Tunisia turn to Hervé Renard in shock appointment
Tunisia have moved swiftly to appoint Hervé Renard as their new head coach just two days before their World Cup opener against Poland. The experienced Frenchman, who famously led Saudi Arabia to a stunning upset over Argentina in Qatar 2022, takes over from Jalel Kadri after a disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign. Renard, known for his touchline charisma and tactical acumen, arrives with a mandate to guide the Tunisia squad past the group stage for the first time in their history. “I am honoured to take charge of this talented group,” Renard said in a federation statement. “We will fight for every point.”
VAR official cleared over controversial gesture
A World Cup video assistant referee at the centre of a furore after being caught making a hand gesture during the Iran-New Zealand match has been cleared of any wrongdoing by FIFA. The official, whose identity was not released, was seen holding up two fingers in what some interpreted as a political statement. After a swift investigation, FIFA concluded the gesture was “incidental and not intended to convey any message”, dismissing calls for sanctions. The incident drew sharp reactions from Iranian officials, adding to the tense atmosphere surrounding their campaign.
France enter the fray as group stage heats up
Tournament favourites France finally kick off their campaign tonight against Honduras at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Manager Zinédine Zidane has a fully fit squad to choose from, with Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann expected to lead the line. Les Bleus are heavy favourites to progress from Group E and will aim to lay down an early marker. “We have prepared diligently. Now it’s time to show our quality,” Zidane told reporters.
Iran coach: ‘Our team is the most oppressed’
Amir Ghalenoei, the Iran head coach, has launched a scathing attack on FIFA and the United States government, claiming his squad has faced systematic mistreatment since arriving for the tournament. After a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their Group G opener, Ghalenoei told Sky Sports his side are “the most oppressed team at this World Cup”.
“We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover, but we were told to leave immediately. This is not how you treat a national team,” Ghalenoei said.
The build-up was overshadowed by the US-Iran peace agreement, signed just weeks before the tournament following months of military strikes. Captain Mehdi Taremi echoed his coach’s sentiment, adding: “We feel the pressure is political, not sporting.” The Iranian anthem was jeered by sections of the 70,000 crowd at SoFi Stadium before kick-off, though the team later received strong backing from the large Iranian-American contingent.
Algeria win hearts in Lawrence, Kansas
While Argentina, the Netherlands and England enjoy boutique luxury in Kansas City, Algeria have chosen the humble DoubleTree hotel in Lawrence — and the local community has embraced them wholeheartedly. The Desert Warriors face the defending champions in their opening fixture and hope their unlikely Kansas fanbase can roar them to an upset. Local artist Stan Herd, who helped paint the city in green and white, told The Guardian: “I think everybody’s surprised at it. We’re not.”
Elsewhere, Germany chancellor Friedrich Merz gifted US president Donald Trump a personalised Germany shirt with “Trump 47” for his 80th birthday during the G7 summit in France, a rare nod to the World Cup from the American leader.
Key Takeaways
- Tunisia have appointed Hervé Renard as manager on the eve of their tournament opener.
- A VAR official has been exonerated by FIFA after a controversial gesture during the Iran-New Zealand match.
- France begin their campaign as heavy favourites under Zinédine Zidane.
- Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei labelled his team “the most oppressed” due to political tensions and last-minute logistical demands.
- Algeria have found a passionate home away from home in Lawrence, Kansas, eschewing the glamour of their rivals’ base camps.
Quick Facts
Iran result: Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Algeria base: DoubleTree by Hilton, Lawrence, Kansas
France kick-off: 8pm local time, AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Renard achievement: Led Saudi Arabia to victory over Argentina in 2022