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Belgians wary of outsider Tunisia
OITA, Japan (AP) -- In a World Cup where just about anything is possible, Belgium is taking no chances with lowly Tunisia. The "Red Devils" will recover their defensive lynchpin Glen De Boeck for Monday's match but will have to do without left back Nico Van Kerckhoven, who is out with a strained muscle. "I'm ready to play," said central defender De Boeck following Sunday's last training session. He had been out with a tender right ankle as Belgium's defense made two errors to give Japan a 2-2 draw in their opening game. Belgium will face an opponent whose recent misery was capped with a 2-0 loss to Russia in its Group H opening game. For Monday's game, forward Adel Sellimi is uncertain because of inflamed tendons in his left knee, casting further doubt on Tunisia's possibilities. "I have a 50 percent chance of playing. But we will still go for victory," said. The Red Devils are often at their most vulnerable against supposedly weak opposition. "We have to overcome this attitude. It will be one of our most complicated matches," said coach Robert Waseige. Captain Marc Wilmots remains on the alert. "We respect African soccer and we expect a difficult match," the midfielder said. "It started badly against Russia, but that is not an easy opening opponent." Monday's match at the Big Eye Stadium is a game Belgium must win to maintain a realistic chance of advancing to the second round. Japan defeated Russia 1-0 Sunday to move atop the group, pending Monday's result. "I'd be happy with a 1-0 result against Tunisia. It would give us four points," said Wilmots. For Tunisia, the game offers a chance for a major World Cup upset that would no doubt help the team forget the worries of the past months. The Africans lost a coach and their star goalie in the buildup to the tournament and went out of the African Cup on Nations in the first round without scoring a single goal. Things could hardly look any worse and they haven't scored in an official game since. But the game against Russia also showed some lucid moments as Tunisia managed to keep the pace with the favorites for the first hour. "We will be much more offensive against Belgium," said defender Jose Clayton. "We are capable of imposing our game on others." The Belgians are well aware of it. "Tell me, which team will be assured to go through ahead of the final game -- very few," Wilmots said. Belgium is expected to adapt its game plan to the opposition. Tunisia plays with a closely knit defense and has tall, powerful men at the center. That means Waseige will look to the flanks. He may bring fleet-footed winger Mbo Mpenza into the lineup to spread the Tunisian defense and create space in the middle. Don't expect too many long passes or high balls into the center. "We also have to make sure not to be caught on the counter," said Wilmots, another indication Belgium will stick with two defensive midfielders. Bets were on Wesley Sonck to make the starting lineup. Despite 30 goals in the Belgian league this season, he has yet to win the coach's full trust. Belgium is looking for its first World Cup victory in eight years. Belgium lost its last two games at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and didn't win a single game in France four years ago. Tunisia, one of five African teams among this year's finalists, had its last World Cup victory in 1978. In France four years ago, the Tunisians finished with one point in three matches, scoring one goal. A month before the World Cup started, veteran goalkeeper Chokri El Ouaer retired from the team because of a painful back problem. In March, French coach Henry Michel quit and was replaced by Ammar Souayah, who has almost no experience at the international level. He is the team's third coach in less than a year. (rac/asd) |
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