Hours after touching down in Monterrey, Mexico, veteran French football manager Hervé Renard stepped onto the training pitch Tuesday to lead his new Tunisia national squad for the first time. The 57-year-old’s appointment comes on the heels of Tunisia’s humiliating 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden, which prompted the immediate firing of former boss Sabri Lamouchi.
Renard now faces an extremely tight turnaround: just four days to integrate himself into the squad, assess player form, and devise a game plan for Tunisia’s must-win second Group F fixture against Japan this Saturday. A man familiar with last-minute coaching overhauls, this is not the first time Renard has stepped into the role Lamouchi vacated. Back in 2014, the two-time Africa Cup of Nations-winning manager took over as Ivory Coast’s head coach following the team’s early group stage exit from that year’s World Cup, a parallel that makes his latest appointment a striking moment in his managerial career.
Renard brings a resume packed with high-profile World Cup upsets that make him an intriguing pick for Tunisia’s uphill battle. Most famously, he led Saudi Arabia to a stunning 2-1 victory over eventual tournament champion Argentina at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, one of the biggest upsets in modern World Cup history. Four years prior, at the 2018 Russia World Cup, his Moroccan national side held powerhouse Spain to a surprising draw, even if the team ultimately fell short of qualifying for the knockout round.
For Renard, the draw of the World Cup’s unique energy was enough to convince him to take on the high-pressure role with little preparation time. “It’s a World Cup. I know the passion around this event. That’s what motivated me to come and it’s a challenge which isn’t easy,” he told reporters on the training ground Tuesday. He added that he has emphasized team focus to his new players, telling the squad, “At the moment we need to be focused on ourselves. We still have a few days to be ready.” He also encouraged the side to stay resilient in the face of their opening defeat, telling players they must keep their heads up as they represent their nation on the global stage.
The task Renard faces is steep. Tunisia has never advanced past the group stage in its six previous World Cup appearances, and the path to the knockout round looks narrow after the heavy opening loss. The Carthage Eagles now need positive results against both Japan and group-leading Netherlands to secure a spot in the next stage, a feat that would go down as one of Renard’s most impressive career achievements if he pulls it off.