Tunisia coach says his team is feeling pressure

Tunisia’s Anice Badri runs with the ball during a game of handball during a training session for the 2018 soccer World Cup, at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. Tunisia play England in a group G match in Volgograd, Monday June 18. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

It’s daunting enough for a smaller country with less of a track record to take on a team like England. But Tunisia’s taking pressure to another level.

Coach Nabil Maaloul has said ahead of Monday’s opening match against England that his team is carrying not only the hopes of 12 million Tunisians but also those of Africa as a whole and of the Arab world.

African teams have made a disappointing start to the World Cup. Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria have lost their first matches. Senegal plays Poland on Tuesday.

On the other hand, Maaloul said England players are having to contend with higher expectations. That’s why he expects the match in Volgograd to be tight.