Tunisia's new head coach Hervé Renard has said that hard work and unity are the only things that can rescue the Eagles of Carthage's World Cup 2026 campaign, insisting: "I am not a magician."
The French coach was appointed this week in a surprise move after the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi, following a heavy 1-5 defeat to Sweden that made Lamouchi the first manager in World Cup history to be sacked after just one match.
Renard, who has moved between several coaching posts throughout his career, has had only three days with his new squad as he faces a difficult task against Japan in Monterrey, Mexico.
Renard has long been dubbed "the magician" owing to his lengthy successes in football and his tactical acumen, having masterminded a historic 2-1 victory over Argentina — who went on to win the tournament — at the 2022 World Cup when he was in charge of the Saudi national team.
When asked whether Tunisia's situation demands something exceptional from him, Renard said: "We need to deliver a perfect collective performance and forget what happened against Sweden."
He continued: "I met a group that is open-minded, determined, possesses a fighting spirit, and wants to make amends. If we are not confident of winning, we should go back home."
He added: "As far as the match is concerned, determination is essential. It is easy to talk. I heard that I was described as a magician, but I am not a magician."
He clarified: "In football, there is a lot of work that gets done."
In contrast to Tunisia's difficult start to the tournament, Japan demonstrated their quality by drawing 2-2 with the Netherlands.
Renard declined to reveal the details of his tactical plan, stressing the need to "return to basics and principles" while respecting Japan without fearing them.
He closed his remarks with a motivational message to his players, saying: "We must be disciplined and precise, and play as one team, as a cohesive unit. That is our only strength."