The Tunisia national football team started their first match under Herve Renard's management poorly, conceding an early goal to Japan after just 4 minutes in the second round of the Group Stage in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Japanese goal was scored by Daichi Kamada in the 4th minute, after he exploited a clever pass from Kento Nakamura inside the penalty area, shooting the ball into the net and announcing the Samurai's lead without a response. Tunisia's players protested the goal, claiming that Kamada had pushed before shooting, but the referee decided to confirm the goal. Tunisia was close to opening the scoring before the Japanese goal, when Hanibal Mejibri launched a powerful shot that passed just inches from the post in the 3rd minute, before Japan punished their opponents with an early goal that disrupted the Carthage Eagles' plans. The match was of great importance to Tunisia, as it was Herve Renard's first match since taking over as coach, replacing Sabri Lamouchi, who was sacked after the heavy defeat to Sweden with a score of 5-1 in the opening round. The Tunisian Union had hired Renard in the hope of saving the World Cup dream, relying on his extensive experience in dealing with difficult situations, after he had previously led Saudi Arabia to a historic victory over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, as well as his continental successes with Zambia and Côte d'Ivoire. The Tunisian team entered the match in last place in the group without points, while the Japanese team had one point after their exciting 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in the first round, making the match a last chance for the Carthage Eagles to revive their qualifying hopes. Herve Renard had announced before the match that the team would work hard to achieve victory, confirming that the players were ready to perform well. However, the final result was not encouraging for the Tunisian team, which now needs to win the upcoming matches in order to keep their qualifying hopes alive. In conclusion, the match was a missed opportunity for the Tunisian team, which failed to capitalize on the chances they had, and will need to make a greater effort in the upcoming matches in order to achieve victory.