Tunisia -

Reactions within the football community in Tunisia did not stop regarding the preparations of the Carthage Eagles to participate in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the extent of the players' and technical staff's readiness to fulfill the fans' dream of seeing the team for the first time in the second round of the World Cup in its sixth participation in the history of the competition and the second in a row.

And last Sunday, Tunisia coach Jalal Al-Qadri announced a list of 16 players to travel to the Saudi city of Dammam, in order to participate in the last preparatory camp before switching to Doha, but only 8 of them were on the flight, and they are Muhammad Ali bin Ramadan, Ayman Al-Balbouli, Ghaylan Al-Shaalali and Ali Maaloul, Saad Baqir, Yassin Meriah, Seif Al-Din Al-Jaziri and Naim Al-Saliti, which caused a wave of angry reactions about the motives for limiting the announcement of a mini-list that includes a limited number of players.

The coach of the Carthage Eagles will announce the final list on the 14th of this month, waiting for the team to play a friendly match against Iran two days later in Doha.

The Tunisian national team traveled to Saudi Arabia with a delegation of 8 players (communication sites)

A number of observers considered that the preparatory program for the Carthage Eagles before the World Cup was overshadowed by randomness, with evidence that only 8 players are currently participating in the preparatory camp in Saudi Arabia, waiting for the rest of the players to join the first half of the list, in a first stage, and then announcing the final list, which is expected to include 26 jumpers.

Anger, criticism and fear

The postponement of the announcement of the Carthage Eagles list for the World Cup in Qatar caused a wave of violent reactions. At a time when the lists of all the teams participating in the finals began to appear in succession, the coach of the Tunisian team surprised the followers by limiting himself to inviting 16 players only, justifying his decision to continue the participation of a number of Tunisian players with their clubs in Some European leagues.

In statements to the media, before the Tunisian national team plane took off towards Saudi Arabia, Al-Qadri justified the postponement of the announcement of the final list of players, by saying, "A number of Tunisian professionals in Europe are still in charge of their clubs until November 13th." Completing their matches with their clubs, then finalizing the list on the 14th of this month.

Al-Qadri, who has led the Tunisian national team since February 2022, after working as an assistant to former coach Al-Mundhir Al-Kabeer, added, "The course of our preparations is going according to what we planned. I have complete confidence in these players, but realistically and without excessive optimism. Rather, I will work on the success of this group, with whom I spent more than two years, during which we played more than 25 friendly matches. We now need to support and stand by this team to achieve an honorable achievement for Tunisia in the World Cup in Qatar.”

Al-Qadri justified not revealing the full list of players, as a number of them are linked to their European clubs (Reuters)

Regarding the goals of the Tunisian team in the World Cup in Qatar, Al-Qadri said, "Those whose ambitions are not high will not have a place in the World Cup race. We aspire to surpass the first round for the first time in the history of Tunisia's participation in the finals. elements and their readiness to participate in a competition the size of the World Cup."

Tunisia has never crossed the first round of the World Cup during its previous five participations, in which it played 3 matches and came out of the tournament empty-handed. However, football fans still pin high hopes that the team will give them a dose of optimism that the economic, social and political crisis that is causing them to forget. Live on the impact of the country.

During the last edition, Tunisia came third in Group G after collecting 3 points in the first round, with a victory over Panama (2-1) and two defeats against England (2-1) and Belgium (5-2).

4 goalkeepers.. Tunisia makes the exception

In turn, the invitation of 4 goalkeepers to participate in the World Cup caused widespread controversy and sarcastic reactions, as some went to say that the Tunisian team will play the total defense plan, which explains the use of a full four to guard its net.

Al-Qadri invited Ayman Mathlouthi, Bashir bin Saeed, Ayman Dahman and Moez Hassan, leaving a torrent of criticism and many questions about the addition that the Carthage Eagles can gain from the presence of four goalkeepers, unlike most teams that did not include more than three names to guard the net.

Ayman Mathlouthi, 38, is participating for the second time in the World Cup after Russia 2018 (Getty)

Regarding the controversy raised by that choice, Al-Qadri said, “It seems necessary to invite 4 goalkeepers, in anticipation of possible injuries or penalties. And injury, and this is what forced us now to invite 4 goalkeepers.”

He added, "The choice was difficult, but it was based on objective criteria in which we sought not to wrong anyone. We do not give gifts to anyone either. I realize that the satisfaction of the masses is a goal that does not realize and that any list that will be announced will be a cause for controversy and subject to criticism from some of the followers, but the main guard For Tunisia in the World Cup is a settled matter, which is Ayman Dahman.”

For his part, former Tunisia striker Imad Ben Younes considered that choosing four guards might be a feasible option for coach Qadri, especially since Ayman Mathlouthi, 38, will serve as a mentor to his young colleagues due to his long experience in guarding the Eagles' goal.

Ben Younes told Al-Jazeera Net, "It is difficult to satisfy everyone when announcing the list of players. I think that the technical staff is required first to include players who regularly participate with their clubs and not to succumb to pressure from any party because in the end it is he who will be held accountable for the results that he will obtain in his participation in the World Cup." .

Tunisia has never surpassed the first round of the World Cup with its previous five participations (Reuters)

It is noteworthy that Tunisia will open its participation in the Qatar World Cup 2022, by meeting Denmark on November 22 at the Education City Stadium.

In the second round, Tunisia will face the Australian team on November 26 at the South Stadium, and the first round matches will be completed against the world champions France on the 30th of the same month at the Education City Stadium.