The final game in a set of friendlies this week featuring North African teams taking on European opposition sees Tunisia square off against 2010 champions Spain in the southern city of Krasnodar this weekend.
Spain are in Group B alongside Morocco, Portugal and Iran, and Tunisia have already played two of those three teams in the last three months. They beat Iran 1-0 in March and came from behind to draw 2-2 with European holders Portugal in Braga last week. This will be Spain’s final friendly before the World Cup and La Furia Roja will be keen to fine tune their preparations.
Spanish manager Julien Lopetegui has added youngsters Jesus Vallejo and Rodrigo Hernandez to his squad ahead of the Tunisia friendly, with the duo set to train with the team for gaining valuable experience. Neither were in the original 23 named by Lopetegui, who chose to leave many big name players out of the plane to Russia- Chelsea’s trio of Alvaro Morata, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro were excluded and so were Bayern’s Javi Martinez and Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin.
Spain’s final 23 member World Cup squad (by club)
Nearly three quarters of the squad ply their trade domestically. Champions League winners Real have six representatives while Barcelona and Atleti are next with four and three respectively.
Real Madrid (6)- Ramos, Nacho, Carvajal, Isco, Asensio, Lucas
Barcelona (4)- Pique, Alba, Iniesta, Busquets
Atletico Madrid (3)- Saul, Koke, Diego Costa
Man City (1)- David Silva
Man Utd (1)- David de Gea
Napoli (1)- Pepe Reina
Celta (1)- Aspas
Valencia (1)- Rodrigo
Bilbao (1)- Kepa
Bayern (1)- Thiago Silva
Arsenal (1)- Monreal
Chelsea (1)- Azpi
Sociedad (1)- Odriozola
The Spanish go into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Odriozola’s superb strike saw them take the lead in Villarreal, but a very uncharacteristic error from David de Gea allowed Ricardo Rodriguez to snatch a second half equaliser for the Swiss.
Despite several big names missing and an embarrassing campaign last time around, pundits reckon Spain can go all the way in Russia. They are third favourites for the tournament behind Brazil and Germany. If you’re putting some money on La Furia Roja to repeat their 2010 triumph, be sure to do it at a recognised bookmaker- for example, TopBet is in a nopay mode currently, while others like Bet365 payout rather quickly. Do not forget to do your research.
One has to go back all the way to 2006 for the last meeting between Spain and Tunisia. The two teams were in Group H for the World Cup then (Tunisia’s last WC appearance), and La Roja ran out 3-1 winners thanks to a brace from Fernando Torres. Sergio Ramos is the only survivor from that playing XI for Spain.
Tunisia have drawn both their WC warm up friendlies going into this clash with Spain. Anice Badri netted in both games for the Carthage Eagles, who have been drawn alongside England, Belgium and Panama in Group G. They are coached by Nabil Maaloul and will be looking to the likes of Wahbi Khazri and Yohan Benalouane to help them qualify from what looks like a very tough group.
Tunisia v Spain kicks off at 19.45 UK on 9 June in Krasnodar, Russia.