World Cup 2026: Herve Renard takes charge as Tunisia look to rebound after heavy defeat to Sweden

New Tunisia coach Hervé Renard has wasted no time settling into his role, overseeing his first training session on Tuesday after replacing Sabri Lamouchi, who was dismissed following a 5-1 defeat to Sweden.

The 57-year-old arrived in Monterrey just hours before linking up with the squad and now has only four days to prepare the team for a crucial Group F clash against Japan on Saturday.

“At the moment we need to be focused on ourselves,” Renard told reporters at the training ground. “We still have a few days to be ready.”

Renard brings a strong World Cup pedigree, having famously guided Saudi Arabia to a 2-1 shock victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. He also led Morocco at the 2018 World Cup, where they held Spain to a draw but exited in the group stage.

Expressing his excitement at returning to football’s biggest stage, Renard said the tournament’s intensity remains a key motivation.

“It’s a World Cup,” he said. “I know the passion around this event. That’s what motivated me to come and it’s a challenge which isn’t easy.”

This is also not the first time Renard has stepped into a role previously held by Lamouchi, having succeeded him at Ivory Coast in 2014 following their own World Cup disappointment.

For Tunisia, the task ahead is steep. The Eagles of Carthage must recover quickly after their opening defeat if they are to keep hopes alive of progressing from a group that also includes the Netherlands and Japan, with knockout qualification still an elusive milestone in their World Cup history.