Tunisia's new head coach said he accepted the federation's call without hesitation — the World Cup is too exceptional an event to turn down, and while the team remains in it, there is reason to believe. He studied the Sweden defeat closely and acknowledged the scoreline was heavy, but did not write off the group stage.

His first session with the players, held roughly an hour before the press conference, was deliberately short: he told them to lift their heads, represent Tunisia with honour, and understand it is both a privilege and a duty. The squad, he made clear, must deliver a performance far above what was shown in the opener.

All attention is fixed on Japan; the third match will be addressed once that game is settled. He also paid personal tribute to dismissed coach Sabri, noting that head coaches inevitably absorb the consequences of collective failure — a situation he experienced himself earlier in his career.

He believes the players carry a genuine sense of sadness for Sabri's exit, and that weight should translate into motivation on the pitch.

The Tunisia head coach admitted that the result of their second group-stage match against Japan was heavy and accurately reflected the gap in quality between the two sides on the night. He had expected a stronger reaction from his players, but the team failed to deliver it.

Defensively, Tunisia lacked aggression for the majority of the game, with the only positive being the opening 20 minutes of the second half when they showed slightly more organisation, albeit without creating chances. Despite being eliminated, the coach called on his squad to remain professional and finish the tournament with dignity against the Netherlands.

Asked about his own future, he declined to comment, noting he was brought in only for the final two group games and that this was not the moment for such discussions. Tunisia have now failed to advance beyond the group stage in all seven of their World Cup appearances.

The coach praised the Monterrey stadium as magnificent but noted with a smile that the stands were "a little too blue" thanks to the large contingent of Japanese supporters.

Japan's head coach expressed satisfaction with the win over Tunisia in the team's second World Cup match, crediting the players' preparation despite uncertainty over Tunisia's tactics following their coaching change. Kamada was deployed as shadow forward in place of the injured Kubo and rewarded the coach's faith with a goal, while Misakura and Tomiyasu earned starting spots after showing improved condition in training camps.

The coach singled out Japanese fans at Monterrey's stadium for their support, and also expressed gratitude to Mexican supporters in green shirts who loudly cheered for Japan throughout the match. The four-man rotation from the first game was driven by current squad condition rather than lessons from Qatar 2022 — the coach emphasized a flexible, case-by-case approach rather than a fixed rotation policy.

Asked about his personal record of three World Cup wins as a manager, he dismissed the milestone as unimportant and said he only focuses on the next match. On the question of goal difference, the coach said winning remains the primary goal, noting that the large margin was partly a result of Tunisia's goalkeeper situation, not a deliberate target.

The coach believes the squad still has room to grow despite injuries, as building a team where any combination of players can function effectively has been a core principle throughout their preparation.