Rani Khedira (Union Berlin) made his first appearance for Tunisia in the 1-0 win over Haiti, watched by his brother Sami, a 2014 World Cup winner, who travelled to Toronto.
At 32, Rani Khedira earned his first cap for Tunisia. The Union Berlin defensive midfielder started in the 1-0 win over Haiti, a World Cup participant, according to German outlet strkr.de. He played in midfield for 73 minutes.
In the stands in Toronto was a distinguished spectator: Sami Khedira, his brother and a 2014 World Cup winner. Now retired, he made the trip and documented his presence on Instagram, adding a family flavour to this international baptism.
A first cap and a win
On the pitch, Tunisia did what was needed thanks to Sebastian Tounekti. The 23-year-old left winger from Celtic opened the scoring as early as the 7th minute, scoring his first goal in nine caps. That goal was enough for the win, despite a performance the head coach was not happy with.
Sabri Lamouchi, Tunisia’s head coach (54), said he was dissatisfied with his team’s performance and expected more. According to strkr.de, he was looking for more from the display in particular.
Asked by the German outlet, Rani Khedira said, translated from German: “Hearing the national anthem on the pitch for the first time and celebrating your debut with the team is of course a special experience.”
A trip and a fixture list to juggle
This first cap comes in a particular context. The call-up and the trip to North America mean Khedira misses much of the preparation for Union Berlin’s next Bundesliga match.
The Berlin club face FC St. Pauli on Sunday at 15:30 at the Alte Försterei. According to strkr.de, the time difference is likely to make Khedira’s starting place for that game complicated.
Khedira, who had never worn the Tunisian shirt before, will therefore have to balance these travel constraints with his role at club level.
What next: Canada, then St. Pauli
Rani Khedira will have another chance to impress in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, in the friendly against Canada, a World Cup co-host.
The return to Berlin will come before a decisive Bundesliga game for Union, Sunday at 15:30 against St. Pauli, with a time difference that weighs, according to strkr.de, on the midfielder’s starting place.