Tunisia's national team is looking to restore its reputation after a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in its opening match at the 2026 World Cup, when it faces Japan early on Sunday in a match being described as a last chance to revive its hopes in the tournament.
French coach Hervé Renard is leading the Eagles of Carthage into a tough encounter in the Mexican city of Monterrey in the second round of Group Six fixtures, just days after he took charge of the team.
Renard's appointment came as a surprise following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi in the wake of the heavy defeat to Sweden, making Lamouchi the first coach in World Cup history to be sacked after just one match in the tournament.
Renard takes on the new challenge with a team that has been suffering a decline in results, having conceded five goals in two successive defeats — first against Belgium in a friendly before the start of the World Cup, and then against Sweden in the opening round.
The French coach, who had been in the job for just four days, insisted that the way out of the crisis lies through collective effort and commitment, stressing that he is