Tunisia Turn To Herve Renard To Rescue Their World Cup Campaign

Tunisia have officially named Herve Renard as their next head coach after Sabri Lamouchi was sacked.

It was a dramatic managerial change announced only a few days after the team's disappointing start at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Sweden.

The decision was supported by the poor performance of the Carthage Eagles who not only lost the friendly against Belgium by a big margin but also lost to Sweden 5-1 in their World Cup opener.

Such performances were heavily criticised by fans and media, putting more pressure on the Tunisian Football Federation to make a quick move before it becomes too late.

Not withstanding the loss to Sweden, and with their qualification hopes still alive, it was decided to opt for a managerial change and take a gamble with Renard in the hope that he can inspire a turnaround and get Tunisia back into the race for a spot that would qualify them to the knockout stages.

It is a complicated task for the French coach, as Tunisia still have to play Japan and the Netherlands, two teams that are considered to be the strongest in the group.

However, if any manager is capable of taking on the underdog role successfully, it is definitely Renard.

Why Tunisia Chose Herve Renard

The 56-year-old coach has proved on several occasions that he can get the most out of his teams even when expectations are low.

His most spectacular moment on the world stage was probably during the 2022 FIFA World Cup when his Saudi Arabia side prevailed against the eventual champions Argentina with a 2-1 victory, a match that is widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Renard has also achieved a lot in African football.

He led Zambia to an unexpected victory in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and, three years later, he won the AFCON again but with Ivory Coast.

This allowed him to gain a lot of recognition internationally as he is now regarded as one of the best coaches especially for outsider teams who suffer from internal issues, given that he is used to working under complicated conditions and still achieve results.

Although Renard's return to Saudi Arabia was not very successful despite having qualified them for the 2026 World Cup, his capability to handle from high-pressure situations remains indisputable.

Tunisia would definitely benefit from such traits during their remaining group stage matches.

Can Herve Renard Inspire Another Tournament Turnaround?

The Carthage Eagles’s chances to achieve positive results against both Japan and the Netherlands remain low, yet Renard's arrival might change the final outcome especially if he succeeds in using the players in the best possible way during both games.

Building up belief in the players’ ability to win games will be one of his most important missions ahead of these matches.

It will also be crucial for him to find the best possible formation and lineup quickly in order to avoid another defeat against Japan, which will be Tunisia’s second match in the group stage.

Even though Renard’s mission sounds complicated due to the actual circumstances surrounding the team and due to having little time to prepare and get to know his squad, Renard is still believed to be an intelligent choice for leading Tunisia during this delicate situation.

In fact, hiring Renard has made the whole country have a reason to hope that their story in this World Cup did not finish yet.