World Cup preview: Tricky Tunisia poised to topple group heavyweights
On the heels of an unbeaten qualifying campaign, Tunisia arrives at the World Cup after a 12-year hiatus looking to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in five tries.
With just three of the 23 players in Nabil Maaloul's squad on the wrong side of 30, Tunisia boasts the tournament's fourth-youngest roster with an average age of 26.5. The Eagles of Carthage have had a successful recruitment of French-born players with Tunisian blood ahead of the trip to Russia, and while the side is short on big-name players, European group heavyweights England and Belgium would be wise not to take FIFA's 21st-ranked team lightly.
Tunisia is a technically gifted side that came from behind against both Portugal and Turkey in World Cup warm-ups courtesy of a talented midfield that expedites its movement of the ball with sophisticated passing.
Group stage schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 18 | England | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| June 23 | Belgium | 8:00 a.m. ET |
| June 28 | Panama | 2:00 p.m. ET |
Projected starting XI
Manager Nabil Maaloul, who was assistant to Roger Lemerre when the Eagles of Carthage won the 2002 African Cup of Nations, gets a second crack at the national team gig with a balanced side that fancies possession-based football. Tunisia thrives when it can get the ball to a creative three-man midfield, with the majority of its goals in qualifying coming from those in support of the forwards and not a No. 9. England will want to keep an eye on imaginative midfielder Saif-Edinne Khaoui after a particularly noteworthy showing against Portugal.
Related: Full squad lists for each nation
Key player: Wahbi Khazri
With influential creative force Youssef Msakni sidelined with a knee ligament injury while playing for his Qatari club, Al-Duhail, Wahbi Khazri has become that much more vital. Plying his trade with Rennes as either an attacking midfielder or false 9, Khazri, 27, has a penchant for a perfect cross and can bend a decent free-kick. After a dismal spell with Sunderland, Khazri has again found his footing with Rennes, and for the Eagles of Carthage to stand a chance, its key distributor will have to be at his best.
Breakout star: Ellyes Skhiri
One of a handful of bi-nationalists who opted to enlist with Tunisia upon World Cup qualification, Ellyes Skhiri is certain to play a pivotal central midfield role after a career-best campaign with Montpellier. A two-way player who's no stranger to a crunching tackle, Skhiri is best suited at the base of the midfield as a jack-of-all-trades. A decent showing in Russia is certain to spawn a slew of transfer offers.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)