Despite hiring French manager Hervé Renard to salvage their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, the Tunisian national team suffered another crushing defeat, losing 4-0 to Japan in the second round of the group stage.
Before the match, Renard was clear, stating he is “not a magician.” Although he promised improvement, the massive gap in quality and low team morale—following the 5-1 loss to Sweden and the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi—proved too much for the Carthage Eagles.
Hervé Renard’s Historic Negative Record
With this 4-0 defeat, Renard has recorded the worst debut for a Tunisia manager since 1966. The only worse start in history dates back to January 3, 1960, when Milan Kristić suffered a 5-1 defeat against Yugoslavia.
The Curse of Mid-World Cup Manager Changes
Renard’s failure further proves that appointing a new coach during the World Cup tournament rarely works. Historically, five similar cases of mid-tournament managerial replacements failed to win their debut match:
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3 matches ended in a draw.
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2 matches ended in defeat (including Renard).
What’s Next for Tunisia and Renard?
Tunisia has officially been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. Renard will lead the team in their final group-stage match against the Netherlands. Following the tournament, he will enter talks with the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) to either negotiate a contract extension or end his brief two-week tenure in North Africa.
