A solid defense but an attack at half mast, such is the record of the first two meetings of the Carthage Eagles, who will have to whip Wednesday (4:00 p.m. Paris time) to hope for a historic qualification for the eighth.

For that, the Tunisians must beat France, already qualified, and hope in the other match for a draw or a victory for Denmark, but not too wide, against Australia, executioner of Tunisia on Saturday in Doha.

This match against the "Socceroos", "we lost it especially in the first period (...). We have two clear chances, we must score", plagued midfielder Naïm Sliti.

"We wanted to do well, but that's football, it's the very high level: when you don't score, you get punished," he continued.

This setback completely erased the small benefit that the encouraging 0-0 against Denmark had provided, even if coach Jalel Kadri had already regretted an attack "not efficient enough with the ball".

The lesson is bitter for Tunisia, which is playing its sixth World Cup, without ever having passed the first round.

World Cup 2022: Tunisia Vincent LEFAI AFP / Archives

But she can only blame herself because, with a little realism, she could have scored four points instead of just one before the Everest of a match against the defending champions. who have six.

Built on its defense

The difficulties in front of the goal of the Carthage Eagles are not really a surprise.

The team relies above all on solid defence, having kept a clean sheet in nine of their last 11 matches.

But she failed to shake the opposing nets in seven of her 14 meetings in 2022.

Opponents obviously have their part in it, like Kasper Schmeichel's exceptional save against Issam Jebali in the first game or Harry Souttar's desperate tackle which countered Youssef Msakni against Australia.

But the clumsiness of the players, illustrated by the unframed recovery of the same Msakni just in front of the Australian cage, also explain this state of affairs.

With a system with a single advanced striker, occupied by Jebali who plays in Odense, 5th in the modest Danish championship, the lack of audacity of the coach has also been pointed out.

Tunisian striker Wahbi Khazri during the World Cup match against Australia on November 26, 2022 in Doha Jewel SAMAD AFP

Khazri, "a playing card"

Kadri waited until the 67th minute to make a real attacking change with the exit of a defensive midfielder, Aïssa Laidouni, replaced by Wahbi Khazri, who had not played the first game.

The start of the Montpellier season in Ligue 1 was not flamboyant but he had been one of the best Tunisians in Russia in 2018 and his experience mixed with cunning seems to be lacking.

"Khazri is a valuable striker, a senior player for the national team (...). He remains a card to play and we have enormous confidence in his qualities", had however assured the coach after Denmark.

The Eagles of Carthage are no longer masters of their destiny but they must concentrate on what is in their hands, starting by taking on a French defense weakened by injuries.

Tunisian midfielder Ellyes Skhiri during the defeat against Australia, at the 2022 World Cup, on November 26, 2022 in Doha Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

"Given the quality of our group and our attacking players, I have no doubt about our ability to score and put the opponent in difficulty", assured midfielder Ellyes Skhiri before the match against Australia.

Now is the time to walk the talk.

© 2022 AFP