Renard takes charge of Tunisia and calls out his players after Sweden rout

Hervé Renard spoke to the Tunisian players for the first time after being named head coach in an emergency capacity, just hours after Tunisia’s 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. He replaces Sabri Lamouchi, who was sacked immediately following the loss.

The French coach has four days to get the squad back on track before facing Japan, who earned a respectable draw against the Netherlands in their opening match. The challenge is tight: a second defeat would mathematically eliminate the Eagles of Carthage.

Facing his new players, Renard immediately acknowledged the group’s psychological state. “We need to refocus. I know it’s easier said than done. Legs are heavy, even heavier than usual because it hurts mentally,” he said, before calling for professional resilience: “When you’re a professional, you have to know how to bounce back.”

His tactical message is clear: forget everything else and focus only on Japan. “The rest, what comes after, that’s not the problem. The problem is the match against Japan, we need to stay focused, determined. That’s the key,” he insisted.

Renard also appealed to the players’ responsibility toward their supporters, some of whom made the trip at considerable financial cost. “It’s the shirt, guys! You know full well there are people who made the trip! Do you know how much they spent to support you?” he told the group, before addressing the country’s reaction: “Do you know what will happen if you go back to the country today? Well yes, everyone is angry. That’s normal.”

The former Saudi Arabia coach, who said he had been watching the tournament from his couch after an injury a month ago, concluded on the significance of the event: “It’s the World Cup, we need to get moving! It’s a great tournament!”