MOSCOW. — Tunisia were drawing 1-1 with Serbia when Mohamed Jedidi stepped up to take a penalty. The striker scored and began celebrating. But the referee, Tahiti’s Charles Ariiotima, spotted an encroachment and ordered a retake.

Jedidi stepped up and scored again. But the referee spotted an encroachment and ordered a retake. So Jedidi stepped up and scored yet again. But the referee spotted an encroachment and ordered a retake.

As Tunisia’s manager raged on the sidelines, Jedidi stepped up again. This time his shot was saved! But the referee spotted an encroachment and ordered a retake. For the fifth time Jedidi stepped up. The goalkeeper denied him again. But the referee spotted an encroachment and ordered a retake.

For his sixth attempt Jedidi drove the ball into the net. By now everyone had got the message and, no one having strayed into the box, the referee allowed the goal. Tunisia went on to win 3-2 but did not get out of their group.

That was at the 2004 Olympics, where Nabil Maâloul took charge of his country — albeit an Under-23 side — for the first time and got a valuable reminder of the merits of persistence.

Today Maâloul will send his side out against England hoping his second stint in charge of Tunisia’s senior team will end more gloriously than his first.

Not that he has been starved of glory. He went to the 2004 Olympics straight after serving as assistant manager to the Frenchman Roger Lemerre when Tunisia won the Africa Cup of Nations. He then enjoyed success as a club manager, chiefly with Espérance, the Tunis club where the former midfielder spent most of his playing career.

Maâloul led them to two domestic titles and the 2011 African Champions League. But his first attempt at leading his country’s senior team ended in ignominy, as he resigned following a home defeat against Cape Verde in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.

That result was overturned because Cape Verde fielded a suspended player but Maâloul had made up his mind. Likewise, many Tunisians had formed clear opinions of him after one victory from six matches.

Many, then, were miffed when Maâloul eventually returned for a second go, taking the reins in April 2017 after the sacking of Henryk Kasperczak. To quash doubters he needed a strong second start.  — The Guardian.

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