Tunisia show they will be no pushovers with second battling draw

TUNISIA gave Gareth Southgate another glimpse of their fighting qualities in a 2-2 draw against Turkey in Geneva.

But it was the fighting qualities of Cenk Tosun which dominated the friendly, the Everton striker being sent off in the second half for trying to pick a fight with supporters.

Tosun had given the Turks the lead against the team who will be England’s first World Cup opponents, in Volgograd on June 18.

Anice Badri (right) equalised before Tosun was dismissed after becoming embroiled in a row with sections of the crowd.

Tosun had to be held back by team-mates while gesticulating towards the seats, before the referee produced the red card.

Reports in Turkey claimed that supporters had thrown fireworks, with some hitting the striker’s father and other family members who had made the trip to Switzerland to watch the game. Tosun later apologised for his reaction, saying he saw his father being threatened but insisted his gesture was ‘unworthy’ of a Turkey captain.

Tunisia skipper Ferjani Sassi took advantage of the extra man to put his side ahead in the 79th minute but they could not hold on, with Caglay Soyuncu equalising for the 10-man Turks, which prompted a pitch invasion.

It still represents a good few days’ work for the north Africans, who four days earlier had recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Portugal.

Leicester City defender Yohan Benalouane, who only made his international debut in March, could be lining up against team-mate Jamie Vardy after being named in Tunisia’s World Cup squad.

The French-born 31-year-old is the only British-based player in coach Nabil Maaloul’s 23-man squad after Bilel Mohsni, who ended the season with Dundee United, failed to make the cut.

CRYSTAL PALACE winger Lee Chung-yong had his dreams of a third World Cup dashed when he was one of three players cut from South Korea’s squad.

Swansea City skipper Ki Sung-yeung and Tottenham striker Son Heung-min are key figures in coach Shin Tae-yong’s squad.

The 2002 semi-finalists kick off their Group F campaign against Sweden on June 18, then take on Mexico on June 23 and defending champions Germany on June 27.