The draw for the 2018 World Cup has put England together with Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group of the competition and pits Gareth Southgate against a coach in his second spell in charge of his national team.
Nabil Maaloul was capped 74 times for Tunisia as a player and spent time as assistant coach of the Carthage Eagles before a first spell in charge ended with a defeat by the Cape Verde Islands that looked to have ended qualification hopes for the 2014 World Cup (although Cape Verde were later thrown out and Tunisia lost the ensuing play-off).
Now he has succeeded in making Russia 2018 and an opening game against England.
Despite speculation that a bigger-name manager might be pursued by the Tunisian FA ahead of the tournament, it was confirmed earlier this week that Maaloul's contract had been extended until 2022.