Tunisia Sack Sabri Lamouchi After 5-1 World Cup Loss, Hire Herve Renard

Q: With key players injured, can the Netherlands justify being the favorite against a high-scoring Sweden?

Yes, but only narrowly. The Netherlands still have a stronger squad on paper and remain the consensus pick: The Athletic’s experts, Susu, Wilfred, Stanley and Algo all backed a Dutch win, and model-based forecasts cited in the wider coverage still give them the edge. Their overall talent level and depth, even depleted, are why they are still being treated as favorites. But the case is much less convincing than the unanimous predictions suggest. Ronald Koeman is dealing with major absences and doubts: Jurriën Timber, Xavi Simons, Jerdy Schouten and Matthijs de Ligt are out, Quinten Timber is unavailable with concussion, and Frenkie de Jong is doubtful after a training knock. Memphis Depay is recovering from a thigh issue and may not be fully sharp. That weakens both midfield control and defensive stability. Those concerns matter because Sweden arrive in far better rhythm. They opened with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, and the Isak-Gyokeres partnership looked elite, with both scoring and creating. Sweden also have a clear tactical route: absorb pressure and attack space quickly, especially if the Dutch push forward after their 2-2 draw with Japan. The Netherlands can justify favoritism on squad quality, historical standing and predictive models. They cannot justify being strong favorites. Given their injuries, defensive lapses against Japan and Sweden’s form, this looks closer to a toss-up than the unanimous picks imply.

Q: Can Ivory Coast's rising star turn personal motivation into a shocking upset against powerhouse Germany?

Yes — Ivory Coast have a credible upset path, and Yan Diomande is central to it, but Germany remain the more likely winner. Diomande, the 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger, brings both elite form and unusual emotional force into this match. He scored 12 Bundesliga goals last season and led all Bundesliga wingers in successful dribbles and duels won, while also ranking highly for chances created and defensive work. Teammates call him the “golden boy,” and analysts have described him as a player with top-club quality. His motivation is deeply personal: he is playing in memory of his sister Roxanne, who died last year, and he has said everything he does on the pitch is for her. That kind of focus can elevate a player in a one-off World Cup game. Ivory Coast also arrive with belief. They beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opener and Diomande was already viewed as their main danger. The squad sees itself as having “nothing to lose,” which can make them dangerous against a favorite. Still, the scale of the task is clear. Germany opened by crushing Curacao 7-1 and looked overwhelming in attack. Most predictors — The Athletic’s experts, Wilfred and Algo — are backing Germany, while only Susu sees a draw and Stanley the dog is alone on an Ivory Coast win. So the upset is plausible if Diomande wins his one-on-ones, forces Germany’s back line into mistakes and Ivory Coast stay compact. But on evidence so far, Germany’s firepower makes them deserved favorites.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 20

Tunisia changed coaches during the World Cup after a 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden, removing Sabri Lamouchi and turning to Herve Renard before facing Japan.
Lamouchi, 54, had taken over only in January and became the first manager sacked during a World Cup since 1998.
The move followed a performance described as tactically disjointed, with Tunisia lacking identity and offering little resistance as Sweden's Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres led the rout.
Renard arrives with major tournament pedigree, having coached Saudi Arabia when they beat eventual champions Argentina in the 2022 group stage.
Tunisia now need an immediate response against Japan, who drew 2-2 with the Netherlands despite missing several key attackers and then losing Takefusa Kubo to injury.