Saif-Eddine Khaoui (C) of Tunisia reacts after the FIFA World Cup 2018
group G preliminary round soccer match between Belgium and Tunisia in
Moscow, Russia, 23 June 2018. Belgium won 5-2. EPA/Peter Powell
by
Graeme Jackson
Wednesday Jun 27, 2018. 13:30
Tunisia will look to end their 2018 World Cup campaign on a high when they take on Panama in their final Group G game at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on Thursday, June 28, kick-off at 20h00 CAT.
Tunisia have suffered back-to-back defeats at Russia 2018, going down 2-1 in heartbreaking fashion to England, before being blown away by Belgium to the tune of a 5-2 score line last weekend.
The results have left the ‘Carthage Eagles’ in third place on the pool and without a mathematical chance of advancing into the last 16, regardless of the result they achieve in this clash.
Coach Nabil Maaloul will be bitterly disappointed at their early elimination, but at least this match gives them the chance to end their campaign in a positive fashion.
Tunisia looked dangerous going forward against Belgium and netted two goals through Dylan Bronn and Wahbi Khazri, adding to Ferjani Sassi’s penalty in the opener against England.
If the North Africans can find a balance between attack and defence, then they could well be on for three points against a Panama team which has been on the end of 3-0 and 6-1 beatings against Belgium and England respectively.
Khazri in particular will be a key player, as he looks to pick apart a defence which has shipped nine goals in two games, while ‘Los Canaleros’ coach Hernan Dario Gomez will surely look to shuffle his pack for the final game.
This will be the first-ever meeting of Tunisia and Panama in a senior international football match.
Panama v Tunisia – head-to-head
N/A – This will be their first meeting
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