Herve Renard, newly appointed Tunisia head coach has called for a complete mentality shift within the Carthage Eagles squad as they seek to revive their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Renard addressed the players during his first meeting with the squad after replacing Sabri Lamouchi, who was dismissed following Tunisia’s 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match at the FIFA World Cup.
The 57-year-old now faces the task of lifting morale ahead of Tunisia’s crucial second group match against Japan, scheduled for Sunday at 18:00 CAT.
Speaking to the players, Renard acknowledged the disappointment of the opening defeat but stressed that the team could not afford to dwell on the past.
“Now, we have to move forward, because in football, we don’t have time to lose, so we have to re-mobilize. I know it’s hard.”
The two-time AFCON-winning coach admitted the players were carrying the emotional burden of the heavy defeat but insisted that only those who showed the strongest mentality would earn a place in the team.
“We have to move” – Renard.
“When you’re a professional, you have to know how to bounce. And the strongest, the ones we have to put on the pitch, are the ones who will be the strongest mentally, guys.”
Renard revealed that he had reviewed Tunisia’s defeat and believed the score-line did not fully reflect the team’s performance.
“I watched your game again on the way here. Everything is not thrown away. It’s not because of the score. Sometimes, the score doesn’t reflect the balance of play.”
He pointed to missed opportunities and a collapse after conceding a second goal as key moments in the match.
Renard noted that Tunisia had built an impressive defensive record during the qualifying campaign.
“The problem is elsewhere. The problem is that we have to move. You have to be in the best possible mood for this second game. We’re not going to talk about it after. We have to focus on Japan. The rest that will come after, that’s not the problem,” he concluded.
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