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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Ali Boumnijel
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(Bastia, France), age 32, 11 caps
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French-based stopper who is the second choice at his club but
took over this year as Tunisia's number one. Previously played
at Guegnon and had trials in England last year.
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Chokri El Ouaer
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(Esperance), 31, 49 caps
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Named the best
goalkeeper at the 1996 African Nations Cup finals but then
dropped this year for the 1998 finals in Burkina Faso. Former
captain of the Tunisian team.
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Radhouane Salhi
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(Etoile Sahel), 30, 5 caps
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Has captained
his club to three major African club titles in the last four
years but is expected to only be on the reserve bench at the
World Cup finals.
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Boubaker Zitouni
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(Club Africain), 33, 27 caps
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Played in
several key World Cup qualifiers but lost his place to Boumnijel
late last year. Has long been second choice for Tunisia.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Khaled Badra
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(Esperance), 25, 24 caps
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Strong defender who
has burst onto the international scene in the last two years.
Likes to come forward and has scored several goals for his
country.
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Mounir Boukadida
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(Etoile Sahel), 30, 29 caps
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Has lost his
place in the squad over the last year but some strong club
performances might see him sneak into the reckoning for the trip
to France.
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Ferid Chouchane
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(Etoile Sahel), 25, 23 caps
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Solid
centre-back who has enjoyed much success at club level in
African competition, including winning this year's African Super
Cup.
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Taoufik Hicheri
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(Esperance), 33, 51 caps
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Recalled out of
international retirement last year to fill the gap left by the
premature death of Hedi Benrekhissa. Slow and a liability in a
fragile defence.
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Sabri Jaballah
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(Club Africain), 24 (25 on June 28)
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17 caps.
Could find himself in the starting line-up after the tardy
defensive performance put up by his team mates at this year's
African Nations Cup finals in Burkina Faso.
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Mohamed Mkacher
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(Etoile Sahel), 22, 19 caps
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Up-and-coming
defender who played at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Has
earned almost 20 caps in a short space of time.
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Hakim Nouira
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(Esperance), 25 (26 on June 25), 13 caps
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Left
out of the squad for Burkina Faso in February but has just
helped his club win the Tunisian championship and could force
his way back into the party.
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Bechir Sahbani
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(Esperance), 25, 19 caps
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Has come off the
reserve bench in recent games to press for a place in the
starting 11. Played at the African Nations Cup finals this year.
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Tarek Thabet
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(Esperance), 26, 42 caps
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Veteran defender who
forms one part of the three-man central defence with Hicheri and
Trabelsi. Their lack of mobility could cost Tunisia dear at the
World Cup finals.
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Sami Trabelsi
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(CS Sfaxien), 30, 42 caps
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Captain whose place
is also under threat after a disappointing Nations Cup
tournament. Missed the penalty that saw Tunisia lose in a
shootout to Burkina Faso.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Zoubier Beya
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(SC Freiburg, Germany), 26 (27 on May 15), 41 caps
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Key player for Tunisia who had something of a
temperamental tiff with coach Henry Kasperczak at the Nations
Cup finals. Chasing promotion to the Bundesliga with his German
club.
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Riadh Bouazizi
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(Etoile Sahel), 25, 23 caps
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Another
temperamental player often on the wrong side of referee. Has
also played deep in defence for his country and is known for his
high work-rate.
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Jose Clayton
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(Etoile Sahel), 25, 0 caps
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Brazilian-born
footballer who has played in Tunisia for four years and now been
granted citizenship. Coach Kasperczak had had no hesitation in
drafting him into the squad.
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Sirajeddine Chihi
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(Esperance), 28, 44 caps
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Has spent many
years in the squad but only recently carved out a niche for
himself in the midfield. Plays deep and likes to spray the ball
around.
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Sofiane Fekih
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(CS Sfaxien), 28, 29 caps
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Once the midfield
darling of the team but now struggling to find a place. Is still
good squad cover for the World Cup finals.
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Kais Ghodhbane
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(Etoile Sahel), 22, 43 caps
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Another of the
emerging generation of Tunisian internationals who played at the
Atlanta Olympics two years ago.
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Skander Souayeh
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(CS Sfaxien), 25, 28 caps
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Caused a
sensation in Tunisia when he cried off from the African Nations
Cup finals in February. But is still too good a player to leave
out of the squad for France.
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Maher Zdiri
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(Club Africain), 27, 10 caps
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Fringe player, who
helped his team to a domestic championship two years ago and has
just completed another solid season in the Tunisian league.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Mehdi Ben Slimane
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(SC Freiburg, Germany), 24, 30 caps
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Podgy
winger with great skill and a match-winning temperament. Spent
an unhappy and injury-plagued year at Olympique Marseille in
France last season but now performing again in the German second
division.
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Imed Ben Younes
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(Etoile Sahel), 23 (24 on June 16), 7 caps
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Injury has curtailed his obvious talent but could well be a
secret weapon if he is chosen for the trip to France.
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Riadh Jelassi
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(Etoile Sahel), 26 (27 on July 7), 12 caps
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Tunisia's supersub who has come off the bench to score some
vital goals for the country. Helped his team win last year's
African Cup Winners' Cup.
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Faouzi Rouissi
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(Club Africain), 27, 40 caps
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Spent a season
in France with Caen but has had a topsy-turvy career with
several high and low points. Restored to the squad last year
after two years in international soccer exile.
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Ziad Tlemcani
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(Esperance), 32 (33 on May 10), 18 caps
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Veteran striker who played professional soccer in Portugal and
the J-League in Japan before returning home in August. His club
form earned him a call-up in January.
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