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Home , Alexander Frei, Ali Zitouni, Daniel Gygax, Eric Abidal, Fabien Barthez, Hatem Trabelsi

Daily Nation / Wednesday, June 14, 2006 / SPORT / 61

Switzerland Tunisians carry hope hold France for Africa to tame draw he 2-0 drubbing of Kenya by last year, in an empty stadium during a World Cup Arsenal ace Henry fires blanks T qualifier, is a bitter experi- ence still fresh in the minds of local STUTTGART fans. have dominated the build-up to today’s But such ill feelings will be set aside clash between the two favourites to today when Tunisia take on Saudi rance were held to a 0-0 draw qualify from Group H. Arabia in a mission to salvage the by last night, Former European Footballer of the image of the continent. bringing back memories of Year Shevchenko has been nursing a Under the tutelage of coach Roger their early exit from the last knee injury and his participation against Lemmere, Tunisians’ ability to cause F tournament four years ago. Spain will remain in doubt until the last upsets cannot be ruled out, if they take The last time the French team scored minute. the path of , who blanked in a World Cup game was when they The 29-year-old scored as a substitute Scotland 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup, beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final. Switzer- in Thursday’s 3-0 warm-up win over or match their team of 1978, which land also held France to draws in two Luxembourg and has looked sprightly in beat Mexico 3-1. qualifying games. training but Shevchenko has suggested Tunisia will be under intense pressure Despite being forced to play as a lone that he will not be fully fit until their to deliver an African victory after striker, went close with second match against Saudi Arabia on other continental representatives three shots and a header in the first half, June 19. made notable but not good perform- while ’s deft touches set “I’m working with the squad and I’m ances in the 2006 world Cup. up the best French moves. feeling quite good,” he said. “This Switzerland almost went ahead in the period is important for me as I have to Sterling performance 23rd minute, however, when Tranquillo work to get in better shape, possibly not I still believe African teams displayed Barnetta sent a free kick into the area for the first match but for the ones a sterling performance, despite Cote but and Alexander after.” d’Ivoire going down 1-2 to Argentina; Frei both failed to get a touch and the Coach Oleg Angola losing 0-1 to Portugal; Gha- ball hit the post. Blokhin could na’s 0-2 loss to Italy and Togo’s 1-2 , Captain and all-time delay a decision loss to South Korea yesterday. one of five players on whether the Tunisia are increasingly seen as sav- who won the World leading goalscorer Raul striker plays in iours in a decisive way, provided they Cup with France in (left) looks headed for a today’s game until clear the first hurdle today. 1998, rescued Les as late as one hour The team is good in all departments. Bleus with a near- place on the bench before kick-off. The defence is marshalled by Khalled post block to keep Spain come into Bhadra, Jose Clayton, Radhi Jaidi and out a header from the World Cup with Ali Boumnijel in Switzerland substi- with the longest unbeaten run of the 32 . Midway, Salim Benachour, tute in the 65th minute. finalists, having gone 22 games since Riadh Bouazizi, Adel Chedli, and France coach their last loss and their preparations Karim Hagui are solid and have the gave Henry some help by sending on appear to have gone like clockwork but bite. The offensive force of Dos San- United striker the jury is still out on the form of their tos, Ziad Jiaziri and will with 20 minutes to go. forwards. chart the path Africa has to take in France lost to Senegal and Denmark Captain and all-time leading goals- coming days. at the last World Cup and left after the corer Raul looks headed for a place on Not short of imports, Tunisia prides in first round. the bench after failing to rediscover his the Brazilian duo of striker Fran- touch since a serious knee injury while ■ ciluedo Dos Santos and Jose Clayton Line-ups , David Villa and Luis in defence. France: Fabien Barthez, , , Garcia are favourites to start up front. , , , Claude The trio have, however, only managed Tough group Makelele, Franck Ribery (Louis Saha, 70th), Zinedine one goal between them in three warm- Zidane, (, 84th), Thi- Tunisia were pitted in a tough qualify- erry Henry. up games and despite their undoubted ing group with Harambee Stars, Switzerland: Pascal Zuberbuehler, Ludovic class have yet to show the necessary Morocco, Guinea and Botswana. Magnin, Philippe Senderos, , Patrick killer instinct. Tunisia also represented Africa during Mueller (, 75th), Johann Vogel, Tran- Argentine-born defender Mariano the Confederations Cup in 2005, after quillo Barnetta, , Raphael Wicky Pernia should start at left back just a (, 82nd), , Marco week after his goalscoring debut in a having emerged winners of the Afri- Streller (Daniel Gygax, 56th). can Cup of Nations Championship in ■ friendly with Croatia, while Marcos Sen- 2004. Doubts over the fitness of Ukraine na, Xabi Alonso and Xavi look to be the The Saudis, too, have a similar mis- goal machine and first choice midfield. (Agencies) sion, coated with Sh10 million for each question marks over Spain’s strikers player as a sweetener from their gov- ernment if they proceed to the second stage. Akwa wants strike partner Saudi Arabia, under Brazilian Marcus Paqueta, have the likes of Sami Al- BIELEFELD, Germany match against Portugal, which Angola Jaber and Mabrouk Zaid and goal- lost 1-0, abandoning the 4-4-2 formation keeper Mohammed Al Deya. This will ngola’s team captain Akwa has which let them down badly during the also be Sami Al Jabar’s fourth World called for a second striker to African Nations Cup in January. Cup attempt. A help him improve their potency “I think the coach will use the same in attack after they fell 1-0 in their tactic but for me it is better with two The writer is the Sports Manager at World Cup Group D opener to strikers because I feel I have more sup- Exclamation Marketing Ltd . He is also Portugal. port,” Akwa told by telephone a former Harambee Stars team man- Photo/Reuters Coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves from the team’s training camp in Celle ager and a CAF Coaching Instructor Ukraine’s star forward Andriy Shevchenko at a training session. plumped for a lone striker for Sunday’s on Monday. (Reuters)