Matchday two in Group F of the World Cup pits Tunisia and Japan against each other in the late game on Saturday. These two nations had very contrasting experiences in their first match. Japan were given a tough test against the Netherlands and fought hard to earn a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile, Tunisia capitulated against a Sweden team that didn’t win a single game in World Cup qualifying. Their 5-1 loss was so embarrassing that they sacked manager Sabri Lamouchi immediately after the match.
Match Details
Who: Tunisia vs. Japan
What: World Cup Group F
Where: Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA), Guadelupe, Mexico
When: Saturday June 20, 12:00 AM ET (midnight) / 9:00 PM PT
Watch: FOX, Telemundo, Peacock ES, Fubo Sports
Tunisia Looking For Fresh Start Under Renard
Many expected Tunisia to finish bottom of their group in this World Cup. What wasn’t anticipated was a 5-1 loss to arguably their easiest opponent in the opening match. Tunisia pride themselves on being a resolute defensive side, so much so that they didn’t concede a single goal in qualifying. Seeing them get undone so easily by Sweden was a huge shock. Lamouchi got sacked after just five games, with his only win coming against Haiti. He’s the first manager to get fired in the middle of the World Cup since… Tunisia sacked Henryk Kasperczak in 1998. Something must be in the water in Tunisia.
In comes Hervé Renard, an experienced manager with a history of leading teams to punch above their weight. Renard is most well-known in the football world for managing Saudi Arabia in the last World Cup, leading them to an iconic win over eventual champions Argentina. However, he has a good track record with African nations as well. In 2012, he lifted the AFCON with Zambia for the only time in their country’s history. Renard then won AFCON again in 2015, this time with Ivory Coast. He became the first ever manager to win it twice with two different countries.
Expect Tunisia to get back to their defensive ways in this match against Japan. Renard will make this team difficult to break down once again. The good thing about the expanded World Cup is that Tunisia still aren’t out of it despite the big loss. If they can win one of their two remaining games and either draw the other or get help from elsewhere, their knockout dreams are still alive. This Japan team are missing some key attackers so Tunisia will view this as their chance to get a result, although it won’t come easy.
Japan Aim to Secure Their Spot in the Knockouts
While Tunisia’s camp is in turmoil, Japan’s morale is flying high. The Samurai Blue showed incredible resilience to come back from a goal down twice against the Netherlands and earn a draw. It looked as though they’d come up short but in the 88th minute, Koki Ogawa beat Virgil Van Dijk in the air. His header then deflected off Daichi Kamada and found its way to the back of the net as Japan secured a hard-fought point.
That draw in the opening match continues an eight game unbeaten run for Japan that dates back to last September. In that time period, they’ve beaten the likes of Brazil, England, and Scotland. This is a Samurai Blue team that is well-drilled by manager Hajime Moriyasu, the second-longest serving coach at the World Cup. Much like Tunisia, they pride themselves on their defense. Before the draw with the Dutch, Japan had kept five clean sheets in a row.
The main concern for Japan was their injury crisis. Star winger Kaoru Mitoma and attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino are both missing the World Cup with injuries they suffered with their clubs. Captain Wataru Endō then pulled out of the squad just days before their opening match. This meant that Japan’s attack in particular was depleted and things only got worse against the Netherlands. Takefusa Kubo was forced off in the 75th minute with a knee injury and will miss this game against Tunisia as a result. It’s now up to goalscorers Kamada and Keito Nakamura to provide service for Ayase Ueda up top.
Match Prediction
Tunisia will come into this game with a new lease on life under Renard. With their chances at making the knockouts extremely slim, I expect the goal will be to leave this game with a clean sheet at minimum. Due to that and the injuries Japan is dealing with, I expect this to be a low-scoring affair. One goal could very easily be enough to win it for either nation and ultimately I’m backing the Samurai Blue to find a way to score that goal.
Prediction: Tunisia 0-1 Japan
