World Cup Team Checks: Tunisia

World Cup Qualifiers

A respectable six wins, three draws and just one loss brought Tunisia through the qualification stages. But only a thin thread held together what sounds like an easy march to Germany -- it was an own-goal on the part of north African rival Morocco in the last qualification game that allowed Tunisia to book their tickets to Germany.

Stars

Captain Hatem Trabelsi leads of Africa's best and most experienced defenses. In addition to a strong line-up in front of their own posts, Haykel Guemamdia makes sure Tunisia stay effective on the opposite end of the field as well.

Trainer

Former French national team coach Roger Lemerre took over for Tunisia in September 2002 after the team burnt through five trainers in the previous 13 months. Two years later the Tunisian team won the African championship with Lemerre, and even through they had to pack their bags after the quarter-finals in the 2006 African Nations Cup, applications for Lemerre's job are not being accepted.

World Cup History

Tunisia is appearing at the World Cup finals for the fourth time.

1978: preliminary, 1998: preliminary, 2002: preliminary

Match Schedule: Preliminary Round

June 14: Tunisia - Saudi Arabia in Munich

June 19: Spain - Tunisia in Stuttgart

June 23: Ukraine - Tunisia in Berlin

World Cup Base

Tunisia found training facilities and accommodation in the Bavarian city of Schweinfurt.

Outlook

When searching for inspiration, the Tunisian team will no doubt look back on the 3:1 win in 1978 against Mexico when they chalked up the first ever World Cup victory for an African team. Though Lemerre's side is up against favored teams from Spain and the Ukraine, a solid performance from the Tunisians would keep the group from being decided until the final match.