In the 31st minute Ayase Ueda took a touch, opened his body and curled an 18-yard shot into the bottom-left corner. By full time he had two, Japan had four, and the long argument over who leads their attack had a clear answer.

Daichi Kamada struck in the fourth minute and Tunisia never recovered. Japan won 4-0, two goals in each half, to reach four points in Group F. Level with the Netherlands at the top, Japan now settle qualification in the final round against Sweden on June 26.

The Netherlands beat Sweden 5-1 before Tunisia face Japan in Group F. For Tunisia, who lost 5-1 to Sweden in their opener, Japan's 2-2 draw with the Dutch now looks harder to dismiss. Recent Tunisian and Arabic-language coverage does not show a fresh public panic, but it does show Herve Renard trying to shut out the noise and push the squad toward one demand: beat Japan.

Japan's Group F second match comes against a Tunisia side that, four days after a 5-1 opening loss to Sweden, swapped Sabri Lamouchi for Herve Renard. Japan have a change of their own: Takefusa Kubo, hurt in his left knee, has been ruled out and stays behind at the team's Nashville base for treatment rather than travelling to the match. Level on a single point, Japan would take control of the qualifying race with a win — kickoff 13:00 JST on Sunday, June 21, in the open air at Monterrey.

On June 21, Group F plays both its second-round games on the same day: Netherlands vs Sweden in the early hours, then Japan vs Tunisia at midday Japan time. Japan will kick off already knowing the updated table — and if teams finish level, the first thing that separates them is the head-to-head result, not overall goal difference.

Before Tunisia face Japan, the first position being questioned at home is the one closest to goal. Local papers are now reading Aymen Dahmen as a possible starter instead of Mouhib Chamekh. That is not just a change-for-change's-sake rumor: it comes out of the five goals conceded against Sweden, the criticism of Chamekh's role in that defeat, and Herve Renard's preference for a cleaner 4-3-3 structure.

Japan's Takefusa Kubo has been ruled out of Saturday's Group F game against Tunisia with a left-knee injury; he stays at the Nashville base for treatment and does not travel with the squad. The team waiting for Japan in Monterrey has a four-day-old coach, Herve Renard, who has already called Japan "the best in Asia." Here is what he is trying to rebuild, in his own words.

Chant 26 checked Tunisian local outlets, radio clips and football commentary for references to Takefusa Kubo before Tunisia vs Japan. The pattern was clear: Kubo is visible in international coverage, but Tunisian discussion is centred on Tunisia's own crisis and Japan as a collective opponent.

Tunisia dismissed manager Sabri Lamouchi following a 5-1 loss to Sweden, just ahead of their match against Japan. Local media are reporting the move not as a simple tactical shift, but as a sign of turmoil within the federation, coupled with a growing wariness of their next opponent.

Japan's next opponent, Tunisia, has made a shock managerial change just four days before their match. Following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi after a 5-1 thrashing by Sweden, the federation bypassed an interim solution and appointed Hervé Renard. Renard is a master of the upset, famously known for leading Saudi Arabia to a victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. According to reports, Renard arrived in Monterrey on Tuesday and immediately took charge of the team. Now at the bottom of the group with nothing to lose, Tunisia will face Japan under the guidance of a proven tournament specialist.

Tunisia, Japan's next opponent in Group F, have dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi just four days before their crucial match on June 21. The decision came hours after a heavy 1-5 defeat to Sweden in their opening game. Mondher Kebaier, who managed the national team from 2019 to 2022, has been appointed as interim coach for the remainder of the group stage.

Tunisian media outlets identify Japan, even more so than the Netherlands, as the 'most difficult opponent' in Group F. The reasoning points to Japan's collective discipline and their alertness on set pieces.