TUNISIA were the first African side to record a victory at the World Cup. At the 1978 edition in Argentina, the Tunisians beat Mexico 3-1 in Rosario to make history for their continent. Incidentally, that was their first-ever game at world football’s showpiece match. Since then, and now at their fifth World Cup, Tunisia have failed to taste s single win.

On Saturday, that statistic needs to change if they are to have any chance of prolonging their stay in Russia. Following a 2-1 defeat to England in their Group ‘H’ opener, they face World Cup darkhorses Belgium in a must-win match at the Spartak Stadium on Saturday. Belgium, though, have never lost to African opposition at the World Cup. Tunisia and Belgium met in the group stage of the 2002 edition where they played out a 1-1 draw.

Tunisia almost nicked a point against England but were undone by Harry Kane’s second goal of the match, his second from a corner, in a 2-1 loss. It wasn’t plain sailing for England as Tunisia proved stubborn opponents and Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel is expecting more of the same.

“They are a good team physically and we’re expecting a tense match,” Witsel said at the pre-match press conference on Friday. “Technically they are very good and this is one of their last chances to qualify so it will not be easy.”

Witsel and coach Roberto Martinez showed greater pragmatism at the press conference than full-back Thomas Meuneir who on Thursday said Belgium should “go for the throat” to kill the game off early and “not bother about what Tunisia are going to do”.

Those comments are sure to fire up Tunisia and Martinez demanded more concentration from his side. “We have to be very focused,” he said at on Friday. “They are a team who play fast and have great individual qualities. They are also tactically very sharp and it will be a test for us.”

Belgium were unable to get past Panama in the first half of their opening match before Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku, who scored twice, saw them to a 3-0 victory over them World Cup debutants. Their current squad has for long been hailed as their golden generation yet it risks failing to live up to the hype surrounding it. Witsel said he believes the squad now is more mature than it was in Brazil four years ago.

“We have more experience than in Brazil,” he said. “We have been working together for a long time and that helped us against Panama. The first game is never easy but we remained calm and were able to find means to win.”

The World Cup in Russia was the first to feature four Arab teams. And with Morocco, Egypt and Saudi Arabia all out, Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul admitted his side were keen to do well.

“No doubt the eyes of the Arab world are now on us,” Maaloul said at the news conference on Friday. “We cannot afford to lose tomorrow. We do feel the pressure. Belgium are a team to be reckoned with. We know that they are a strong team and we will be able to avoid mistakes.”

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2018