Hervé Renard could not revive Tunisia’s campaign as Japan swept the Carthage Eagles aside with a commanding 4-0 victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The French coach took charge only days after the Tunisian Football Federation dismissed Sabri Lamouchi following the 5-1 defeat to Sweden.
Supporters expected an immediate response, but Japan controlled the game from the opening whistle and punished every defensive mistake.
A disastrous start for Hervé Renard
The heavy defeat pushed Tunisia out of the tournament after only two matches. The Carthage Eagles have now conceded nine goals, becoming only the second African team after Zaire in 1974 to reach that unwanted total so quickly.
After the final whistle, Hervé Renard accepted responsibility and praised Japan’s performance. “We can’t be satisfied with a result like this as we defended too softly and paid the price[…] we are eliminated, but we must show pride in our final match against the Netherlands,” he told beIN SPORTS.
Players demand change
Ali Abdi apologized to the supporters after the match. “I apologize to the Tunisian fans. We keep tearing everything down instead of fixing our problems. We came to the World Cup with players who had barely played together,” he said.
Hazem Mastouri shared the same frustration, insisting that “Tunisian football needs a complete overhaul.” Japan celebrated a historic victory, while Hervé Renard began his tenure with a painful setback and now faces the challenge of restoring confidence before Tunisia’s final group match.
