Tunisia arrive in Russia ahead of World Cup

Tunisia arrived in Krasnodar, Russia on Thursday (June 7) ahead of their international friendly against Spain on Saturday (June 9).

Coach Nabil Maaloul and his squad face Spain in their final World Cup warm-up match before travelling to the Moscow region where they will be based for the tournament.

Among the players who arrived in Russia was Wahbi Khazri, who has battled to overcome a thigh injury over the last month, and fit-again midfielder Mohamed Amine Ben Amor in their final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Khazri has not played since being injured for Stade Rennes in April, missing Tunisia’s two warm-up matches this week against Portugal and Turkey. He has been training apart from the rest of the squad at their Swiss training camp this week.

Khazri is seen as key to any chance the North Africans have of making it through World Cup Group G where they will meet Belgium, England and Panama.

Tunisia’s first World Cup match is against England in Volgograd on June 18.

Reuters