Tunis: Restoring the confidence and morale of Tunisia's national football team after the heavy defeat in the friendly against Belgium (5-0) is the priority of the technical staff led by Sabri Lamouchi, former international and coach Mokhtar Trabelsi, and journalist Nabil Khairat estimated on Tuesday during a debate meeting organised at TAP TV studio.
According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, the two experts affirmed that this is also one of the main keys to success for the Eagles of Carthage in their kick-off match at the 2026 World Cup against Sweden on June 15 at 3:00 a.m. (Tunisian time). Mokhtar Trabelsi explained that the national team's coach wanted, through the two friendlies against Austria and Belgium, to test a number of ideas and solutions before the World Cup. This is a normal approach given the importance of having several scenarios in preparation for World Cup matches.
He specified that the friendly against Austria (lost 0-1) had yielded several positive points. However, the problem lies in the playing system adopted against Belgium (0-5), during which Lamouchi abandoned the team's constants, poorly assessed the opponent's strengths, and modified the players' positions, which contributed to a heavy defeat for which everyone bears responsibility. Trabelsi stressed that blame cannot be laid solely on goalkeeper Mouhib Chamekh.
The former CA Bizertin coach and player specified that Sabri Lamouchi is called to adapt the national team's playing system at the World Cup according to the characteristics of each opponent. The first match against Sweden was distinguished by a powerful attacking line led by players competing in the English Premier League. He considered that the appropriate plan would be a 4-5-1 formation, reinstating constants in the various positions, so that the friendly defeat against Belgium serves as a lesson and psychological motivation to make a good start to the World Cup.
The former international underlined that to achieve a positive result at the World Cup, Sabri Lamouchi must select the starting eleven carefully, as there is no room for error when deciding on the line-up against Sweden. In this regard, he estimated that the rearguard should consist of the quartet Yann Valery, Ali Abdi, Montassar Talbi, and Omar Rekik, while relying on Ellyes Skhiri and Rani Khedira as holding midfielders, with a midfield completed by Hannibal Mejbri, Anis Ben Slimane, and Elyes Saad, and the Tunisian attack led by Firas Chaouat or Hazem Mastouri.
Studying the playing style of opposing teams is of paramount importance; the person in charge of analysis and monitoring must be fully aware of all the characteristics of Sweden, Japan, and the Netherlands in order to select the appropriate formation, Trabelsi considered. He explained that Lamouchi's management of the two friendly matches was not successful, the balance being negative and doubt having crept into the ranks of the staff and players after last Saturday's heavy defeat.
For his part, journalist Nabil Khairat affirmed that the heavy defeat suffered against Belgium had eroded the players' confidence in their own abilities and wiped the slate clean, following the successful performances in the friendlies against Brazil, Haiti, and Canada. The top priority, a few days before the World Cup kick-off, is to restore confidence. He insisted that all the national team members should draw inspiration from the words of encouragement from President Kais Saed, addressed to the players before their departure from the country.
Khairat pointed out that the changes made by coach Sabri Lamouchi during the match against Belgium were not judicious and the tactical choices were a failure, as it is not logical to continue pondering the starting eleven a few days before the World Cup. He considered that all the national teams whose friendly matches we followed had relied on their usual formations. The time frame does not allow for experimentation and these choices cost a defeat that undermined the team's morale and even affected that of Tunisian supporters.
Returning to the match against Sweden scheduled for Monday at dawn, the first match of Group F, Nabil Khairat indicated that Sweden qualified for the World Cup via the European play-offs and their results in recent friendlies were modest, which angered the Swedish press. But this does not diminish in any way the strength of this team, which boasts players with great technical qualities competing in the major European championships.
Khairat said he apprehends coach Sabri Lamouchi's ideas, his choices for the starting eleven, and his manner of managing the evolution of the match and substitutions, in light of what the friendly against Belgium revealed. He judged it inadmissible to play players in positions that are not theirs, as occurred with Adem Arous. The Tunisian national team possesses untouchable constants, notably the composition of the back line.
The journalist insisted on the importance of the opening match, recalling that Tunisia had won only one opening match, against Mexico during the 1978 final tournament. A victory in the first match against Sweden would greatly open the doors to qualification for the second round, he stated. Tunisia's national team is far from being favorites to keep racking up wins; they must capitalize on the element of surprise and effectively manage opponents with different technical and tactical styles.
He concluded that World Cup matches are won through correct choices, precise and in-depth study of opponents, and adequate technical and tactical adjustments during play. Sabri Lamouchi shoulders and will shoulder full responsibility for the participation of the Eagles of Carthage at the upcoming World Cup, given that all conditions for success have been met and preparations have been optimal, both in terms of organization and logistics.