Tunisia has dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi following a 5-1 loss to Sweden in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup. The decision, made shortly after the defeat, marks Lamouchi as the first coach to be removed after just one game at a World Cup finals. Lamouchi, who previously managed Nottingham Forest, was appointed in January and had overseen only five matches before his departure.

In his place, Tunisia has appointed Hervé Renard, who will lead the team through the remainder of the tournament. Renard, 57, brings significant World Cup experience, having managed Saudi Arabia during the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Notably, under his guidance, Saudi Arabia secured a surprising 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina. Renard also served as Morocco’s head coach during the 2018 World Cup.

Tunisia’s heavy defeat to Sweden left the team at the bottom of Group F, setting a challenging path ahead of their upcoming matches against Japan and the Netherlands. The swift coaching change highlights the Tunisian Football Federation’s urgency in addressing the team's performance issues early in the tournament.

This is the second time Tunisia has replaced a manager during a World Cup. The previous incident occurred in 1998 when Henryk Kasperczak was dismissed after two losses in the group stage in France.

Renard’s appointment is intended to stabilize the team’s prospects in the current competition. Reports suggest that if he is able to improve Tunisia’s performance in North America, there may be consideration for extending his tenure beyond the World Cup.