Herve Renard unable to prevent Tunisia exit as Japan win 4-0 in World Cup’s 1,000th game
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Daichi Kamada celebrates after giving Japan an early lead against Tunisia David Ramos/Getty Images
By Tomás Hill López-MencheroJune 21, 2026 Updated June 22, 2026Japan has one foot in the World Cup knockouts after a comfortable win against Tunisia in Monterrey that eliminates the north African side.
Before the game all eyes were on new Tunisia coach Herve Renard, and what defensive improvements he had been able to instil in the team in the space of four days following the sacking of Sabri Lamouchi.
The immediate answer was: not many. Japan went ahead via Daichi Kamada after just four minutes, and proceeded to dominate the first half. An excellent finish from striker Ayase Ueda just after the half-hour mark gave Japan an advantage that their performance warranted.
Japan made it three in the 69th minute with another lovely goal, this time from Junya Ito and added a fourth in the closing stages when Ueda looped a header over two Tunisia defenders on the goal line. Four goals is the most an Asian side has ever scored in a World Cup game.
Per The Athletic’s projections, Japan can now start planning for a round of 32 game, although their most-likely opponents — Brazil, Morocco or France — suggest there may be a tough challenge in store.
Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero breaks down the key talking points from the game.
Japan has one foot in the knockouts – how far can they go?
For all the talented players and sides they have produced over the years, it is a surprise Japan has never progressed beyond the round of 16 at a World Cup.
There seemed to be more hopes about this vintage breaking that duck. Hajime Moriyasu’s side won against Brazil in October, then became the first Asian nation to beat England at Wembley in March.
Injuries to three key players in Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino and Wataru Endo before this tournament did nothing to help their chances of achieving that World Cup landmark. Losing Takefusa Kubo for this game after an apparent knee injury in the first match deprived them of another of their stars.
But they have found a way to thrive without them. Keito Nakamura, who plays for Reims in France’s second division, has stepped up to be an unlikely hero, scoring against the Netherlands and assisting Kamada’s goal here. He seemed to revel in the limelight.
Four points from two games is an excellent start from Japan (Luke Hales/Getty Images)They are a slick side with plenty of ways to hurt opponents and a constantly shifting attack — just witness the movement at play for Ito’s goal to make it 3-0. Or the two contrasting finishes from Ueda, one a drilled effort from the edge of the area, the other a satisfying looping header with Tunisia all at sea.
They are now level with the Netherlands on +4 goal difference at the top of the group, which would be the tiebreaker used if they finish level on points (having drawn against each other). You would expect this Japan side to beat Sweden, but much depends on which version of Graham Potter’s side show up.
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The problem is Japan’s knockout hopes may be out of their hands. Whichever way you look at it, a likely round-of-32 tie against Brazil, Morocco or France — depending on if they finish first, second or third in Group F — looks tough.
One thing is certain though: this team would aim to go toe-to-toe with anyone. And any knockout tie involving Asia’s best will be a must-watch encounter.
The rapid failure of the Herve Renard experiment
When Herve Renard spoke to the media before this game on Saturday, he cut a steely figure — telling reporters his team would play with a “spirit of revenge” after their 5-1 drubbing by Sweden.
Instead, the only spirit was surrender.
There were so many gaps in their defence even before the ball arrived at the feet of Nakamura in the build-up to the opening goal. His cross was precise, and it wasn’t initially clear whether it had come off the heel of Kamada or Tunisia’s Montassar Talbi — in any case, it had Renard despairing on the touchline.
Renard, left, in his familiar white shirt (David Ramos/Getty Images)The second goal owed more to Ueda’s stunning finish rather than poor defending — although their players didn’t make an attempt to challenge the striker — but their chances of progressing from their group looked over with little more than 30 minutes played.
The question was: would it have been any better with Lamouchi in charge? Possibly not, but the Tunisian Football Federation had banked on a transformation under Renard after becoming the first team to sack their coach one game in to a World Cup. They wanted the kind of inspiration that led his Saudi Arabia side to beat eventual champions Argentina in the group stage in Qatar (although Saudi Arabia then finished bottom of the section).
The most worrying thing for them is that Renard is not even certain to stay beyond this summer. If changing coach halfway through the tournament and getting the same result tells the federation anything, it is that perhaps the problems go further than the dugout.
Japan operating in the margins again
With Japan having made a lightning-fast start through Kamada’s back-heeled goal in the fourth minute, Moriyasu’s side thought things had got even better for them following a scramble from a corner six minutes later.
Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen scrambled backwards as an effort deflected off Takehiro Tomiyasu, clawing the ball off the line. Although the fervent Japanese support inside Estadio Monterrey thought it was a goal, referee Istvan Kovacs’ watch seemingly did not buzz, and a long wait then followed as the official listened in to advice in his earpiece.
Some replays appeared to show Dahmen had failed to keep the ball from crossing the line — but Kovacs eventually signalled to play on. The crucial still was the one generated by the World Cup’s goal-line technology, which showed that a minuscule part of the ball was not over the line. The whole of the ball has to cross the goal line for a goal to be scored.
The goal-line technology image that denied Japan a goal (FIFA)Japan are no strangers to controversy around that kind of narrow margin at a World Cup.
Four years ago in Qatar, they progressed as group winners after a goal against Spain which came from a Mitoma cutback on the sideline — which the assistant referee said had gone out, before referee Victor Gomes overturned that call after listening to VAR.
Goal-line technology did not extend to outside the posts, hence the confusion. New technology has now been introduced for this tournament to allow officials to check whether the ball has gone out of play anywhere along the touchline.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
