Tunisia boss Jalel Kadri may only have a few hours left in the job – at least if he sticks to his own promise to step down if he could not secure what would be Tunisia’s first progression beyond the group stages.
Asked about that pledge on Tuesday, Kadri said: ‘Let’s wait for the result of the match and we will see. We are people who bear responsibility and hopefully I will be able to answer your question after the match.’
Kadri admitted to making tactical mistakes in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Australia which has left them bottom of the group, their hopes of progressing out of their hands even if they win on Wednesday.
Tunisia boss Jalel Kadri promised to quit if he failed to take the African side out the group stage
‘We weren’t very lucky with some tactical decisions we took during the match against Australia,’ Kadri said. ‘Unfortunately this is football and we bear responsibility for those choices. The message I would convey to the players is that nothing is impossible and we are still alive.’
Ten members of the Tunisia squad were born in France but one of that number – Montassar Talbi – said they would put their emotions surrounding this fixture to one side.
‘I was born in France, I have a lot of friends in France, but it’s still a football match at the end of the day,’ the Lorient defender said. ‘Even the players born in France, we are wearing the Tunisia shirt and we will give our all.
‘It is a special match for our families in France but as a player you always want to play as well as you can and represent your country.’
