History made, and not in a good way. Tunisia fired Sabri Lamouchi after just one World Cup match, appointing Hervé Renard as an immediate replacement. It marks the first time in men’s World Cup history a manager has lost his job after a single game.

A Humiliation That Left No Room for Debate

The trigger was brutal. Sweden dismantled Tunisia 5-1 in Monterrey, leaving the Carthage Eagles already facing an uphill battle in Group F. However, the result alone didn’t seal Lamouchi’s fate. Reports of serious unrest between the coach, the federation, and sections of the squad had been building since his appointment in January. The defeat simply made the inevitable official.

Lamouchi had managed just five matches in charge, winning once, a narrow 1-0 victory over Haiti in March. Results deteriorated sharply after that. A 1-0 defeat to Austria followed, then a disastrous 5-0 thrashing by Belgium in a warm-up fixture. Warning signs, clearly ignored until Monday’s collapse made denial impossible.

Renard’s Next World Cup Challenge

Tunisia turned to the most experienced African football coach available. Renard, 57, arrives in Monterrey having just been released by Saudi Arabia in April. He’s no stranger to high-pressure tournament football. He led Morocco at the 2018 World Cup and famously coached Saudi Arabia to a stunning victory over Argentina in 2022. This becomes his third consecutive men’s World Cup, with a third different nation. Remarkable.

The federation confirmed Renard takes charge immediately, with a possible longer-term agreement beyond the tournament. His first test arrives on June 20 against Japan. Tunisia need a result. Anything less likely ends their campaign. No time for introductions. Only results matter now.