Tunisia secured a three-goal victory over Serbia at the Mediterranean Games on Sunday, closing out a 3-2 result that shifts the group standings. The visitors had already shown they could compete, but this performance put them firmly in the driving seat. Serbia, by then, were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat in their previous outing.
Both sides arrived having played five matches each, with Tunisia sitting third on eight points and Serbia fourth on six. The gap between them narrowed by a single point after this encounter, though the win keeps the Tunisians ahead in the race for qualification. Serbia had not travelled to make up the numbers, but the result leaves them needing a win in their final game.
Recent form tells a story of inconsistency on both sides. Serbia's last outing saw them fall 3-0 to France, while Tunisia had suffered a 3-1 defeat to Italy just a day before this match. And here's the thing — neither team came into this fixture with momentum, yet Tunisia found a way to take the points when it mattered most.
What stands out is how both teams have been vulnerable defensively. Serbia have conceded in every match so far, while Tunisia's two losses came against stronger opposition in Italy and Czech Republic. To be fair, the quality of opposition matters, but the pattern of results suggests both sides need to tighten up if they want to go further.
The result means Tunisia move clear at the top of their section, while Serbia face a must-win scenario going forward. By then, the pressure will be on for the hosts to find a way to close the game out and salvage something from the tournament. The old head settled them down in the past, but this time the young boys will need to step up.
