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SV: Tunisian soccer team manager Abdelmajid Chetali at press conference in French.
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CU: Chetali speaking to newsmen. (7 SHOTS)
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Initials JS/1810


SPORT: SOCCER (WORLD CUP)

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: World Cup soccer...Tunisia's team manager, Abdelmajid Chetali, has said his team could not expect to win anything in Argentina. Speaking in Rosario, Argentina, on Thursday (1 June) the eve of his team's opening match against Mexico, Chetali refused to underestimate the strength of the opposition to Tunisia in the World Cup finals.

SYNOPSIS: Tunisia's match against mexico was begin regarded an affair of prestige, rather than one which would have any impact on the World Cup competition. Chetali told newsmen that the Tunisian team had fulfilled its dreams merely by reaching the finals series for the first time. He said: "Our goal was to get to the finals. We can't expect to win anything". He praised the Mexican team, saying it was very strong both physically and tactically. Chetali said Mexico were now playing like some of the top European sides, where the Tunisian approach was more reminiscent of the mediterranean style, like Spain or Italy. Most Tunisian players, he said, were part-time, with only a few professionals on good salaries.

Tunisia are playing in group two, which includes Poland and the defending champions, West Germany. Chetali said Mexico and Tunisia were lucky to be meeting each other early in the competition, because they were fairly evenly matched. It is probably the only finals game either team can hope to win.

The Tunisian manager said five teams had a chance of winning the trophy: Brazil, Argentina, West Germany, Holland and Scotland. But he also praised France, who he said could play an important part in the World Cup. He particularly praised the French mid-field player Platini. Chetali believes Scotland have the best chance of winning the trophy because of the team's fighting spirit, and because the Scots were the only team unbeaten in the 1974 finals. He said Tunisia had not made exhaustive preparations for the finals-it was not worth a lot of preparation he added. Chetali has led Tunisia for three years, and is given much of the credit for getting them into the finals.