| Tunisia
left Mali very disappointed not only as victims of the 'group of death'
constellation. It was already the first match against group outsiders Zambia
which lead the way for the North Africans. An inability to convert an obvious
domination into clearcut chances or goals put the Tunisians under heavy
pressure for the reamaining matches.
Harsh public criticism
by coach Henri Michel did not help to boost confidence of the players.
It was conspicious how much the squad had changed from the Espérance
backboned unit two years ago and even in the final match the Tunisians
were unable to convert their chances. That they conceded only 1 goal shows
that they had a good share of their matches.
The need to substitute
three top strikers proved too much for the small country which naturally
cannot have the depth like others.
They have not been
the only team whose play is based on short passes which has failed in the
heat and on the bumpy pitches of Mali: North African fellows Morocco, Algeria,
Egypt, and West Africans Côte d'Ivoire did not do much more. |
