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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Man Utd's Hannibal Mejbri facing peculiar World Cup challenge amid "phenomenal" season

At every World Cup, there is always one nation that stuns the tournament.

In Qatar, there's every chance that country could be Tunisia. The African team have done well in recent tournaments and boasts Hannibal Mejbi - a talented 19-year-old midfielder from Premier League giants Manchester United - to give them plenty of star quality.

That being said, it will be difficult for Jadel Kadri's side to progress from Group D. They must overcome defending champions France, Denmark and Australia to reach the last 16. Yet Tunisia know Qatar's glossy new stadiums well and will be keen to cause an upset.

Tunisia were one of the 16 nations to compete in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup. The tournament was held in Qatar as a practice event for the World Cup - replacing the now-defunct Confederations Cup - and featured the likes of Morocco, Egypt and Algeria.

Tunisia more than held their own in the Arab Cup, going all the way to the final at the Al Bayt Stadium thanks to the goals of Seifeddine Jaziri. The 29-year-old striker scored four goals to snatch the Golden Boot - and he's in Tunisia's squad for the World Cup.

Sadly for Tunisia, they lost the final 2-0 to Algeria in extra time. Yet the fact they went all the way to the final - playing at five different World Cup grounds - suggests they've prepared well. Only three other World Cup teams featured in the Arab Cup.

Hannibal Mejbri is one of Manchester United's brightest talents (AFP via Getty Images)

Do you think Tunisia can go far in the World Cup? Let us know in the comments below!

One of Tunisia's best players at the Arab Cup was Mejbri. The French-born teenager dedicated much of his 2021/22 campaign to playing for Tunisia - rejecting the chance to complete a loan spell and make himself available for the duration of the Arab Cup.

By doing that, Mejbri already has 18 senior caps under his belt and is prepared to play in the biggest international tournament of them all. The youngster is highly rated at Old Trafford, winning United's Reserve Player of the Year award in May 2021.

Mejbri is currently completing a loan spell at Birmingham City, where he's wracked up 15 Championship appearances to date. He's shown plenty of aggression, skill and tenacity in England's brutal second tier - and he won't fear the likes of Kylian Mbappe in Qatar.

Wahbi Khazri is a former Premier League star (AFP via Getty Images)

"The way he has played in the last couple of games has been phenomenal," said Birmingham City boss John Eustace in October. "He has broken records for total distance, all that kind of stuff... He is a cracking young player, we are very fortunate to have him here.

"The most pleasing thing is that work rate. He has come from Manchester United with a big reputation. But to earn the right to play, earn the right to do anything you have to work hard. And to play in this team as well you need a team of workers.

"He has come in, he has shown he is very hungry, he has got that desire to work hard, the effort is there. He is doing very well at the moment. I haven’t seen him tired yet... at the moment he is playing fantastically well."

Tunisia reached the final of the Arab Cup last year - a pre-World Cup tournament held in Qatar (Getty Images)

Led by captain Youssef Msakni, Tunisia have some other decent players in their ranks. Midfielder Naim Sliti has previously represented Lille, while right-back Mohamed Drager is on the books at Nottingham Forest (currently on loan at Swiss club Luzern).

Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri is a regular at German side Cologne, and Premier League fans may remember Wahbi Khazri. The Tunisian spent 18 months at Sunderland and put in several impressive performances to help them avoid relegation during the 2015/16 campaign. Khazri was powerless to stop them from suffering the drop 12 months later, however.

Tunisia are the bookies' favourites to finish bottom of Group D and have never reached the knockout stages of a World Cup, but they shouldn't be written off. Kadri's side will be confident of picking up a positive result against Australia, especially if Mejbri turns up.

Tunisia will also be boosted by the absence of Karim Benzema, who suffered a thigh injury on the eve of the tournament. France boss Didier Deschamps still has Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele to call on, mind you.

Denmark, meanwhile, are in good form. Kasper Hjulmand's side, blessed with the likes of Kasper Schmeichel and Christian Eriksen, recorded back-to-back wins against France in the Nations League. They also reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

Despite the odds being stacked against them, Tunisia won't give up. They've got some exciting players and know Qatar's stadiums well thanks to the Arab Cup. The Tunisians will be desperate to make history on international football's biggest stage.

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