Tunisia
Pedigree Tunisia secured a place in its sixth World Cup in steady, rather than spectacular, fashion. The country conceded only two goals over six games during Africa’s second phase of qualifying and then slipped past Mali in a playoff thanks to a single goal over two legs. Do not expect the Eagles of Carthage to be a soft touch.
Ambition Being in the same group as France and Denmark might seem to inhibit Tunisia’s aspirations, but Coach Jalel Kadri has vowed to leave if his team is eliminated in the group stage. Not reaching the last 16, he said earlier this year, would be a “failure.”
Reality On paper, Tunisia is likely the weakest of Africa’s five qualifiers, though the squad has been bolstered in the last few years by an influx of players with Tunisian heritage. Hannibal Mejbri, a combative and charismatic midfielder employed by Manchester United, is the most high-profile, but the inventive Anis Ben Slimane is an intriguing prospect, too.
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