[Saba Sports News] According to Spanish media reports, Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after the team suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening World Cup match, amid a mutiny within the national squad. Reports state that Tunisia’s internal crisis during the World Cup nearly tore the side apart. Immediately following the heavy loss to Sweden, Lamouchi was dismissed, triggering massive unrest inside the dressing room. It is understood that as many as eight first-team players threatened to pull out of the World Cup in protest. Their grievance stemmed from fears that the Tunisian Football Federation would appoint a local manager, whom they believed would cave in to pressure and demands from the federation hierarchy. The Tunisian FA acted swiftly, finalising the appointment of French coach Hervé Renard even before officially announcing Lamouchi’s departure. The arrival of the Frenchman instantly defused the players’ threats to boycott the World Cup.
The editor believes that Tunisia’s defeat in their opening World Cup fixture cannot be blamed solely on head coach Sabri Lamouchi, and the federation’s sudden managerial change is bound to have a certain impact on the players’ morale.