huge problems with transition offense and defense. So if we play “en bloc” like we usually do and are steady in our positioning we can expect to steal a lot of balls in midfield, at which point we will play a vertical game like we saw Egypt do effectively in Cameroon’s opening loss.

Let me say that this is not the Cameroon of previous years. The Lions don’t look so indomitable to me. I didn’t see their last group match but in the two that I saw they looked a shadow of their former selves. Even Eto’o looked bored to me. Sure they scored a a lot of goals but that Zambian defense practically went out of their way to show them the path to the net. This isn’t to say that the game will be easy, it most definitely will not, but it is to say that they are well within our grasp and that with our astute field positioning and some good counter attacking football we can take them down. Ben Saada’s presence should help in this respect as he links between midfield and attack a lot better than Jemaa did. Even though Jemaa gives his all on the field and I respect him for it, sometimes he doesn’t give the most obvious passes that could lead to goals. Basically this is the game where Chikhaoui must shine brightest. He can’t afford to be isolated and tentative like against Senegal. I have faith that he will rise to the occasion.

Another way to go about it would have been to keep Ben Fradj and Mikari in order to add bodies to our own built attacks but I guess Lemerre has made it clear this is out of the question. Given what we’ve done so far in this tournament, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. One thing that’s good about this lineup is that Felhi will offer cover for Jaidi who has made some mistakes in this tournament. He’s getting better every game but he worries me sometimes. I am certain that a lot of people will be extremely upset to see our the return of our so called prudent lineup and I understand their nervousness. The thing is, if things go our way, this has the potential to work very well against this Cameroon team. I just hope thats at the end of the game the decisions will be justified and not frowned upon. There is no exact science but for now this is the plan.

If I hear anything new lineup related as the match approaches I’ll update this post with that information. For now this is what we know. Maybe tomorrows edition of Dimanche Sport will shed more light on all these issues. If you have an opinion please share it.

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 37 comments.

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By Nabil | February 4th, 2008 at 11:16 am

If we want to become the Champions of Africa, we have to face the good teams one way or another. I know we can do it and it doesn’t matter what path we take.

Posted from Canada

By Cameroon vs Tunisia - Africa Cup of Nations Quarterfinal LiveBlog - World Cup Blog - African Cup of Nations 2008 | February 4th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

[...] a tough time. Silva Dos Santos found his scoring boots against South Africa and (according to a reliable source) will likely partner Chikhaoui, with teenage-sensation-in-waiting Amine Chermiti back on the bench. [...]

Posted from United States

By yuusf | February 4th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

you guys can watch the game from work. go to this website channelsurfing.net

By Tom | February 4th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

I have been a keen watcher of Chermiti and Chikhaauoi throughout and before this tournament and im just wondeering if you guys agree with me that Chermiti has a fair bit more potential than Chikhaoui and is more consistent throughout the match?

Posted from United States

By Skander | February 4th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

Watching the game now. We’re boned! We’re like a bunch teenagers playing against a team of professional adults! It’s disgusting.

Posted from Japan

By harissa | February 4th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Tunisia really sucks! what a waste, they should have let Algeria or Libya to advance; they are much better teams.
Tunisian players “feehem alliaba,” and very gay. I am embarrassed to watch them.

Posted from United States

By Skander | February 4th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

Please stop calling the players gay. It’s insulting to gay people!

Posted from Japan

By Rami | February 4th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

it could be worse and it could be better actually. near the end of that half we were dominating and that second could have went in. we’re not done yet man, a whole second half to play. 2-1 is a lot better than 2-0. but godamn i wish that santos shot and ben saada follow went in!!!

Posted from United States

By Skander | February 4th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Let’s hope that the last 10 min weren’t flukes. Cameroon seems to be really well placed on the field. The only way we’re making it out of this is with offensive football.

Posted from Japan

By jihedc | February 4th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Those Lions are not very impressive so far, they should thank the defense. Still totally open game. Harissa haloua, enjoy the game, and stop ass-smarting…

Posted from United States

By jihedc | February 4th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Harissa Haloua, this one is for you. More to come

Posted from United States

By jihedc | February 4th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

Relax Skander, the best is to come. It looks like we are fresher , but….

Posted from United States

By Mahmoud | February 4th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

you go Tunisia !!!! My heart is with you. Your Moroccan friend….

Posted from United States

By jihedc | February 4th, 2008 at 5:58 pm

The defense gave the game, too bad, but I am very positive with this young team and I see a great future, and a good show if they make 2010. Still not very impressed by this Cameroon team. Good game, but we lost. How do you feel Skander?

Posted from United States

By Mostafa | February 4th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

man oh man hard luck Tunisia you guys played a wonderful game against 11 plays and the referee!

in every one eyes you win. “besara7a into niktoohom”.

you might have lost the game but you earned every one’s respect.

hard luck this time.

Mostafa from Egypt!

Posted from United States

By Nabil | February 4th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

Nooooooooooooo! I thought we had it. We played better football from the time we were down 2-0. I’m really disappointed. I have to say though that Lemerre did a great job coaching and preparing for this tournament despite a few incidents. I am sad to see him leave.

Our defense was good. We only made 2 or 3 major blunders and Cameroon took those chances to score.

Posted from Canada

By marwen | February 4th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

i thought we played way better and we deserved to win. \

It was a great effort by all the players.

By Rami | February 4th, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Thanks Mostafa and good luck to Egypt in the Semis. I wish you guys all the best and hope you don’t see a referee like this one today. I agree with everyone who’s saying we played better. Little details lost this one but I am so proud of this team. My post game report will come later tonight once I’ve digested this loss a little more. I’m gutted because I know we are better than them.

Posted from United States

By harissa | February 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

Tunisia went home,I am happy!
cry babies used to cry in Tunisia and got away with allot, but in Ghana, they have to earn the match. It shows that Tunisia is a weak team who likes to blame someone else; the coach, the referee, the weather,…anybody.
go home and eat more………………………………………………
Harissa

Posted from United States

By Tom | February 4th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Do people agree with me that Chermiti is a bigger talent than Chikhaoui and has better potential?

Posted from United States

By Rami | February 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

It’s an interesting question Tom. I’m not sure really how to answer it though. They’re so different. One is short, a born goalscorer, and super fast and the other is more technical and a true offensive midfielder who has drawn comparisons to Zidane in his young career. Time will tell who is bigger but I don’t know… Chikhaoui will make it to a big club before Chermiti though. They are both the future of Tunisian football… Sorry I can’t properly answer the question.

Posted from United States

By Tom | February 4th, 2008 at 7:20 pm

I also thoght it was hard to answer but there is just this buzz surrounding Chermiti. I do know Chikhaoui is a good no 10. just his passing is not that great imo. In their respective positions i just feel there is something about Chermiti that edges it for me, im just suprised he didnt break through the ESS first team younger. Not that i knew much about him before 4 months or so before the african cup of nations tournament it just seems qute suprising while Chikhaoui was captain at something like 17.

Posted from United States

By Rami | February 4th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

I respect your opinion that edges it towards Chermiti. I am just partial to Chikhaoui’s technical ability. It’s just a matter of the type of style that I like in a player. Don’t get me wrong though, I’ve made it very clear in this blog that Chermiti is also a big favorite of mine and how could he not be? He is one of the fastest players I’ve ever seen. And I’m talking on the world scale here. It’s not by accident that he was voted best player in the African Champions League. Also the thing he has over Chikhaoui is his combativity. Chikhaoui is more aloof and a pretty quiet guy while Chermiti is a cut throat type of player that loves to win above all else. In fairness to Chikhaoui, he’s come a long way in just one half season at FC Zurich and is starting to learn how to be more aggressive. The future is bright for both of them.

Posted from United States

By Moni | February 4th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Truely Jaziri is tunisias fastest striker. He and Santos called by bbc “The magic duo” very dangerous to have on your half.

Posted from Netherlands