Can Renard work his magic again? Tunisia face ultimate Asian test against Japan after World Cup nightmare

21.06.26 FT World Cup

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Japan

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Hervé Renard leads a desperate Tunisia against Japan this Sunday in a critical Group F World Cup clash following their opening day collapse.

Emergency renaissance under Renard

Tunisia’s World Cup 2026 campaign suffered a catastrophic start following a brutal 5-1 demolition at the hands of Sweden.

The humiliating defeat prompted immediate and ruthless action from the Tunisian football federation who promptly axed head coach Sabri Lamouchi. In a high stakes move, they handed the reins to tournament veteran Hervé Renard hoping the Frenchman can spark an instant resurrection ahead of Sunday's must-win encounter.

Facing the ultimate Asian bogey team

Stepping into this high pressure role, Renard faces a historical mountain to climb. Tunisia has historically struggled heavily when facing Asia’s elite footballing nations particularly their upcoming opponents.

The Carthage Eagles have locked horns with Japan 6 times across various competitions suffering five defeats.

While they endured three 2-0 losses and two 1-0 defeats over the years, their singular moment of joy against the Samurai Blue came in 2022 when they secured a resounding 3-0 victory during the Kirin Cup.

Mixed fortunes across the continent

Tunisia's results against other elite Asian teams show a disparity:

• South Korea: A perfectly balanced record of one win, one draw and one loss across three matches, though their last meeting in 2023 ended in a painful 4-0 defeat.
  
• Australia: Two defeats and one solitary win in three matches including a narrow 1-0 loss during the 2022 World Cup group stages.
  
• Iran: A rare bright spot, with Tunisia remaining completely undefeated in their two friendly encounters, securing a 2-2 draw and a 1-0 victory.
  
• Qatar: A highly competitive rivalry yielding one win, one draw and two losses though Tunisia comfortably won their most recent clash 3-0 in the 2025 Arab Cup.

The master of World Cup shocks

While history heavily favors Japan, Tunisia’s new boss is no stranger to pulling off monumental World Cup miracles against all odds.

Renard famously masterminded one of the greatest shocks in football history during the 2022 tournament leading Saudi Arabia to a stunning 2-1 group stage victory over Lionel Messi’s eventual champions, Argentina.

Having spent years coaching in Asia, Renard possesses an intimate knowledge of Japanese tactical setups. Tunisian fans will be praying that his signature tactical wizardry can translate into another historic masterclass this weekend.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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