MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) – Tunisia’s new head coach, Hervé Renard, had his first practice with the team on Tuesday, replacing Sabri Ramsi, who was fired after a 5-1 win over Sweden.
The 57-year-old Frenchman has been given four days to prepare his team for Saturday’s second Group F match against Japan.
“At this point, we need to focus on ourselves,” Leonard told reporters at the team’s practice facility, just hours after flying into Monterrey. “It will still take a few days to prepare.”
Leonard led Saudi Arabia to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which the Green Falcons won. Shocking 2-1 victory Against Argentina, the favorite and eventual champion. In the 2018 tournament, his Moroccan team drew with Spain but failed to advance to the finals.
Renard said he was eager to experience the excitement of the tournament again.
“It’s the World Cup,” he said. “I know the passion for this event, that’s what motivated me to participate, and this is a challenge that will not be easy.”
This is not the first time Renard has replaced Ramouchi. A two-time African Cup of Nations winner, he replaced France as Ivory Coast coach in 2014 after they were eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup.
It will be a tall ask for Renard to lead Tunisia out of the group stage for the first time in seven World Cup appearances. Eagles of Carthage, who lost to Sweden on Sunday, need results against Japan and group favorites Netherlands to advance.
“I told them you’ve got to keep your head up. You’re here to represent your country,” Leonard said.
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Maya Calder Ramirez and Ethan Wilcox are students at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
