The AFCON: Another Test for Talbi's Teammates - Do They Have What It Takes?
The Press — The years go by, and the national team's story remains the same. Poor performances in official tournaments, one training session after another, and the same reality of a team expected to do well, but stumbles from one test to another. In preparation for the Morocco AFCON, Sami Trabelsi and his players have begun their final training session in Tabarka, with a reduced squad initially, awaiting the staggered arrival of players retained by their European clubs. This is the classic ritual that repeats itself: players who are present from the start of the training session, others who join gradually, with a workload that increases slowly. In just one week, or a little more, it's challenging for a coach to work on everything. It's true that this group knows each other well and has been working together for a good period, which is their greatest advantage. There are no significant new additions to the list and retained squad. Practically, the expected names are there, with some remarks to be made about the presence of certain "faithful customers" who are always part of the team, whether they play well or poorly. However, overall, Trabelsi has chosen continuity, a core team that he likes and that helped him reach the World Cup without conceding a single goal. There will be no experimentation in this AFCON for Trabelsi, who is forced to find the right formula this time, or risk being let go.
Recovery
The players who participated in the Arab Cup were subjected to recovery and conditioning exercises after playing three matches in Doha. The likes of Sassi, Meriah, Chaouat, Dahman, Maâloul, Ben Romdhane, Tka, Ben Ali, Farhati, Bechir Ben Saïd, Jaziri, and Gharbi have an edge over the others. They are not all undisputed starters, except for maybe three elements, but they have received special care at all levels. Those who arrive one by one are the backbone of this selection. The Mejbri, Mastouri, Skhiri, Saâd, Achouri, Bronn, Talbi, and Abdi are the masterpieces of the national team today. Keeping them physically and mentally fit for this AFCON is the concern of the technical staff. This group is well aware that the poor performance in the last AFCON is not yet forgotten, and that the one in the Arab Cup is still fresh in the minds of the supporters. Reaching the second round is now our dream, given the circumstances. This says a lot about the current context of the Tunisian team.
