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Tunisia's rampant qualification!! Tuchel slams England fans! And who's the latest to book their seat?
2 Plays6 days ago
Nick and Ken discuss Tunisia’s rampant qualifying campaign, whether England boss Tuchel is right to criticise the fans and who are the latest teams to book their tickets to USA, Canada and Mexico?
Plus a rundown of Tunisia’s key players and chances next summer, and can Kenny build on his shock 100% score in last week’s Kenny’s Quiz.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Introduction & Host Banter
00:00:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kenny's pipe is out which can mean it's only one thing it's only one thing it's one thing he's got it out already he's gone too early he's gone too early ladies and gentlemen and anybody else in between you're listening to to the World Cup 26 podcast part of the Global Sports Podcast Network a very warm welcome to you as always the world's only podcast dedicated to the Premier League lots
00:00:39
Ken Davies
No, the World Cup. Dedicated to the World Cup.
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah, welcome. I was getting our podcast mixed up. Ken and I also do daily Premier League one, which is also the world's only podcast dedicated to the Premier League.
00:00:52
Ken Davies
ah so yeah
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was so carried well so excited by your pipe that was forgetting where I was.
00:00:57
Ken Davies
Thank you. You've got the first post to say that, to be honest.
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name is Nick Britton, I am your host. Today, as always, and as always, I'm joined by my esteemed colleague, my great friend and the man who is to football, what Thomas Tuchel is to getting England fans on board.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Mr. Ken Davis. Hello, Ken. How mate?
00:01:18
Ken Davies
I'm good, mate. I'm good. It's Friday afternoon. Friday afternoon is always good. And I like this podcast. like it for million reasons. One of the amazing reasons is like we turn the tables because i normally do i'm I'm normally doing sitting in your seat when we do the Daily Premier League.
00:01:32
Ken Davies
And on this one, I can just sit back and just answer the questions, which is fun.
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, or not answer the questions, as is most of the most of the time.
00:01:38
Ken Davies
no I always answer but I'm always right.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
it comes toqui Mate, three out of three last week. Three out of three.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm looking for looking for you to build on that.
00:01:44
Ken Davies
Come on.
00:01:46
Ken Davies
Come
00:01:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. getub Can you do what Ruben Amarin in the Premier League cannot do, which is get two three out threes in a row? Two three-pointers in a row.
World Cup Coverage & Tunisia Focus
00:01:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll see. Anyway, as always, we've got your World Cup news and we've got your but've got Kenny's quiz, as were just talking about. Lots to talk about a news and qualifying and all that. And then in between all of that and all of the chit-chat and the general good fun,
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
We take a deep dive into teams that have qualified. And today we are traveling to North East Africa and taking a delve into Tunisia.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so it goes on. do you feel like getting up and marching again? I can see you sort of strumming along there a bit of drum roll.
00:02:45
Ken Davies
It's great. I mean, you would march that, wouldn't you? Because it's bum, bum, bum, bum. I mean, you would be able to march in quick time to that. I like that. that's the kind of That's the kind of national anthem. If you were going to AI a national anthem, we'd come up with that, it, really?
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
you reckon? That's good, because you've been a bit disappointed the national anthems of late. You've not been able to get excited about so the last two or three weeks of national anthems, but I'm glad to see that you like the tuners you want.
00:03:09
Ken Davies
It's not bad.
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might be...
00:03:10
Ken Davies
not saying it's it's probably around 16. The only thing that's missing in the Tunisian anthem is not Tunisian enough.
00:03:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but but Yeah, if it gets to round 16, it'll do a lot better.
00:03:17
Ken Davies
It could be the Luxembourg one, couldn't it?
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it'll do a lot better than the football team if it gets anywhere near round 16. ah So yeah, that is a good, it is a good national anthem. It's quite jolly. It's quite marchy. It's quite...
00:03:28
Ken Davies
It's not. ah but but but
00:03:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
think it's Do you think it's Tunisian enough for you Because you always complain that the national anthems are never kind of reflective of their country.
00:03:34
Ken Davies
no
00:03:36
Ken Davies
it's not
00:03:40
Ken Davies
It's not Tunisian enough. It hasn't got enough sharps or flats in it. It's kind of it's it's very Western. end I'd prefer Tunisian National Anthem to be a little bit more North African, to be honest.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. OK. But it was written by, I can tell you this, it was written by the same guy who wrote the music for the national anthems of Libya and the United Arab Emirates. So it's not it not Western, really, is it
00:04:05
Ken Davies
Yeah? Yeah. It is. It's used in all the Western notes, but not necessarily in the right places.
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
it? As the old thing is. ah Good. OK, well, let's move on from the Tunisian national anthem. As much as we'd like to talk about it for the rest of the podcast, we won't. We won't. ah Right, we're going to start with a bit of breaking news. Then we're going to move on to having a look at Chinizia. Who are the, as always, I've picked out five key players who I think will make an impact.
00:04:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or at least I've just found five players who play for Chinizia.
00:04:36
Ken Davies
Good luck with that, Nick.
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. get back
00:04:39
Ken Davies
I've actually seen one of them play.
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah but ken Ken is going to tell us how they line up, what the formation is. We've got, what else we've got? We've got Kenny's quiz, everybody's favourite time of the week.
00:04:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We've got a little bit of ah of their manager, Sami Trabalci, and then we're going to finish, as always we do, looking to predict how Tunisia are going to get on.
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, before we do all of that, let's go on with some breaking news because there's been lots going on the
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
world.
African Teams' Qualification
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Shuffling away there, mate. You had your pipe out and your papers out. You're on it today.
00:05:21
Ken Davies
Oh yeah, Friday afternoon.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
He must be feeling better here. must be feeling better.
00:05:24
Ken Davies
I am. Against the
00:05:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lots of games going on at the moment to do with qualifying and lots of friendly games and what have you. I'm sure your team has been playing. Algeria and Egypt, congratulations to those. They are the latest two teams to qualify from the African Federation. So Egypt qualified with a 3-0 win over Djibouti.
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Ken, something extraordinary happened in that game. Do you know what it is?
00:05:51
Ken Davies
rich
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, in that match between Egypt and Djibouti.
00:05:52
Ken Davies
i What was it something to Salah and the amount of goals he scored?
00:05:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, kind of, but you ruined my gag because the most extraordinary thing was Salah scored. But there you go.
00:06:02
Ken Davies
with you. like that.
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's
00:06:05
Ken Davies
i'm with you i like
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's really my gag. You know, he scored two. And I was having a look at the game and I went to something which did look extraordinary. and I need to sort check this out, but I haven't had time. I went on to the official FIFA website to look at the lineups and just, you know, look at the game and what have you. And they they did their sort of lineup in formation style as they do.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they had Egypt down as playing a 3-6-1 formation.
00:06:31
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't know whether that's true. well It's just been a bit of a glitch on the FIFA website.
00:06:36
Ken Davies
They were playing a flat middle six, were they?
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah, flat middle six. Yeah, I mean, they'd all be fighting for any kind of position on the pitch, wouldn't they? They'd all be just like argy barging themselves out of
00:06:44
Ken Davies
Worked out, didn't it?
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't think that's right. It's probably it's probably a 4-3-3, looking at the players they had on offer. ah But they did they did have it down as
00:06:51
Ken Davies
No, no, no, no. It's not a 4-3-3 if they're lining up as a 3-6-1. It's going to be going to be yeah and else both five three one one on his play the three at the back, aren't they?
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah, true, actually. Sorry, yes. was just thinking. Yeah, could be that. Anyway, I prefer... No, true. I prefer a 361.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
prefer
00:07:09
Ken Davies
Yeah. We've never seen 3-6-1, have we?
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
who that's called It's got potential, isn't it? I like i like the look of that. Anyway, they have now fashioned unassailable lead at the top of Group G. So well done to them. Uganda are looking good for second spot.
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they will be eyeing a yeah ah playoff place.
00:07:24
Ken Davies
Give
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They beat Botswana in a week. ah So well done to them. Bad news for Mozambique. They have seen their hopes shattered. Not shattered, but taken a real kick in the yeah backside.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because they lost at home to Guinea. Now, Guinea have already kind of they've got no chance. Yeah, they've they've given Ede up. Guinea-ed up. You can tell it's Friday afternoon, can't you?
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, well done to Egypt. Well done to Algeria, also, who beat Somalia 3-0 with goals. Amongst the goals, tell you what, amongst the goalscorers was Riyad Mahrez. Remember him?
00:08:03
Ken Davies
Well, do I. What a player. And that means Algeria qualified, doesn't it?
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, great guy. It does, that's what I mean, yeah. If you've not been listening to the first 30 seconds of this podcast, Kevin, go on, keep up, yeah.
00:08:11
Ken Davies
Definitely, no. That means you'll do Algeria next week, by the way. Executive decision, we'll do Algeria next week too. Because we've done Egypt. We assumed they were going to get through.
00:08:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
We did.
00:08:20
Ken Davies
They did.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we were right.
00:08:21
Ken Davies
Thank God. We're always right on these things. Algeria next week, then.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. OK, very good.
Criticisms & Fan Behavior Discussion
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Elsewhere then in qualifying, lots of games going on in Europe. Obviously, UEFA is miles behind everybody else when it comes to qualifying. A lot of their teams are only really just getting going.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Denmark hits six away at Belarus. Netherlands hits four. Austria hit 10 against San Marino.
00:08:45
Ken Davies
10. can't we do that?
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, including four goals from Marko Anatovic, if you remember him. used to play for West Ham couple years ago.
00:08:53
Ken Davies
Good play.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And who in doing so became Austria's all-time leading goal scorer. So, with I think they've probably scored before.
00:08:59
Ken Davies
with With four.
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think Austria have never scored a goal in any international football, ever.
00:09:07
Ken Davies
That was Hans Frankel, wasn't it? The top Austrian goal scorer. I remember it from the 1978 World Cup. Absolutely magnificent play.
00:09:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. The we're going to talk about just for a moment then, not necessarily for football, was ah England versus Wales. And I messaged you, didn't I?
00:09:23
Ken Davies
Sneaking 3-0 win, I thought. Very lucky 3-0 victory.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, as you know, Ken pretends to be Welsh sometimes when season. ah So he would have been supporting the Dragons until they let in their first goal after about three minutes. And then he probably would have switched sides to England.
00:09:38
Ken Davies
I didn't.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But I messaged you, didn't I, last night saying I would call Wales a pub team, but that's an insult to pub teams.
00:09:40
Ken Davies
You
00:09:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, they were absolutely wretched. They dreadful. What a dreadful sign.
00:09:47
Ken Davies
did. I thought it was going to be about 12-0 after 20 minutes.
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, England just gave up after 3-0. They just literally scored three in the first 20 minutes and played brilliantly.
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And played brilliantly, whatever you want to say.
00:09:56
Ken Davies
amazing.
00:09:57
Ken Davies
Staffed it back.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah then they just kind of gave up. and And so they they had loads of the ball, they attacked loads, but they just never had that intensity again. joe You know, i think internationally, and it was a friendly as well, so it wasn't even a qualifier. And I think the players, whether you want to or not, when you're a footballer, you just subconsciously just dip, don't you?
00:10:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
When a 3-0 after 20 minutes, you just subconsciously just take your fit off the gas.
00:10:16
Ken Davies
yeah And if friendly, the job is done. Why take any risks?
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Mate, if you're three and against Wales at any stage, at any game, the game is done. it doesn't matter what the game is.
00:10:26
Ken Davies
All right. All right.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they were particularly poor, I thought. Really, really poor.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But anyway, that's not what we wanted to talk about.
00:10:30
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:10:31
Ken Davies
Move on.
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
What we wanted to talk about was the fact that after the game, Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, was very critical of the England supporters and the and the atmosphere, or should I say, lack of atmosphere,
00:10:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
there was at Wembley and particularly in the second half where the Welsh crowd, because they had really nothing to look at on a pitch, started getting noisy and rowdy and supporting the teams and England's, and the England fans' response was really just ah just to leave, so get up and go.
00:10:56
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And with about 20 minutes to go, I think the stadium just empties out. Now, it's it's natural I mean, I went to, as you know, I went to the World Cup qualifier. So, I mean, you can argue this is a friendly, so it doesn't really matter.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I went to World Cup qualifier last month went between England Andorra. And loads of people didn't come back after half-time. And it was only 1-0. And that's the World Cup qualifier. And honestly, with 20 minutes to go, um it was at Villa Park.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we were sitting in the north stand. So you're opposite the Holt End, which is the big sort of stand behind the goal. There's just nobody in it. There's just patches all over the place. ah People were just leaving it.
00:11:39
Ken Davies
Well,
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we stayed till the final whistle. And honestly, that we were we were amongst a few thousand. That was it.
00:11:48
Ken Davies
but
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone had gone.
00:11:49
Ken Davies
there's a couple of points to that. Firstly, it was a friendly. Secondly, actually, it's... Tuchel can't really complain because you know it's down to the players on the pitch to keep people entertained.
00:12:02
Ken Davies
And if people aren't going to be entertained and it's said it's a friendly against a relatively poor team, the three nil up, clearly the the intensity completely dropped out the game.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
10 states.
00:12:12
Ken Davies
You know what? The intensity is going to completely drop out of the crowd. One feeds on the other. We see it in football all the time. So, you know, it is it is part of that, but Tuchel can't really complain about that. use' The other thing I think just is a thought I've had for a while.
00:12:26
Ken Davies
I think really, unless we get to a final of something, England fans tend to be club fans. They're interested in their club. They're a lot less interested in their nation.
00:12:40
Ken Davies
Different when we get to the quarterfinals, semifinals, finals of big global competitions. But until that happens in qualification, we're not that excited, really. I think that's true.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they sell out every game. Every England game sellout, but you're right in as much as the atmosphere never great and people leave really early and so how interested are they in the football or are they more interested in just putting something on Instagram and going home again?
00:13:01
Ken Davies
All right,
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. It's a bit... It's a little, it is a little bit weird. Let me let me read you Tuchel said. He said, we could have been five up at halftime. We couldn't score the fourth and fifth goals. And that's true. They could have done. They came very close to scoring more goals.
00:13:19
Ken Davies
all right, all right. all right
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
The stadium was silent. We didn't get any energy back from the stands and we did everything to win. What more? Asked if he could, sorry, asked if he expected more from the fans. He said, yeah, what more can you give in 20 minutes?
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he's got a point. so He's got a point. I mean, I'm not saying... I don't think it's right to say that he's wrong. I think he's got a point.
00:13:45
Ken Davies
Yeah, think he's wrong to say these rightly.
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i equally, like equally ah I take on board everything you said.
00:13:46
Ken Davies
Yeah,
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
You midweek game. there There were issues also with with with the tube and what have you. And...
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interestingly, Tuchel sort of pointed out the fact that the support in Serbia last week, last month rather, was much better when England played over in Serbia.
00:14:03
Ken Davies
and because it was an away game.
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because it's an away game and it's the hardcore it's the hardcore of fans go.
00:14:04
Ken Davies
It's an away game. Exactly.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when you're at away fan, you make more noise anyway.
00:14:11
Ken Davies
Exactly.
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's...
00:14:12
Ken Davies
and but That's always true. Away fans always make more noise than the home fans. They always do.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:17
Ken Davies
I think ah think yeah he's got a point, ah but you know at the end of the day, it's up to him to make to make it entertaining enough for people to stick around.
00:14:28
Ken Davies
What I do like about Tuchel, and I've seen it in a number of occasions now, he's got an opinion and he's not afraid to say it. and he What I like about him, he isn't... one of these politically correct people who just give the these vanilla answers that mean nothing.
00:14:43
Ken Davies
yeah If he's got something on his mind, whether about the attitude of the players, about about the team or about the fans, he's going to say it. And I like that about him and and more power to his elbow Thank you.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I also like it and it taps into one of our kind of hot potatoes at the moment we are going to address on a little bit on here, but more on the Premier League podcast, which is fans are becoming very, very entitled and they seem to think they can behave exactly what they want what how they like, say what they like, abuse anybody they like and not expect anything back.
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I quite like the fact Tuchel said, I don't like any of this.
00:15:17
Ken Davies
yeah
00:15:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
The sports need to make more noise. I like it. i know And I agree with him. And I'm not saying that if I stood in the stadium last night, I would have made any more noise. But I think he's got every right to say it.
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll do.
00:15:27
Ken Davies
Yeah, so do I.
00:15:28
Ken Davies
And what part is our boat? Keep saying it, Thomas.
00:15:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Good man. Right. Okay.
Tunisia's World Cup History & Key Players
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's dig down into Tunisia. So the first thing we're going to do as always, is look at five key players who...
00:15:38
Ken Davies
No, we're not. No, we're not, Nick. The first thing we do is talk about history, form and
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. I always forget about that.
00:15:45
Ken Davies
and ranking.
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know why?
00:15:46
Ken Davies
That's what we do.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I always...
00:15:47
Ken Davies
Yeah, because I do it
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I know. It's not my bit, so I've got to listen to you.
00:15:50
Ken Davies
Yeah, it's my bit.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do apologise. Let me rewind. The first thing we're going as we always do, without fail, and never forget to do, because it's the most important part of podcast, is Ken's going to give us a short, and I mean short, rundown of Tunisia's history in the World Cup and where they are at a moment.
00:16:07
Ken Davies
I will. And it won't honestly, I won't take any longer than about 25 minutes over this. So history.
00:16:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
History.
00:16:12
Ken Davies
You've got to remember, Nick, by the way, you've got to remember that until 1954, Tunisia was considered part of France. It was a French protectorate. Protectorate. um So they didn't they weren't even relevant in relation, well they were relevant, but they weren't actually playing in the World Cup. Their first qualification as an independent nation came in 1978. And in all, they've competed in six World Cups, that's 78, the one we just mentioned, 98, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022.
00:16:38
Ken Davies
ninety eight two thousand and two two thousand six two thousand and eighteen two thousand and twenty two And obviously, they're already qualified for 2026. So it's been a good run recently.
00:16:49
Ken Davies
ah Essentially, ah they have got some noticeable scalps. They were the first Arab African team ever to win a World Cup match. They beat Mexico three one in fact, in their very first game in 1978.
00:17:04
Ken Davies
ah So ah Tunisian football history in the context of the World Cup kind of divided into certain kind of generations. They the golden generation. Every team has a golden generation.
00:17:16
Ken Davies
Theirs was between 1962 and 1978. They essentially went from nothing, really nothing. I mean, Tunisia 11 against the Camels 11 to World Cup.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
but so I think I saw that game.
00:17:29
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I thought, on so because Tunisia won and the Camels weren't happy.
00:17:31
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:17:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
They they got the umber.
00:17:36
Ken Davies
Yay! That's very good. That's very good. But they were... So they qualified in the World Cup in 1978. They were actually officially placed ninth. By the way, the World Cup... FIFA have this weird thing that every team in the World Cup, wherever they go out at, the group stages or whatever, they always get a kind of...
00:17:55
Ken Davies
position in the World Cup. ah And even though they went at the group stages, stage they've never got past the group stages, by the way. They were ranked ninth in 1978. 78 94 bit of a decline. They missed out on six...
00:18:10
Ken Davies
ah AFCON which is the African Cup Nations tournaments they had something of a renaissance a reemergence between 1998 and 2010 under Roger Lemaire as a manager they won the AFCON title in that time And since 2014, they've had another bit of a renaissance. They've had obviously two World Cup qualifications in 2018, 2022, and another one now.
00:18:35
Ken Davies
So things looking up in Tunisian football. You only need to look at the CAF, the African Confederation FIFA qualification this time.
00:18:46
Ken Davies
Group H, particularly. I draw your attention to Group H. ah Tunisia played eight, won seven, lost one, drawn ah tro drawn one, lost zero.
00:18:58
Ken Davies
ah But the opposition in that qualifying group is not the greatest. It consists of Namibia, Malawi, Setome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:19:15
Ken Davies
Now, bless them. They're not exactly at the top of the charts in the FIFA World Rankings, are they?
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
you I reckon even the Camels could have beaten some of those.
00:19:25
Ken Davies
they they They could... of Yeah, I mean, they could kick it a long way, I would imagine. So, just looking at the recent form of last 12 months, which we tend to do, 10 games, won six, drawn one, lost three.
00:19:38
Ken Davies
ah They have lost these to three. They've lost it just to put some context. So you understand where we're coming from at the end of this. They lost to Comoros, who were 105th in the league. Shock 1-0 defeat at home.
00:19:52
Ken Davies
They lost to the Gambia, um who were 115th in the world. Shock 1-0 defeat at home. The only decent team they've really played recently is Morocco, who were in 11th. We covered them the other week.
00:20:04
Ken Davies
They lost 2-0 quite convincingly. They are worse than Morocco. So just to give you a sense of ranking, they are ranked forty six Remember, it's a 48-nation World Cup this time.
00:20:17
Ken Davies
Their all-time high was back in 2018. We mentioned 14th in the world. They've slipped down the rankings really in the last five years, kind stabilized where they are. But they are currently 46th.
00:20:28
Ken Davies
And you know what? They feel forty six in my opinion. So that is a bit history, a bit of form, and a bit of ranking.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I
00:20:35
Ken Davies
And I know how much you love ranking.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
think that's it every week, mate. ah so It's a good bit of context, we fair because their group is particularly bad. There's only one way of making their group worse, and that is if you put whales in it.
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Other than that, they are absolutely, I mean, it's just, but well whales and camels would actually make that group.
00:20:49
Ken Davies
um that way out in camel in saying
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, no, camels would make the group better. Whales would make the group worse. I think, can yeah, so it's all very well saying, yeah, well done qualifying early. I don't think that's an indication of actually how good they are.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no, thank you for that, mate. Thank you for that. It wasn't it wasn't indeed, as you said, it wasn't 25 minutes.
00:21:05
Ken Davies
No.
00:21:11
Ken Davies
I
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just felt like it. Right, let's have a look at that five key players for Tunisia. that Oh, ge do you want do an advert?
00:21:18
Ken Davies
think we should.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Okay, you do advert.
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:21:20
Ken Davies
Because there's 21 minutes gone already.
00:21:23
Ken Davies
And our sponsors will be saying, well, what about us? I mean, what about us?
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
not all right all right government
00:21:28
Ken Davies
So fair enough, because as we know, as Sammy Trevinsky knows, It pays to get your team selection right. And here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery partner.
00:21:38
Ken Davies
And we chose Zencaster because guess what? Zencaster makes it easy to bring your vision to life, share it with your audience or wherever they may be. They could be in Tunisia. wherever they are, with 4K video recording, easy AI editing tools, top tier distribution, and all in one place. And that's the key thing, all in one place.
00:21:57
Ken Davies
If you've got a story to tell, tell it with Zancaster. Check the show notes for more details. Nick, there you go. Off you go. Over to you.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you very much. Right, finally, at the third time of asking, and I'd love to say this is worth the wait, but I'm not sure it's going to be.
00:22:05
Ken Davies
yeah
00:22:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Five key players who are going to light up the world for Tunisia. This is quite difficult.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:22:18
Ken Davies
a
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's quite difficult. And one of the reasons it's difficult is because when Trabelsi took over in January, he He kind of just ripped up the squad and he brought in loads of kind of new players and players who hadn't played for ages and this and the other. He brought like 11 or 12 new players.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And therefore, if you look at the team at a moment, they aren't they don't have many caps. So it's very difficult to sort of see who the real superstars are and and all of that because it's it's it's quite difficult. I'm not going to lie.
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, I've tried to select five, having gone through the entire squad. to, ah just to excite you all. Right, goalkeeper is Amen Dahmer. Now, he is somebody who is the the the number one goalkeeper, has been since 2022, he's 28 years old, plays in the first division of the Tunisian League and he's their goalie.
00:23:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all i got. That's just all got. He's a goalie and he's all right. I mean, you know, he's okay.
00:23:19
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
He does well. He plays
00:23:21
Ken Davies
He's 6'11", you know.
00:23:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not 6'11". He made his debut for... He's not 6'11 at all. He made his debut for the senior national team in 2021 in AFCON and he's been the goalie ever since. So that's him.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:23:35
Ken Davies
Very good.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. ah
00:23:38
Ken Davies
What makes you money for a 5G player, is that?
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah I guess I just should know i did i did ah did dig up something interesting about him. When he when he went to the World Cup in 2022, he played in all of Tunisia's games.
00:23:48
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he went as third choice. He wasn't even meant to play.
00:23:50
Ken Davies
wow
00:23:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's a bit like going to World Cup next summer for England with... i don't even know. Who is our third choice keeper? but Ramsdale? No. Trafford, maybe?
00:24:01
Ken Davies
Crystal Palace
00:24:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, he's number two. Dean Henderson is number two. Anyway, and then finding a complete change in goal of somebody you didn't expect. But anyway, yeah, yeah.
00:24:10
Ken Davies
guy? And he's been in the goalie ever since?
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the only... Well, they didn't get out of the group stage, but he he only conceded one goal.
00:24:15
Ken Davies
No. But he's kept his place ever since, pretty much.
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, and he's kept his place ever since. So, here's your goalie. ah Right, let's move up the pitch little bit and I've gone for the right-back, Jan Valery, 26-year-old right-back. And he I picked him simply because I've heard of him because he plays for Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship.
00:24:31
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
He used to play... for Southampton and he had a bit of a spell of Birmingham. So he's kind of knocked around ah at a high level English football. i'm not going to lie because he played with Southampton in the Premier League and we're going back to 2021.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the championship, for those of you who don't know it, the championship in in England, which is the second tier league below the Premier League, is really good. it's it's It's a high quality of football when you're comparing it to the Tunisian Premier League or other teams that the Tunisian players play for.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think Valery is, you'll have more about him than than some of the other Tunisian players who play in Qatar, who play at the Tunisian leagues and and stuff like that.
00:25:17
Ken Davies
Yeah. It's extremely competitive.
00:25:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if i it's what's extremely competitive.
00:25:23
Ken Davies
It's extremely competitive league.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's, and it is extremely competitive. I think it's more skillful than people give it credit for. ah that I mean, I know you rock watch Rexham and I watch Derby, so we sometimes not treat it to some of those players.
00:25:33
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's how I'm thinking out of it. This isn't processing properly, but I get you.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. and But some of the teams that
00:25:38
Ken Davies
At the higher level, it is.
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, some of the teams the top of the league are really good. They're like they're they're a joy to watch and better to watch than some ah Premier League teams. So he's French-born. He played for France under-17s. He played for France under-18s before switching to his mother's country of birth, which is Tunisia, and breakthrough there in 2022. He's got 12 caps and he's their right back.
00:26:03
Ken Davies
Pretty
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
The captain of the team... is a gentleman called Fejani Sassi. He's a very experienced player, 33 years old. And he also plays for Al Garafa in the Qatar Stars League.
00:26:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got 88 caps, eight goals. He's Genizia's most experienced player by a mile. And if they are going to dig out a single point, even, at the World Cup next year here,
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going to be very important to them because they're going to need that experience because my sense is they're going to go in with a team that's quite inexperienced, not young, but inexperienced ah because these new players that are coming through or players that coming back after a long absence.
00:26:36
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:26:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's going to be he's going to be important to them. And then the last two I've gone for are players who play up top. Mohamed Alias Akouri, and I've picked these because i think they play at kind of the highest level of football players that the Chinese have got outside of the championship.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, so Akuri's 26 plays as a midfielder for, uh, the Danish super league aside, Copenhagen. So again, he was another one who was born in France.
00:27:09
Ken Davies
Thank
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he plays at a decent level. They're all right. You know, it's it's okay. It's not as good as the championship, and but it's all right. 22 caps, two goals. He can play on the left also as a kind of left winger or midfielder.
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
20 on what the formation will be. And then the last one is Elias Saad, who's SAAD, that is. I don't think he's Saad. Let's hope he's not Saad. We don't want him be Saad on a Friday afternoon, do we?
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
25 years old, plays for... so
00:27:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a hard... Mate, it was a hard one.
00:27:42
Ken Davies
I notice Slimani um me pipe um um
00:27:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
You suck on your pipe.
00:27:47
Ken Davies
just tap
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
You suck on your pipe. He's a left winger and he plays in the Bundesliga. So he plays at the highest level.
00:27:52
Ken Davies
jason jason yeah no
00:27:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the highest level of any footballer who plays for the tuition in Tunisian national team. And he plays for FC Augsburg.
00:28:04
Ken Davies
i did notice
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not one of the...
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not one of the... Yeah. Yeah.
00:28:06
Ken Davies
<unk>moni
00:28:08
Ken Davies
ah for Slomani played for Norwich, didn't he? I've never come across him before.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yes, he did. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:28:16
Ken Davies
And also, i have to say, i have seen one of these players.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ye
00:28:19
Ken Davies
um Al Abdi plays for Nice.
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, he made my initial kind of shortlist of eight or nine.
00:28:22
Ken Davies
And I would...
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
i had to whittle down. like I had substitute him in the end, but he but he was on my initial list. You saw him the other week, didn't you, when he played for Nice, when you were there?
00:28:32
Ken Davies
Yeah. Well, actually, I didn't because he was certainly didn't get on the pitch. but he's ah but But plays for Nice. I've seen the the standard of Nice. It's about the championship, as we talked about before.
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did you wave to him and say, I'm not going to talk about you on a podcast soon?
00:28:50
Ken Davies
No, I didn't, actually.
00:28:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, how disappointing.
00:28:51
Ken Davies
I didn't have chance to do that.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
How disappointing. Anyway, Elias Saad only received his first call-up in 2023, made his debut in 2024. He's got four caps. He's got one goal.
00:29:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I mean, he's again, he's a decent player, but he's not he's not going to tear the world up, is he?
00:29:13
Ken Davies
and um They're not lighting your candle at all, are they?
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's face it.
00:29:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not really.
00:29:17
Ken Davies
I've seen people more excited about about fish and chips.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, no, I like fish chips, especially on a Friday.
00:29:23
Ken Davies
Yeah, to those days.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, especially on a Friday. So, no, I don't want to do them down, but they're all kind of just reasonable players. They're all reasonable players. There just isn't much to say. I search, because when I do this, when I do all my research for this, I do several things.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I go through the teams, go through the scores, I look at the players, I look at the caps, and then I also...
00:29:42
Ken Davies
Chat GPT.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I also sort of search for interesting things about them, like news or facts or things that happened in the past or this, that and the other. It takes quite a long time. And I just drew a consistent blank, I'm afraid, with Tunisian players. there isn't much There isn't just much interesting about them other than they're perfectly decent footballers.
00:29:59
Ken Davies
surprise us now unless you win the thing, aren't they?
00:30:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it depends if they're in... Well, Scotland, scotland it like they they they might somehow get to the USA after scabbing a victory against Greece last night.
00:30:10
Ken Davies
might
00:30:13
Ken Davies
ah be That would be an entertaining episode.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:16
Ken Davies
so So if that's your key players, I'll tell you what formationally.
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
What formation do they have?
00:30:23
Ken Davies
I've gone back in time, as I always do, look at my last five games. The last game against Equatorial Guinea, which they wouldn't won 1-0, they played a 4-2-3-1. But forget that. Forget that. That was an aberration.
00:30:34
Ken Davies
Every other game they've played, and that's Liberia at home, which you won 3-0. Morocco away where they lost 2-0 and Burkino Faso where they won 2-0 at home. They've played a 4-3-3.
00:30:46
Ken Davies
The key to this...
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was really hoping you' get really really hopeful you're to play yeah.
00:30:48
Ken Davies
The key to... 4-6-1. 3-6-1. one's played a 3-6-1 ever. apart from Egypt. ah Now, the key to this is what was the line-up away at Morocco?
00:31:00
Ken Davies
Because essentially, Morocco are a good team. They're 11th in the world. They were able the strongest team out against Morocco and the the strongest formation. So I think we can be fairly confident that they're going to be playing the 4-3-3 when they go to America. Diamond in goal, Valery right back,
00:31:18
Ken Davies
Graham, Talbi across the middle, and then Al-Abdi, our friend from Nice. Then Sassi as the right midfield. Laduni in the middle, Medsbury on the left.
00:31:29
Ken Davies
Slimani as the top of the three from Norwich. Chua in the middle, and Achori on the left, left forward, if you like. So so that's their formation. They are always under Sami Trabelski, 4-3-3.
00:31:46
Ken Davies
ah four three
00:31:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good. Well, we look forward to the playing in something else then when we see them next year. Because I think there's going to be a lot of change. I looked at their last game, which was which was just the other day, and it was a game to get them... it No, it wasn't the other... It was the last game that got them into the World Cup. It was a big match.
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And their front three... They did play a 4-3-3, and their front three had a combined total of... Let me just do my maths. 32 caps between them, I think.
00:32:05
Ken Davies
Equatorial.
00:32:16
Ken Davies
Right.
00:32:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Between them. That ain't going to do...
00:32:18
Ken Davies
So it's all for grabs. So we we know that we know the formation, but the personnel could be changing.
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think there's a lot of change. I think i think the manager's coming and it's changing a lot. They haven't got long. They've probably what, where are now?
Listener Feedback & Kenny's Quiz
00:32:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe a couple, maybe four, three or four friendlies now.
00:32:36
Ken Davies
yeah
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ain't got time to start mucking around with him, has he? He ain't got time. Anyway, before we move on to everybody's favourite time of the week, which is, of course, Kenny's quiz, I've had a letter in. I've letter in from our old mate, Angry Matt.
00:32:48
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah.
00:32:51
Ken Davies
Here we go.
00:32:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've had a letter in.
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's... Well, he's done what I did actually. He's got our podcast mixed up because he was listening to the Daily Premier League podcast, but he wrote to us at the World Cup podcast.
00:32:52
Ken Davies
What's the matter with now?
00:32:56
Ken Davies
hot
00:33:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because at the Daily Premier League podcast the other day, it's because he always writes to us the World Cup podcast as well.
00:33:05
Ken Davies
Send him a note back saying, don't know what you're talking about. is about the World Cup.
00:33:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. And I can't start, I can't let him loose on the Daily Premier League podcast as well as, I'll try to keep him contained.
00:33:14
Ken Davies
No, no, no, no. Too important.
00:33:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But the other day on the Daily Premier League podcast, Ken, you and i looked at, if the World Cup was starting tomorrow, what's our best England team?
00:33:26
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:33:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And much to his fury, because those of you who listen to this regularly, he's Nottingham Forest supporter and he's always angry with us because, well, Ken always, we're kidss yeah because we're not yeah Ken's always slagging off Nottingham Forest.
00:33:37
Ken Davies
We're not. Because we're not.
00:33:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And, um, He got very angry with us because Elliot Anderson has been playing for England quite a lot in the last couple of months. Morgan Gibbs-White has been coming off the bench quite a lot.
00:33:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And neither of us mentioned either Anderson or Gibbs-White in our teams for England.
00:34:02
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:34:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, he's kind of got a point about Anderson, but in my opinion, I had Adam Wharton in there because I think Adam Wharton's better player and I don't understand for a moment why Tuchel's not picking him in the squad.
00:34:04
Ken Davies
Yeah, I'm looking back at it.
00:34:11
Ken Davies
You did.
00:34:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know you had. I think you had Rice and Bellingham or something like that. I can't remember.
00:34:19
Ken Davies
I had Anderson.
00:34:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did you?
00:34:22
Ken Davies
I had Anderson as my... I've just checked it now. I had Anderson with Rice as my defensive midfielder.
00:34:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're doing it tonight. ah Can have an Anderson with Rice, please?
00:34:30
Ken Davies
Anderson with Rice. Delicious. Not having fish and chips. We're having Anderson Rice. But Anderson was in was my defensive midfielder. So you can go back to on your maths and say... ah
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, mate, the microphone the the microphone is yours.
00:34:41
Ken Davies
chip yeah me
00:34:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He will be listening to this. He told me in his message he was on a plane.
00:34:45
Ken Davies
yeah
00:34:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He was flying out somewhere. So he'll be on a plane somewhere listening to this. What's your message to him right here, right now?
00:34:54
Ken Davies
My message to you, Andrew Matt, is my England team was Rhys James, Konza, Gehi, Livramento, Anderson, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Eze, Kane, I rest my case.
00:35:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
what i That's not the message.
00:35:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not the message, though. the message is angry about shut your mouth, stop being an idiot.
00:35:11
Ken Davies
I wouldn't be rude like He knows I'm polite always to ah all our listeners.
00:35:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that what
00:35:16
Ken Davies
I'm glad you listen, Angry Matt. But I'm on your side because I'm not a Derby supporter like Nick. That's my message to him.
00:35:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wait for it.
00:35:43
Ken Davies
funky oh yeah it's like chic that's lovely it's lovely
00:35:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
We like that.
00:35:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's our new Kenny's Quiz music. We like that, don't we? It is everybody's favorite time of the week. It is time for Kenny's Quiz. Now, on the back of a resounding success last week where he got three out of three. Yes.
00:36:00
Ken Davies
hmm keep going
00:36:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. Pick your phones up. Pick yourselves up on the floor. Kenny got three out of three last week. So I'm looking for a similar similar result every night.
00:36:08
Ken Davies
I settled for two out three. Tunisia, no homework done, as always. Wouldn't be fair to do any homework.
00:36:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you will get three out three because much like the fact I couldn't find any decent players who played for Genizia, I couldn't find anything really interesting ah to put in a quiz about the place that was gettable.
00:36:23
Ken Davies
I know nothing about Tunisia. I know nothing about Tunisia.
00:36:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was gettable. There's lots of really, really... There's what?
00:36:29
Ken Davies
I don't know anything about Tunisia.
00:36:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did you see... No, I looked at it. there's There's a lot of really interesting history. There's a lot of really interesting stuff about Tunisia, but not something that I could put in a quiz for somebody who doesn't know anything about Tunisia or Indeed.
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
you see what i mean? There is an interesting...
00:36:44
Ken Davies
Try me, try me. We're going to have to call you three questions.
00:36:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I have come up with three. So number one, just as a loosener, I think if if you're playing along at home, by the way, and do play along at home, shout out the answer to this because everybody in the world should get this right because this is a really easy one to start with.
00:37:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
What is the currency of Tunisia?
00:37:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh no.
00:37:09
Ken Davies
I'm going to say, well,
00:37:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh no. I don't like me. don't like that head in head.
00:37:11
Ken Davies
well Well, it can only either be, mainly the euro, it's going to be the franc, because they were French, or the lira, because they're quite an idiot, isn't it? I'm going to say the Tunisian, or is it something stupid like the dinar?
00:37:29
Ken Davies
Why would that be stupid, though? I'm going to say Turkish, no, no, the Libyan, no, it's not Tunisian...
00:37:42
Ken Davies
Frank.
00:37:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
You were so close. You were so close, mate. The answer is the dinar.
00:37:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
You had it. You had it in the palm of your hand. I thought you were toying with me. I thought you knew and you were just toying me by pretending it would be the franc, which, of course,
00:38:01
Ken Davies
wait Where did I get the Dino from? I got it from somewhere, didn't I?
00:38:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
well, Tunisia, I think, because their national currency.
00:38:04
Ken Davies
It must have been a finishing Dino.
00:38:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you're not going to get it from Spain, are you?
00:38:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because would just be the euro.
00:38:09
Ken Davies
No, but where did why did it come in my head?
00:38:11
Ken Davies
Because it's nowhere else, is it, the DINR, is it?
00:38:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no. Oh, mate, that was so close.
00:38:15
Ken Davies
Sorry, mate.
00:38:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
so I kind of even feel you. Right, okay. Number two. What famous movie franchise series used many, many, many locations in Tunisia for its settings?
00:38:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
One of the most famous movie franchises in the entire world ever.
00:38:34
Ken Davies
ah Train spotting. No, no, no. No. i
00:38:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Trace. I'll have to accept your first answer.
00:38:41
Ken Davies
a
00:38:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know the rules. You know the rules of Kenny's quiz.
00:38:45
Ken Davies
ah ah I would imagine because of it's Dunes and stuff like that, it will be Star Wars.
00:38:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Spot on. Good man.
00:39:00
Ken Davies
Good.
00:39:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:39:01
Ken Davies
but
00:39:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
For a yeah for respectable two out three, which would be a good comeback. All right, you stop clapping there. For a respectable two out three and a good comeback, number three, the Tunisian flag features a circle with what inside it?
00:39:18
Ken Davies
We did this.
00:39:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
shout Shout out the That was last week, yeah.
00:39:20
Ken Davies
I've just got... I'm having deja vu now because we had this conversation before, didn't we, about a face in it. It was last week.
00:39:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
it wasn't a It wasn't a conversation that we'd had before.
00:39:27
Ken Davies
This one's on...
00:39:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was like last week's podcast.
00:39:33
Ken Davies
Yeah. But they had a circle with something in it.
00:39:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's what inspired me to ask this question.
00:39:40
Ken Davies
I have no idea.
00:39:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
If it helps you, do you want a clue?
00:39:42
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:39:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I'll give you i'll give you a clue. I'll give you a clue. So last week we talked about Uruguay and it had a face inside a circle on its flag.
00:39:50
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah, it did. Yeah.
00:39:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Your clue is it's not a face in Tunisia.
00:39:57
Ken Davies
So I say i would say a circle circle with a star in it.
00:40:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
What sort of star? give
00:40:10
Ken Davies
star You don't say no.
00:40:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's a bit suspicious. that You just pull that out nowhere as if you're like Googling it on the spot.
00:40:18
Ken Davies
No, I was thinking it's narrow it's an Arabic thing, isn't it? And it's an Arabic country. And I know things like Turkey have got like a crescent moon and a star. And I thought, well, the sun isn't going to have a crescent moon in it. That's too complicated.
00:40:31
Ken Davies
So I thought we might have a star just to recognize that in fact it's Islamic nation.
00:40:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:38
Ken Davies
That sounds plausible to me.
00:40:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
and No, and know that's an acceptable explanation. I'm not sure i'll buy it. I think you were just buying time there whilst you were tapping away, having a look.
00:40:44
Ken Davies
ah My phone's over there.
00:40:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but your computer's right in front of you. Well, I can't see it.
00:40:53
Ken Davies
No chance. no No, no, no, no, no.
00:40:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:40:55
Ken Davies
I got two out of three. And in fact, probably two and a half of three because I did mention Dean. I wish I had a courage in my convictions.
00:41:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
You should have. Yeah, go with your gut, mate. Always go with gut. Yeah, it is indeed star. It's a red flag, Tunisian flag. It's got a circle with a star inside it. So, well done, mate. Two out three. Good comeback.
00:41:12
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:41:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good comeback.
00:41:13
Ken Davies
Thank you. That's good.
00:41:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're bit like Derby. You're a bit like Derby. You only start playing when you're losing. So, well done, mate.
00:41:17
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:41:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good.
00:41:19
Ken Davies
That's pretty good.
00:41:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, before we get on...
00:41:21
Ken Davies
My standard's getting better.
00:41:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it is. You're consistently getting two out three now.
00:41:25
Ken Davies
Excellent.
00:41:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Next week. What are we doing next week? Algeria, did we say?
00:41:29
Ken Davies
Algeria.
00:41:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ho ho ho ho
00:41:31
Ken Davies
OK, it's a circle. What's in the middle of the circle? as you ah Camel, palm tree, oasis. ah I don't know. Castle.
00:41:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh well. We'll just have to roll with it.
00:41:41
Ken Davies
Sanjum.
00:41:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
Coaching & Player Recruitment Strategy
00:41:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's so Let's have a look before we finish with our predictions at the coach, Sammy Trabelsi. He's a centre-half. ah Well, used to be centre-half. He's not anymore, obviously.
00:41:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a centre-half for ah Tunisia. 81 caps as a player between 1991 and 2001. And this is his second spell in charge of the national team. His first was ignominious. That's the only way I could put it.
00:42:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ignominious between 2000 and 2013.
00:42:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he got sacked when his team got kicked out of the group stages of the African Cup of Nations. He went away, disappeared into club management, did all right in Qatar, all of that kind of stuff.
00:42:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Came back into the Tunisian national setup and he's been in charge for six games and he's won five of them. But as we discussed earlier on, Not the greatest opposition in World Cup qualifying, but you can only beat what's in front of you, my friend.
00:42:33
Ken Davies
Not regretting it.
00:42:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Five out six wins, so maybe this time things are going to look a little bit better for him. Now, interestingly, on a wider sense, this kind of taps into him, but also the wider Tunisian FA.
00:42:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are on a drive at the moment to find the, I guess what you could call the footballing ah diaspora of Tunisian players because they think they recognise that They need players who play in Europe if they're going to improve.
00:43:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they look, i think I think this is one of the reasons why we're starting to see this churn of players. And the fact you've got the players that I mentioned, Saad was born in Germany.
00:43:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Akuri was born in France. And Valery was born in France. So you can so kind of see where I'm going here. See where I'm going here with this.
00:43:24
Ken Davies
France.
00:43:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not for minute.
00:43:28
Ken Davies
Well, I would be if I was head of Tunisian FA, because there's a lot Tunisians in France.
00:43:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so yeah so they're looking at they're looking at players who are of Tunisian descent who qualify for them who are playing in Europe.
00:43:39
Ken Davies
Makes sense, we've seen it make sense for other teams when they've done that.
00:43:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's that's almost my most interesting fact about Tunisian football today.
00:43:46
Ken Davies
and That was barely interesting.
00:43:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've saved it to a few. Yeah, i I thought it was. It's part of a broader long-term strategy I've written down here. Broader long-term strategy aimed at strengthening the the team's depth and competitiveness ahead of the World Cup next year. And goodness me, they need to strengthen their depth and competitiveness.
00:44:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken, are they're going to get on? Oh, have you ever done that?
00:44:05
Ken Davies
Well, before we get to that, we're about to do this.
00:44:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do not do that yet? Oh, mate, yeah.
00:44:09
Ken Davies
Bionique, Global Sports Podcast Networks, partner with Bionique. We can't forget them. The world's most personalized supplements because Bionique deliver because your body is unique. Yours is, Nick.
00:44:22
Ken Davies
Because without knowing what deficiencies you have, taking off the shelf supplements mean you're probably not getting enough of the nutrients you need. Nick, you're not getting enough of them. And you're getting in too many of the things you don't need. And we all know that's true.
00:44:34
Ken Davies
Bionique provides 100.
00:44:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, I keep looking at you doing this podcast.
00:44:38
Ken Davies
But I need to provide 100% tailor-made supplements designed to deliver precisely what your body needs at exactly the right level. Well, they'd be prescribing me a pint of Guinness right now. To optimize your health, no guessing.
00:44:51
Ken Davies
Click the link on the show notes. Use the code jspn twenty twenty five You'll get 40% off your first discount off your order, ah you discount off your first order. Just arrange those words in any way it works for you.
00:45:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:45:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you want to try that again? You get 40% off what? Your discount of your order of your first order.
00:45:08
Ken Davies
of all the discount of the first order.
00:45:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent.
00:45:17
Ken Davies
Yeah, thanks.
00:45:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very we good. Well, enjoy your pint of Guinness with your Anderson and Rice later on.
00:45:18
Ken Davies
six
00:45:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sure it'll be very nice. Okay, we're going to finish this rather chaotic episode of Road to World Cup 26, which is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for making us... Your specialist World Cup resource, which I'm sure you do.
00:45:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're fairly new to the podcast, check it out. We've got, this is episode 31. There's 30 other episodes of Ken and i doing this. i know, bringing wisdom to you.
00:45:46
Ken Davies
And I call it surprising.
00:45:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But all the teams are qualified, no no, no, we're right on top of this because all the teams that are qualified, we've done a deep dive into. So pick your team.
00:45:53
Ken Davies
We have.
00:45:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wherever you are, whether you're driving around, whether you're walking around, whether you' on a plane like and Angry Matt, pick a team, download it, settle down and learn and enjoy. Right, we're going to finish this podcast by doing some
Tunisia's World Cup Prospects
00:46:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
predictions.
00:46:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken, how do you think Tunisia will get on in the World Cup 2026?
00:46:14
Ken Davies
ah poorly I think is the answer I've got going out in the group stages I was looking at the list of all the predictions we've made earlier of 30 or maybe 25 teams that we've already picked from we've had very few teams going out in the group stages at correction this is the 22nd this is only the third team I've said is going out in the group stages so clearly something's gone badly wrong there But I think they are going out in the big stages.
00:46:43
Ken Davies
Heat might be an advantage. They used to play in very hot weather, obviously in Tunisia. And that's probably their only advantage because we know it's been fairly hot when you played in the World Cup. they I think their best chance their best chance of winning is if there's a meteorite strike that kills all the of other teams. a Then and only then, I think, do they have a chance of making it to the later stages of the World Cup.
00:47:06
Ken Davies
I've got them going out in the group stages. They're 46th for a reason. they probably They're probably not even 46th. So I think they're going to be yeah they're going to be they're going to be just fodder for the other teams to beat.
00:47:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's a bit pessimistic, isn't it?
00:47:23
Ken Davies
Yes, I'm optimistic, actually.
00:47:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
this Goodness mate. Goodness me. Well, I'm sorry, Tunisian fans, that you had to sit through that and Ken absolutely slating your team. ah my prediction, you'll be glad to hear, is exactly the same.
00:47:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're rubbish. And they'll go out in the group stages and that's all I have to say about them. Goodbye. Thank you very much for listening. ah No, I don't really give them much of a hope for all the reasons we've talked about. Well done for getting there.
00:47:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got you got a very lucky group, but you've taken advantage of it. That's the end of it. That's as far as it's going to go. If you can get point, you can get draw out of your three games in your group stages, you would have done well.
00:48:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you can get two draws, would have done even better. But I don't think any of it's going to be enough to take you through to the round of 32. So, and I think if if your only hope and your best hope is either intense heat or a meteorite, we are rather clutching at straws, Kenny, aren't we?
00:48:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're rather clutching
00:48:20
Ken Davies
like so Or maybe draw in New Caledonia in the first first game. um So we're off to Algeria next time, which is, i think, a neighbour of Tunisia.
00:48:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's neighbour. Yeah, it's one of only... Maybe I should maybe maybe i should have that in my quiz. What are the two countries, by the way, that border Tunisia?
00:48:35
Ken Davies
I would say Algeria and Morocco.
00:48:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, Morocco doesn't. Morocco's further west.
00:48:40
Ken Davies
Okay. Algeria and Libya.
00:48:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Algeria and Libya is the answer.
00:48:46
Ken Davies
Get in.
00:48:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it wasn't in Kenny's quiz and you didn't get it right. So, you know, a good guy.
00:48:50
Ken Davies
Don't even
00:48:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is Algeria and Libya. And might as well finish off on this theme. What sea... No, not even to go down that way. Right. No, I'm not even going to do that.
00:49:01
Ken Davies
don't even do that. It's
00:49:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
What sea is on the coast of Tunisia?
00:49:06
Ken Davies
the Mediterranean.
00:49:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i was go to ah got I got the question wrong. I was going to say what body of water is on it. And then soon as I said sea, the answer is always going to be Mediterranean, isn't it? It's not going to be anything else.
00:49:15
Ken Davies
It is when there's only a desert behind you, yeah.
00:49:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
was going to say what Yeah, I was going to say what body of water, then I mucked the question up. Anyway, doesn't even matter. ah Thank you very much for sticking with us. If you want to get hold of us, you can get hold of us via email on roadtoworldcup26 at gmail.com.
00:49:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can find us on Spotify. You can find us on YouTube. You can find us all over the place, wherever you get your podcasts. You find us on social media. Drop us a line. Keep in touch. In fact, do drop us a line because sick of hearing from Angry Matt all the time.
00:49:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Do drop us a line and it'd be great to hear from you. And of course, as you know, if you do, you'll get featured on the show and we'll read out you you'll read out your letters and all of those kind of things. Right, that brings an end to this thrilling episode.
00:49:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've had fun, have we not, Ken?
00:49:56
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah, we always have fun. We love the Rhodes World Cup. It's it's like a breath fresh air. It's like a blood transfusion.
00:50:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It isn't.
00:50:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:50:05
Ken Davies
Maybe overstating it slightly. Bye-bye.
00:50:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so, yeah. A strange analogy, but it's good fun anyway. So we enjoy Hope you've enjoyed it. Until next time, we shall meet again in Algeria. Look after yourselves, look after each other. Goodbye.
00:50:19
Ken Davies
ah by