June 9, 2006
BEEN THERE . . .
But Tunisia still hasn't quite done it yet

The only African qualifier that has survived from the 2002 competition, Tunisia has yet to accomplish anything substantial in three World Cup appearances. The North Africans have been three and out in their appearances and history could repeat itself in Germany.

But coach Roger Lemerre felt his side could surprise someone in Germany.

"We proved at the Confederations Cup that we can play excellent football. Tunisia can perform at a consistently high level and we are not far behind the top countries," he told Agence-France Presse.

The key to the Tunisians success? Lemerre said this team plays a European style.

"Discipline, both tactically and mentally, are very important for us," Lemerre was quoted by www.FIFAWorldCup.com.

There is a good chance that the Tunisians will lack flair in Germany. Instead, Lemerre is expected to use more defensive, than attacking midfielders to keep the score low and the North Africans in the game.

The influence of French soccer on Tunisia is immense. Such high profile clubs such as Esperance, Club Africain, Etoile du Sahel and Club Sportif Sfaxien - set up training centers and hired experienced French coaches.

"There is a lot of French influence in Tunisian football," Lemerre said. "Many former Tunisian managers and youth coaches learnt their trade in France."

Known as Les Aigles de Carthage (The Eagles of Carthage), the Tunisian players received a minimum $100,000 after they qualified.

Of the five African sides that qualified for Germany, the Tunisians had the second best showing to Ivory Coast, which lost to champion and host Egypt in the 2006 African Nations Cup final. Tunisia was ousted by Nigeria in a 16-round penalty-kick shootout, 6-5, after playing to a 1-1 tie in regulation and extratime.

If the Tunisians need to convert penalties for any reason in June, they could be in trouble because two of their best players missed key ones against the Nigerians. Riadh Bouazizi missed his during the tie-breaker and Jose Clayton's regulation time attempt was saved by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

The engine of the team is midfielder Bouazizi, who is a solid ball-winner and who can direct the attack as well. He has been called an extension of Lemerre. Defender Jose Clayton and forward Silva dos Santos, naturalized citizens from Brazil, must perform out of their skin for Tunisia to have any chance of surviving to play another day.

Silva Dos Santos will have to the shoulder the burden as a dangerous forward, after an impressive qualifying run.

Khaled Badra, who captained Tunisia to the 2004 African Nations Cup title, will anchor the backline along with often-injured defender Hatem Trabelsi. The 6-4, 200-lb. Radhi Jaidi is another solid man in the back.

An interesting bit of information for World Cup history buffs

After waiting 20 years to qualify for the World Cup a second time, Tunisia now has reached the final 32 for the third time in a row.