Sabri Lamouchi and the unwanted record of being the first manager sacked after one World Cup game | OneFootball

Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed by Tunisia 48 hours after a 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden, with Herve Renard appointed until the end of the tournament, NY Times reports.

The thrashing came in what looked their best chance of a win in a daunting group featuring Japan and the Netherlands. In a World Cup where an early loss can be survived, the call looked drastic, yet the backdrop made it less surprising.

Lamouchi, appointed in January, replaced Sami Trabelsi after a poor Africa Cup of Nations, one win then a round-of-16 exit to Mali. He quickly shook up selections, trialled new faces and then omitted captain Ferjani Sassi and defender Yassine Meriah to lower the squad’s age and energy.

Results offered little comfort, a win over Haiti was followed by a 0-0 with Canada, a 1-0 loss to Austria and a 5-0 hammering by Belgium that he called a nightmare. Against Sweden, the errors piled up.

This is not the first in-tournament sacking. Tunisia dismissed Henryk Kasperczak after two defeats in 1998, 2-0 to England and 1-0 to Colombia, with Ali Selmi taking the Romania game before also departing.

That year Saudi Arabia removed Carlos Alberto Parreira and South Korea parted with Cha Bum-kun after two matches. The difference now is Tunisia are alive, two games remain and even one win could yet bring progression as a best third-placed team.

Renard now attempts to salvage their campaign. He had been sacked by Saudi Arabia in April.

Source: NY Times