Tunisia scarred by five-goal hiding

TUNISIA have the chance of winning their first World Cup match in 40 years tonight.

But manager Nabil Maaloul says some of his players are yet to mentally recover from last week’s 5-2 defeat by Belgium.

In 1978, Tunisia became the first African nation to win a match in the finals, beating Mexico in Argentina.

They have drawn four and lost nine since.

“There is no doubt it is a difficult game

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because my team are feeling down,” said Maaloul.

“I tried to boost their spirits but this was difficult. Some of my players have not overcome that defeat.

“All are playing for the first time in the World Cup and they want to have a positive result for this to be a great memory.” It will be the first meeting between Tunisia and Panama and securing third place in England’s group would be some consolation.

Tunisia will likely start with third-choice goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi because of injury. They have asked FIFA to allow standby keeper Moez Ben Cherifia to join the squad. Panama defender Felipe Baloy has one more target before his international career ends at 37. After scoring his country’s first goal at its first World Cup in the defeat by England, Baloy would now like to experience Panama’s first victory on football’s greatest stage. “We hope to win as a gift to our people,” said Baloy. ROBERTO MARTINEZ made the startling admission that winning tonight’s match against England is “not his priority”.

Unlike Gareth Southgate, who wants to see his side maintain their momentum, the Belgium manager is not bothered about finishing top of Group G and will treat it as “a celebration game”, one in which he will make several changes.

Kevin De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Meunier will be left out because they are all a caution away from missing the last 16, while Romelu Lukaku will not get the chance to improve his hopes of winning the Golden Boot because he has not fully recovered from an ankle injury he suffered in their opening win over Panama.

Chelsea star Eden Hazard and Napoli striker Dries Mertens are also set to be left out after picking up minor injuries.

One player who will definitely play tonight is goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but Martinez wants to give IN KALININGRAD his squad men minutes in case they are needed later in the tournament.

Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen – who should both be qualified to write for the Lancet considering all their injury problems over the years – will start as the centre-back pairing, Marouane Fellaini and Mousa Dembele will be the midfield engine room and Chelsea reject Michy Batshuayi will lead the line.

Martinez has only lost one of his 18 matches as Belgium boss but judging by his tone he will not be too upset if he suffers a second setback.

“At the moment we are qualified and that was the priority,” he said. “Now we need to look at individual players tomorrow and we want to perform well. But the priority is not to win, that’s the reality of the situation.

“The players with yellow cards, I don’t think it would be professional to put those players in. Other players have been in very demanding games. I