Herve Renard will begin his latest World Cup challenge on Sunday as Tunisia face Japan in a historic Group F encounter at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, a match that will mark the 1,000th game in FIFA World Cup history.
Tunisia head into the fixture needing an immediate response after suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match. The result led to the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi, who had only taken charge in January, with Renard now stepping in to guide the North African side.
However, Tunisia face a difficult task, having won only one of their last eight international matches and losing their previous three games by an 11-1 aggregate score. Despite their poor recent form, the Eagles of Carthage can take confidence from their previous World Cup campaigns, where they won matches in both 2018 and 2022.
Japan enter the contest with greater momentum after earning a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their opener. The Samurai Blue twice came from behind, with Daichi Kamada scoring a late equaliser to preserve their unbeaten start.
Japan have dominated recent meetings between the teams, winning five of their last six encounters, although Tunisia defeated them 3-0 in the 2022 Kirin Cup final.
Team News
Tunisia coach Renard could make tactical changes after the heavy defeat to Sweden, potentially switching from a back three to a four-man defence. Hannibal Mejbri is expected to play a key attacking midfield role, while Firas Chaouat could lead the attack.
Japan will be without Takefusa Kubo after the Real Sociedad winger suffered a knee injury against the Netherlands. Yukinari Sugawara could return to the starting XI, allowing Ritsu Doan to support Daizen Maeda and Ayase Ueda in attack.
Possible Lineups
Tunisia possible starting lineup:
Chamakh; Valery, Rekik, Talbi, Ali Abdi; Skhiri, Khedira; Achouri, Hannibal, Gharbi; Chaouat
Japan possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Taniguchi, Watanabe, H. Ito; Sugawara, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Roan, Maeda; Ueda
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 05:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Japan 2-0 Tunisia.
Japan’s attacking quality, recent World Cup experience and strong form make them favourites, while Tunisia’s coaching change could bring renewed energy but may not be enough against a confident Samurai Blue side.
