Tunisia is the highest ranked African nation going into the World Cup. A solid team who has qualifyed for 3 of the last 5 World Cups, Tunisia will be attempting to progress from the group stage for the very first time. A tasty opening fixture against a young England team who may not know what to expect from Tunisia may well work in the North African's favour. The Eagles of Carthage will be tough to beat, they went unbeaten throughout all of qualifying and have not lost any game at all for over a year. Injuries though have hurt this team badly. Youssef Msakni, Tunisia's best player is the only player to score more than one goal during the final stage of qualifying for Tunisia, a hattrick against Naby Keita and Guinea, will miss the tournament with a knee injury.  Teams in La Liga, the Premier League and Ligue 1 have long been admirers of the winger's raw ability. Another big miss is Aymen Abdennour former Monaco centre-back, who is still owned by Valencia, was controversially left out of the squad. A lack of playing time at his club seems the reason, which is what makes the inclusion of Leicester City defender Yohan Benalouane even more puzzling. Banalouane played no part in Tunisia's World Cup qualification run and played just one game for the Foxes in the Premier League. 

After giving up on a long pursuit of Sevilla striker, Wissam Ben Yedder, who still dreams of wearing the blue of France competitively, Tunisia must rely on some of their long trusted stalwarts. Wahbi Khazri is going to be their creative force and the man on set pieces, never given a proper chance in the Premier League he might have something to prove against his opening day opponents. Khazri had a productive  11 goal season for Rennes who finished a respectable 5th in Ligue 1. Head coach Maâloul also recruited lesser known names than Ben Yedder with Tunisian parentage to assist their Russian mission. These players were capped as recently as this year and are young, but each should add to the overall quality of the squad. Montpellier's captain, Ellyes Skhiri, is one of these players and will keep thing ticking in the midfield just as he has does at club level. 

GOALKEEPERS

 

Aymen Mathlouthi-Al-Baten(Saudi Arabia)

 

Moez Ben Cherifia-ES Tunis(Tunisia)

 

Farouk Ben Mustapha-Al-Shabab(Saudi Arabia)

 

Moez Hassen-Chateauroux(France)
 

 

DEFENDERS

 

Rami Bedoui-Etoile du Sahel(Tunisia)

 

Yohan Benalouane-Leicester(england)

 

Syam Ben Youssef-Kasimpasa(turkey)

 

Dylan Bronn-Gent(belgium)

 

Khalil Chammam-ES Tunis(tunisia)

 

Oussama Haddadi-Dijon(france)

 

Ali Maaloul-Al-Ahly(egypt)

 

Yassine Meriah-CS Sfaxien(Tunisia)

 

Hamdi Nagguez-Zamalek(egypt)

 

Bilel Mohsni-Dundee United(scotland)
 

 

 

 

MIDFIELDERS

 

 

Mohamed Amine Ben Amor-Etoile du Sahel(Tunisia) 

Sai-Eddine Khaoui-Troyes(France)

Ahmed Khalil-African Club(Tunisia)

Ellyes Skhiri-Montpellier(france)

Ferjani Sassi-Al-Nasr(SAudi Arabia)

Ghaylene Chaalali-ES Tunis(Tunisia)

Mohamed Wael Larbi-Trours(france)

Karim Laribi-Cesena(Italy)
 

 

 

 

FoRWARDS

 

 

 

Anice Badri-ES Tunis(tunisia)

 

Fakhreddine Ben Youssef-Al-Ittifaq(saudi Arabia)

 

Naim Sliti-Dijon(france)

 

Bassem Srarfi-Nice(france)

 

Ahmed Akaichi-Al-Ittihad(saudi Arabia)

 

Wahbi Khazri-Rennes(france)

 

Saber Khalifa-African Club(Tunisia)