So Tunisia, FIFA now ranking 21st ....highest 12! England 12th at the moment.
The country did not develop a national side until around 1928, when a considerable influence from France got players playing. The national association was affiliated to the French FA as white colonials living in the urban areas developed clubs. Italians, Spaniards, Jews and Maltese arriving at the North African ports helped form clubs such as Esperance and Club Africain.
The present national manager, Nabil Maaloul was the manager of Esperance before taking on the national side having had success in the Tunisian league. His first stint as manager ended after a defeat by the Cape Verde Islands on the way to 2014 World Cup. The result was eventually overturned because the opposition had an ineligible player-Maaloul-did not change his mind. Last year the Tunisian FA made a plea to him to return, which he did and with success. He is 28th "best/worst"?? paid manager out of the 32 WC clubs.
Gaining Independence in 1956 the Tunisian Football Federation was founded and joined FIFA in 1957. In 1960 they played in the Olympics, the nations first official international match.
They have recently draw with Portugal 2-2, Turkey 2-2 and lost to Spain 1-0. There are two "stars" Wahbi Khazri on loan at Sunderland and Yohan Benalouane also on the fringe at Leicester.
To qualify for the finals they played two leg ties in Africa and beat on aggregate, Guinea (6-1), Libya (1-0), Congo DR (4-1) and Mauritania (4-2)
Let's hope the bugs don't bite......
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/18/bugs-strife-swarms-cause-chaos-in-volgograd
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