Herve Renard (foto: Getty Images)
Tunisia have sacked Sabri Lamouchi following their 5-1 defeat to Sweden and appointed World Cup giant-killer Hervé Renard as his replacement.
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The first coaching casualty of the 2026 World Cup has arrived far sooner than anyone expected. Following a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Sweden in their opening Group F match, Tunisia have dismissed coach Sabri Lamouchi and moved quickly to appoint veteran French manager Hervé Renard.
The decision is remarkable not only because of its timing, but because it appears to be unprecedented at a men's World Cup. Never before has a national team reportedly removed its coach after playing just a single match at the tournament.
While the scoreline against Sweden was damaging enough on its own, reports suggest the defeat merely accelerated problems that had already been developing behind the scenes. According to ESPN, tensions had emerged between Lamouchi, several players, and members of the federation leadership during the build-up to the competition. The heavy loss ultimately left the federation with little patience.
Tunisia's leadership wasted no time identifying a replacement. They turned to one of the most respected and experienced figures in international football, appointing Renard in the hope that he can rescue their World Cup campaign before it is too late.
The 57-year-old is expected to join the squad immediately at its base in Mexico and oversee his first training session on the day of his arrival. His mission is clear: restore confidence, stabilize the dressing room, and keep Tunisia's hopes of qualification alive.
Few coaches possess a stronger reputation in African football. Renard first became a continental icon in 2012 when he guided Zambia to a stunning Africa Cup of Nations triumph. Three years later, he repeated the feat with Ivory Coast, becoming one of the rare coaches to win the tournament with two different countries.
His World Cup record is equally fascinating. In 2018 he led Morocco at the finals in Russia, where the Atlas Lions exited in the group stage despite several competitive performances. Four years later, he earned global recognition as coach of Saudi Arabia, masterminding one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when his side defeated eventual champions Argentina and Lionel Messi in the opening round.
Although Saudi Arabia did not advance beyond the group stage, that victory transformed Renard into one of the most sought-after international coaches in the game. He later managed the France women's national team at the 2023 Women's World Cup, leading Les Bleues to the quarter-finals.
Now he faces a completely different challenge. Tunisia are bottom of their group after the defeat to Sweden and desperately needs a response in their remaining matches.
The coaching change will also attract attention in Slovenia. Omar Rekik, the Maribor defender, was one of the few positives from Tunisia's disastrous opener and scored his team's only goal. Under Renard, he may become an even more important figure as Tunisia attempts to rebuild confidence and salvage its tournament.
The federation's message is unmistakable. One match was enough to convince officials that change was necessary. Whether the gamble pays off will become one of the most intriguing stories of the World Cup group stage.