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Testing The Locals: Tunisia vs. Sudan Preview

May 27th, 2009 | By: Rami | 52 Comments »

Tomorrow we face Sudan in a warm up for our June 6th World Cup qualifiers versus Mozambique. This match was meant to serve as a dress rehearsal of sorts but the way it was programmed didn’t allow for our the majority of our European based players to be called up.

Instead we’ve been treated to an almost exclusively Tunisia based squad. Ideally we’d have our whole team together but credit Humberto Coelho for doing what he can with what he has at his disposal. Any bit of camaraderie and chemistry we can build at this stage is useful, especially with a team as young as ours. Plus it widens our selection pool in case we suffer injuries later on.

Habib Mejri told Mosaique FM that this was a chance to evaluate local players and their end of season form. Basically its a physical test for them to see whether they’ll be able to sustain through the summer. Besides that, it should provide us with interesting insights regarding the level of our Tunisian championship players in light of the eternal “expats versus locals” debates we were subjected to during the Lemerre era.

It’s funny/sad listening to the radio’s coverage of this game. Abdou is doing his best to build up some anticipation but its clear that everyone has their mind focused on European Champions League. Can’t blame them too much but if you’re in Tunis and have time to go see a match tomorrow then you really should. It’s time for our fans to rally behind this team and make them feel that they have our trust before Mozambique and Kenya come to town.

Our opponents are not to be taken lightly. Sudan is a very respectable team who we finished second to in group qualifying for Ghana 2008. Meanwhile, Coelho will announce our team for our upcoming qualifiers on Friday. Hopefully he’ll be reflecting upon a win!

Things I’m looking for and wondering about for this match:

- Darragi’s first goal in national team colors. Best player in Tunisia at his position and coming off a fantastic performance against Wydad in the champions league final. It’s his time to shine.

- Allagui to get some playing time after being benched since the Ghana game.

- Bilel Ifa to start at right back, Chammem or Abdennour at left. To me this is the biggest question of the match because I’d like us to attack from those positions.

- Chermiti and Allagui on the field at the same time. I’m just curious.

- What happens when you put Jemal and Khaled Souissi at their natural positions?

- Will the USMO players get significant playing time?

- Is Korbi going to swear to God we’re going to win our group and qualify for the World Cup? Just joking

What are you looking forward to?

Match time: 7:10 PM Tunisia Time.

Roster Reminder

Goalkeepers: Hamdi Kasraoui (Esperance), Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile)

Defenders: Billel Iffa (Club Africain), Aymen Abdennour (Etoile), Khalil Chammam (Esperance), Khaled Souissi (Club Africain), Radhouane Felhi (Etoile), Radhi Jaidi (Birmingham City), Ammar Jemal (Etoile)

Midfielders: Houcine Ragued (Mons), Zine Abedine Souissi (Esperance), Khaled Korbi (Esperance), Wissem Ben Yahia (Club Africain), Maher Hannèchi (US Monastir), Oussema Darragi (Esperance)

Strikers: Amine Chermiti (Hertha Berlin), Sami Allagui (Greuther Furth), Hichem Essifi (US Monastir), Abdel Majid Ben Belgacem (US Monastir), Mohamed Ali Ghariani (FC Istres), Mohammed Selliti (Stade Tunisien)

PS: I might not be able to watch this and it will obviously affect my post match report. If someone gets a hold of the recording then please do share! Otherwise I’ll be relying on highlights…

Allez Les Aigles!

Tags: Carthage Eagles, Group H, Habib Mejri, Humberto Coelho, Ousemma Darragi, Tunisia vs. Sudan, Tunisian National Team

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 52 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By Abdullah | May 28th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Essifi is not in form at all

Posted from Netherlands

By thamer | May 28th, 2009 at 2:10 pm

so far…

chermiti 2 assists

allagui 1 goal 1 assist

darragi 1 goal

Posted from United States

By Achraf | May 28th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

Thanks for the update thamer, i missed the 1st half, it looks like our boys are playing very well even though this is like the second team. Very happy for Allaguis performance and chermiti as well.
Lets keep it up in the second half

By Feedi | May 28th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

Yes he is not in form.Allagui is back!Chermiti is injuried.
Darragi plays excellent!Abdenour too.Tunisia plays good!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | May 28th, 2009 at 2:27 pm

FELHI 4-0 !

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | May 28th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

what? Chermiti got injured?

By Feedi | May 28th, 2009 at 2:56 pm

Yes he did play the 1 math.The first 35 min

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | May 28th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

Well i guess we still can’t see what Coelho sees in Selliti, Ben Belgacem is playing okay made some good efforts but needs to focus more and be a bit stronger on the ball, you could notice the physical difference between him and Ghariani very clearly.

In the first half Darraji, Allagui, Ghariani & both Soussi’s stood out.

Chermiti can become a very good winger because that pace he has is vicious, he just needs to focus a bit more on his finishing he missed a chance in front of goal that really shouldve went in.

Anyone i forgot to mention?

Posted from Netherlands

By Feedi | May 28th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

*He did play the first half.
Tunisia won 4-0 from sudan with a `second` team.I hope Allagui plays versus Mozambiqeu.He played very good like Darragi.The defenders of Tunisia where good.Abdenour was a good rightback.Belgecem was a good subituter too.

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | May 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm

Congrats to our boys and hopfully this will pick up their moral for next weeks game against mozambique. After watching this game, i am sure their will be changes to coelhos list and i made my changes on who i would like to see on the list tomorrow
GK
Kasraoui,Mathlouthi,Khalloufi
Defense:
Bousaidi,Ifa,Ghzal,Jaidi,Hagui,Jmel,Felhi,Mikari
Midfield:
Chikha,Khallfallah,W.Yahia,Ragued,Derragi,Demai,Bensaada,Belgacem
Forward:
Allagui,Jemaa,Chermiti(If injury not serious),Lassad(If back to form)

Who would you guys like to see?

By Feedi | May 28th, 2009 at 3:16 pm

Did saw a litle bit of the second half and everything of the 1.

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | May 28th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

Oh and i forgot to mention it is Allagui’s birthday and he got a good birthday gift today!

Also OGC Nice (Ben Saadas team) is interested in Ammar Jmel! He would be a good fit foe them!

By thamer | May 28th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

defence played extremely well, but we didnt keep up the attacking play after darragi and allagui came out. they way darragi is playing…he has to start against mozambique and nigeria. im in favor of replacing ben yahia (sorry ramy) with darragi. that way we would have ragued in front of the defense. chikhaoui ben khalfallah and darragi as attacking mids, and lassad and allagui as strikers. that might be too attacking to use against nigeria, but i think it would work against mozambique.

Posted from United States

By Rami | May 28th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Typical, I miss a match and they score 4! Maybe I just should stop watching lol. Sounds like it was an interesting game. Hope Chermiti’s injury isn’t a serious one. Saw some of the goals one tunisie foot but would still really love a copy of the match if you find it Yassine. If you can’t though no worries man, just lemme know. Thanks again.

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | May 28th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

I’m uploading the match i recorded through sopcast, it’s taking longer than i expected though, the file is 471mb so it’s now at 64%.

I’ll post it here as soon as it finishes

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | May 28th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Awesome Abdullah!

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | May 28th, 2009 at 5:30 pm

AHHHW MAN! MY DUMB ASS HIT THE DAMN REFRESH BUTTON WHILE ON 95% :S , retrying again

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | May 28th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

Lol its all good man i appreciate the effort. If you cant do it tonight or it doesnt work for whatever reason no worries too buddy!

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | May 28th, 2009 at 5:49 pm

No problem man i’m uploading again it’s on 13% now.

Posted from Netherlands

By lazar | May 28th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

Highlights right here ) http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=86896186774&h=iW3pV&u=o8GpA&ref=nf

By Abdullah | May 28th, 2009 at 8:33 pm

Viddler sux ive uploaded the match, now it says encoding has been cancelled for your video.. i’m off to bed maybe more luck 2morrow or maybe some1 will have uploaded it somewhere else

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | May 28th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

No worries buddy get some sleep! Try megaupload if no one has posted it yet tomorrow, I’ll let you know in the comments of the post match reaction piece I just posted if I find them so you don’t have to worry about it. Really appreciate it Abdullah, you’re the man!

Posted from United States

By Sami | May 29th, 2009 at 1:29 am

The last goal was actually an own goal. And Chermiti didn’t score because he twist his ankle just as he was about to hit the ball on the net.

I was a bit surprised how well did Ben Belgacem play. But Essifi did too much mistakes and had poor finishing.

By Skander | May 29th, 2009 at 7:27 am

I really think Ghariani can be a very dangerous winger for us, he is so fast and has a very good technique. Anyone who agrees?

Posted from Sweden

By Abdullah | May 29th, 2009 at 8:37 am

I do Skander him and Zine El Abedine Soussi impressed me with their ability to maintain possesion of the ball, and as you said he is very dangerous from the sides.

Posted from Netherlands

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