Tunisia vs Japan: 'The Tunisian situation is complicated, but it is not desperate' — Max-Alain Gradel backs Renard for Carthage Eagles

Former Ivory Coast planetary Max-Alain Gradel believes Herve Renard is susceptible of turning Tunisia's World Cup 2026 run astir aft the 57-year-old Frenchman was rushed successful arsenic manager pursuing the Eagles of Carthage's daze 1-5 opening decision to Sweden.

Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations victor — with Zambia successful 2012 and Ivory Coast successful 2015 — was appointed to regenerate the sacked Sabri Lamouchi and arrived successful Monterrey conscionable 4 days earlier Tunisia's 2nd radical fixture against Japan.

His roadworthy to the Tunisia dugout, however, was an improbable one. Until aboriginal April, Renard had been nether declaration with Saudi Arabia and afloat expected to beryllium taking complaint of a 3rd consecutive World Cup.

The Frenchman had been recalled by the Saudi federation aft the Roberto Mancini experimentation failed, and had successfully guided the squad to tourney qualification. But a disappointing Arab Cup run and back-to-back affable defeats to Egypt (0-4) and Serbia (1-2) outgo him his job, with Greek manager Giorgios Donis stepping successful arsenic his replacement.

In the aftermath of his dismissal, Renard had retreated to his location successful Saly, Senegal, wherever helium had been preparing to ticker the World Cup from afar.

That changed erstwhile a subordinate of the Tunisian Football Federation called, hours aft the dense nonaccomplishment to Sweden, to connection him the accidental to instrumentality implicit from Lamouchi.

He did not request agelong to marque up his caput — thing that does not astonishment Gradel, who played nether him astatine Ivory Coast and spoke to Afrik-Foot astir the appointment.

'I deliberation helium had to deliberation for astir 5 seconds, due to the fact that Herve ne'er makes a determination without reasoning — but helium processes things rapidly and helium accepted,' said Gradel, capped 113 times for Ivory Coast. 'He wanted to beryllium portion of this World Cup. I deliberation helium experienced being pushed retired by Saudi Arabia arsenic an injustice. And sincerely, I americium gladsome helium is with Tunisia.'

'He recovered the close words to re-energise the squad'

Footage of 1 of Renard's archetypal addresses to the Tunisian squad has since circulated online. The Frenchman, composed and measured successful his delivery, sent a wide connection to his caller group.

'Not everything was incorrect successful that lucifer against Sweden,' Renard told his players — a sentiment that Gradel believes volition resonate.

'He loves this benignant of challenge. He is precise good,' said Gradel. 'The Tunisian concern is complicated, but it is not desperate. There is simply a bully team, and arsenic helium said himself, not everything needs to beryllium thrown out.

I cognize helium recovered the close words to re-energise the players and archer them that thing is lost. Four days is not overmuch time, but helium knows his occupation highly good and I americium definite his connection volition carnivore fruit.'

Renard besides holds a utile vantage up of his archetypal crippled successful complaint — a familiarity with Sunday's opponents. He faced Japan connected 3 occasions during his clip with Saudi Arabia, with a perfectly balanced grounds of 1 win, 1 gully and 1 defeat.

He has publically described the Samurai Blue arsenic 'the champion Asian nationalist team', a broadside who showed their prime by holding the Netherlands to a 2-2 gully successful their ain opener.

'Japan cognize who helium is — they volition beryllium wary'

Renard's assignment has been warmly received successful Tunisia, adjacent if supporters stay shaken aft a chastening opening fewer weeks that included a 0-5 pre-tournament drubbing by Belgium. Gradel, though, sees reasons for optimism.

'What is truthful important erstwhile you enactment with him is that helium is sincere,' the erstwhile Saint-Etienne antheral added. 'Whether helium is being affirmative oregon critical, helium means what helium says, and players recognize that precise quickly.'

'I sincerely judge helium tin execute thing here. Herve is susceptible of motivating his players similar nary 1 else. Japan cognize who helium is — I deliberation they volition beryllium wary of him, and we volition spot a antithetic broadside of Tunisia.'

For their part, Tunisia person beaten Japan lone erstwhile successful six meetings — a 3-0 triumph successful a affable successful June 2022 — and volition request to amended dramatically to support their hopes of reaching the circular of 32 alive.