French coach Sabri Lamouchi described his dismissal by Tunisia after a 5-1 defeat to Sweden as a painful episode in his career. He told The Athletic he was unsure whether the team shared his desire for change.
“I was convinced I could change something, but I’m not sure they were on the same wavelength,” Lamouchi said. He compared the relationship to wanting to marry a woman who does not love you and then fails to show up at the wedding. He said the episode would remain part of his life and career.
Lamouchi took charge in January 2026 and wanted to rejuvenate an ageing squad. His tenure ended after Tunisia lost to Sweden in its opening World Cup match. He said Tunisia was still competing at 2-1 down and was closer to making it 2-2 than conceding a third goal, before an individual mistake changed the match.
He pointed to a wide gap in player and squad quality between Tunisia and group rivals Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands. Lamouchi coached the team in five matches. His only win came in his first game, a 1-0 victory over Haiti.
After Lamouchi’s departure, the Tunisian Football Federation appointed French coach Hervé Renard through the end of the 2026 World Cup. Lamouchi called the experience difficult for himself, his staff and his family, but said he was ready to return to coaching.