The Tunisia World Cup 2022 squad has been announced, with manager Jalel Kadri selecting the 26 players he wants to take with him to Qatar.
Tunisia are flyweights who love to knock out the heavyweights of African football. Despite the poor sporting infrastructure for a nation of only 12 million, the team rises above its limitations and regularly employs a gritty ‘grinta’ to qualify for major tournaments.
This year’s edition of Eagles of Carthage is no different. Watch as they get bogged down in tackles, win 50-50s, and then turn around to convince the referees they’re the victims – thus continuing to punch above their weight.
If there’s anything they need to learn from Qatar qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, it’s how to defend. After defeating resilient Equatorial Guinea in the second round of qualifying, Tunisia won a two-leg playoff against Mali 1-0 on aggregate thanks to an own goal.
Most Tunisians were disappointed with the performance but the results showed that when the going gets tough, Tunisia parks the bus. Effectively, too: they’ve kept clean sheets in more than half of their last 50 games and conceded just three goals in their first 12 fixtures of 2022. Then they lost 5-1 against Brazil. ah
Moreover, almost every Tunisian goalkeeper of late has suffered a terrible tantrum at a crucial moment. Sfaxien’s 25-year-old shot-stopper newcomer Aymen Dahmen is an exception, but he has only recently cemented his place in the team. Is it just a matter of time?
Beyond their stout defense, this group has a wealth of experience. Youssef Maskani, Ali Maloul, Wahbi Khazri – once of Sunderland – and Naeem Sliti have played in many major tournaments. Collective calm is invaluable in the face of adversity.
Tunisia World Cup 2022 squad: Final 26-man squad
GK: Mouez Hassen (Club African)
GK: Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien)
GK: Bechir Ben Said (American Monastir)
GK: Aymen Mathluthi (Etoile du Sahel)
DF: Bilel Ifa (Kuwait SC)
DF: Montassar Talbi (Lorient)
DF: Yassine Meriah (Esperance de Tunis)
DF: Nader Gandry (Club African)
DF: Dylan Bronn (Salernitana)
DF: Ali Maloul (Al Ahly)
DF: Mohamed Draeger (Luzern)
DF: Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos)
DF: Ali Abdi (Kane)
MF: Hannibal Mazbury (Birmingham City)
MF: Farzani Sassi (Al-Duhail)
MF: Aissa Laidouni (Ferencvaros)
MF: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Esperance de Tunis)
MF: Ellyes Skhiri (Koln)
MF: Ghelain Chalali (Esperance de Tunis)
MF: Anis Ben Slimane (Brondby)
FW: Youssef Maskani (Al-Arabi)
FW: Issam Jebali (OB)
FW: Wahbi Khazri (Montpellier)
FW: Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC)
FW: Seifeddin Jaziri (Zamalek)
FW: Naim Sliti (Al-Ettifaq)
Who is the manager of Tunisia for the 2022 World Cup?
Jalel Kadri is one of two coaches at this World Cup (the other being Canada’s John Herdman) who was never a professional footballer. The 50-year-old’s hands-on style as interim boss led Tunisia to the finals and landed him a full-time job, and he is likely to take direction from the top to select the squad and accommodate experienced professionals.
Who is the best player in Tunisia?
A generation of North African talent who never made it to Europe, Youssef Maskani has been Tunisia’s attacking heartbeat for a decade. With his knack for scoring decisive goals, ‘The Mongoose’ is not easy to tame. He missed Russia 2018 with a knee injury but will be in familiar surroundings here after a decade of playing his club football in Qatar.