Tunisia will join Costa Rica in Russia to compete in the 2018 FIFA World Cup this June, but first the two sides will compete in an international friendly on March 23, 2018, at 2 PM ET at the Allianz Rivera in Nice, France.
D.C. United’s Ulises Segura is on international duty with the Ticos and remained an unused substitute in Costa Rica’s 1-0 victory against Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow, United Kingdom last week, but the Costa Rican midfielder will have another opportunity to earn his seventh cap for the Ticos on Tuesday.
Costa Rica Outlook
The Ticos are coming off of a notable World Cup qualification run, in which they defeated the USMNT twice and tied the would-be leaders of the qualification group, Mexico.
Most recently, the Ticos secured a clean sheet victory over Scotland on March 23, 2018, despite being statistically out-performed in shots (11-8), saves (3-1), possession (51%-49%), and corner kicks (6-4). The Costa Ricans found the back of the net and their game-winner in the 14th minute, though, after Bryan Oviedo found an unmarked Marco Ureña in the box for a one-timed finish.
As the Ticos look to earn their second win in five days, Segura will look to make another appearance for his country before returning to the District and rejoining the Black-and-Red.
Tunisia Outlook
The Tunisians secured their first spot in the World Cup since 2006 with an impressive qualification group record of 4-0-2. The Tunisians finished with 14 points, one point above the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and with a +7 goal differential.
With the World Cup ahead, Tunia manager Nabil Maaloul remains focused on comprising the strongest roster possible this summer. He made a number of major call-ups for Tunia's friendlies in preparation of this summer's big stage, including Ellyes Skhiri of the Ligue 1 side Montpellier HSC, Mouez Hassen of Ligue 2 side Châteauroux, Seif-Eddine Khaoui of Ligue 1 side AC Troyes, and Yohan Benalouane of the English Premier League’s Leicester City.
Tunisia fashioned a 1-0 victory over Iran in their most recent friendly. However, the team failed to score, as the only goal in the fixture was the result of an own goal from Iran’s Milad Mohammadi in the 71st minute of the contest. The Tunisians remain on a bit of a hot streak, though, having not lost a fixture in their previous five matches, sporting a 3-0-2 record.
History
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two countries.
