Changing managers during a major tournament isn’t unheard of, nor demonstrably detrimental, but taking the decision to do so after one game of a World Cup suggests an earlier choice went wrong somewhere.
World Cup 2026 will be remembered in the hallways and history books of Tunisian football as the competition that started with Sabri Lamouchi in charge for 90 minutes against Sweden but will end, we assume, with the inimitable Herve Renard at the tiller.
Tunisia lost 5-1 to Sweden, not only the start they didn’t want but one that leaves them with it all to do to keep their hopes of a place in the round of 32 alive.
Tunisia vs Japan betting odds from BOYLE Sports
- Tunisia WIN – 11/2
- Draw – 14/5
- Japan WIN – 8/15
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Tunisia vs Japan prediction
First up for the former Morocco, Zambia and Saudi Arabia boss is a second Group F fixture against Japan at Estadio BBVA. The group is finely poised from Japan’s perspective after they started with a draw against the Netherlands.
Sweden lead the way with three points and take on the Dutch, meaning a win for Japan in Monterrey will see them make significant headway in the group as well as all but guaranteeing a knock-out berth.
Samurai Blue showed a little of what they’re about in their first game. Digging out a couple of equalising goals, both quite soon after conceding, was typical of Japan’s attitude under manager Hajime Moriyasu.
Giving away those goals in the first place was much more unusual after consecutive clean sheets against Ghana, Bolivia, Scotland, England and Iceland, a run of wins preceded by a 3-2 victory against Brazil.
This has become familiar territory for Tunisia, who have been eliminated from the last two World Cups in the group stage and have never gone beyond it.
For Japan, expectations both immediate and longer-term are rather more ambitious. The Japanese football authorities are openly working towards being capable of winning a World Cup decades from now and the direction of travel appears to add weight to their efforts.
After holding their own against the Dutch and with a third game against Sweden to come should they need it, Moriyasu’s Japan are clear favourites today and should get out of the group unscathed.
Score prediction: Tunisia 0-1 Japan
Defeat for Tunisia would be the end of their World Cup 2026 road. With a maximum of three points available and a win against the Netherlands required to get them, getting walloped by Sweden would prove costly in any case.
For Renard, in his very first game in charge, it’s already a case of now or never.
How to watch Tunisia vs Japan
You can watch Tunisia vs Japan in Group F of World Cup 2026 for free. All the information you need is in our how to watch guide.
The match will be broadcast live on BBC in the UK, FS1 in the United States and SBS in Australia.
What’s your Tunisia vs Japan prediction? Let us know below…