Tunisia Fire Coach Lamouchi After 5-1 Thrashing by Sweden

Tunisia have sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi just one game into the World Cup, following a heavy 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden in Mexico on Monday.

The Tunisian football federation confirmed the news on its Instagram page, saying an agreement had been reached to dismiss Lamouchi and that Mondher Kebaier is set to take charge of the team on an interim basis.

The timing makes it one of the most abrupt managerial departures in World Cup history, with Tunisia still having two group games left to play. They face Japan on Saturday at the same stadium in Guadalupe where they lost to Sweden, before wrapping up Group F against the Netherlands in Kansas City.

Lamouchi, 54, had only been in the job since January and was already under pressure before the tournament began after his side were beaten 5-0 by Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly in Brussels.

The French coach previously led Côte d'Ivoire at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but could not get them out of the group stage.

Tunisia will need a quick turnaround under their new interim boss if they are to have any hope of progressing from a group that also includes Japan and the Netherlands.