Renard takes over Tunisia after Sweden rout and Lamouchi sacking

Tunisia thrashed 5–1 by Sweden in World Cup opener

That was brutal. Tunisia lost 5–1 to Sweden on Sunday in their first Group D match, and it was never close (1) (7). Yasin Ayari, Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Mattias Svanberg all scored. Sweden ran through your team and the scoreline says it all.

Lamouchi sacked, Hervé Renard takes over immediately

Sabri Lamouchi is out. The Tunisian Football Federation sacked him and appointed Hervé Renard as head coach the same day, Tuesday, to take charge for the rest of the World Cup (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7). The FTF confirmed it in a statement: "The Tunisian Football Federation announces the appointment of Herve Renard as the coach of the national team until the end of the 2026 World Cup, to carry out his duties starting this evening" (4). The federation added that negotiations will open after the tournament for a longer-term deal tied to specific sporting goals (4). Renard knows the terrain. He led Saudi Arabia to that famous win over Argentina at Qatar 2022 and won two Africa Cup of Nations titles with Zambia and Ivory Coast (3). The timeline is brutal. He has almost no time before the next match.

Eight players threatened to walk, but the pact collapsed

According to RMC Sport, eight Tunisia players promised to leave the squad if Lamouchi was sacked mid-tournament (4). The pact did not hold. None of them followed through once Renard was named. André-Pierre Gignac, who played under Lamouchi at club level, reportedly tried to intervene on his behalf during the chaos (4). The squad is still there, but the fracture is real. Renard walks into a dressing room that was, at least briefly, ready to mutiny.

Fan reactions

Tunisia supporters online are split between shock at the 5–1 result and cautious hope over Renard's arrival. Many remember his Saudi Arabia moment in Qatar and wonder if he can pull something similar off with two games left. Others are worried the mid-tournament chaos has already sunk the campaign. See the full discussion on r/soccer.