Tunisia ready for debut

French coach Roger Lemerre led Tunisia to the 2004 Nations Cup

Tunisia's debut appearance at the Confederations Cup is in no small part down to Roger Lemerre, who as coach has transformed the side from perennial also-rans to African champions.

Lemerre, who won the 2001 Confederations Cup with France, took control of Tunisia after France's poor World Cup in 2002, and enjoyed a professional salvation of his own when the Carthage Eagles captured last year's African Nations Cup.

That was Tunisia's first major silverware, and they will be out to show they are no one-hit wonders with a strong showing in Germany.

We're ready to take on anyone Tunisia's Rahdi Jaidi

"We're not here to make up the numbers, we aim to trouble the big teams," Lemerre insisted.

The Tunisians arrive in Germany fresh from beating Guinea 2-0 in a 2006 World Cup qualifier on Saturday, that victory means they are just one point behind Morocco in Group Five.

Defender Radhi Jaidi, who plays for English Premiership side Bolton, claimed: "We're ready to take on anyone."

That's just as well perhaps as Tunisia's first date is with South American giants Argentina in Cologne on Wednesday.

Their other Group A opponents are hosts Germany and Australia.

Jaidi added: "We now have players who are based in the top European leagues and who have shed their fear of the opposition."

One of the main architects of Tunisia's success on home turf in 2004 was Francileudo dos Santos.

The 26-year-old Brazilian-born naturalised Tunisian ended up as joint top scorer at the 2004 African Nations Cup with four goals, including the first in Tunisia's 2-1 win over neighbours Morocco in the final.

Santos is in no doubt about the part Lemerre, who won the 2000 European Championship with France, has played in Tunisia's revival.

"I think that because of Roger Lemerre, we will reap the fruits of all his work in the future," said the striker who last month joined French first division side Toulouse.

French-born Hamed Namouchi, who plays in Scotland for Rangers, has linked up with the squad after missing Tunisia's 3-1 win over Botswana in a World Cup qualifier on 4 June.

Group B at the tournment sees World champions Brazil up against Japan, Greece and Mexico.

Tunisia's Confederations Cup squad:

Goalkeepers:
Ali Bouminjel (Club Africain), Hamdi Kasraoui (Esperence), Khaled Fadhel (Diyarbakispor, Turkey)

Defenders:
Alaeddine Yahia (Saint Etienne, France), Wissem Abdi (C.S Sfaxien), Hatem Trabelsi (Ajax, Holland), Radhi Jaidi (Bolton Wanderers, England), Anis Ayari (Samsunspor, Turkey), Jose Clayton (Esperance), Amir Haj Massaoud (C.S Sfaxien)

Midfielders: Mehdi Nafti (Birmingham City, England), Adel Chadli (Istres, France), Slim Ben Achour (Paris St Germain, France), Kaies Ghodhbane (Samsunspor, Turkey), Jawhar Mnari (Nurnberg, Germany), Hamed Namouchi (Rangers, Scotland), Karim Essediri (FC Tromso, Norway)

Forwards:
Ziad Jaziri (Gatzonspor/TUR), Imed Mhadhebi (Etoile Sahel), Haykel Guemamdia (C.S Sfaxien), Francileudo dos Santos (Toulouse, France), Chouki Ben Saada (Bastia, France), Issam Jomaa (Lens, France)