Underdogs Tunisia eye upset against Japan in 1,000th World Cup finals game

Tunisia's new coach Herve Renard said their performance must be perfect to have any hope ⁠against Japan on Saturday in Monterrey in what will be the landmark 1,000th World Cup finals match."I would like to insist that playing as a team is our only hope ‌for tomorrow," Renard told a press conference at Estadio Monterrey on Friday. "Maybe I am insisting too much... (but) our collective spirit must be ‌perfect to face this team."After Tunisia's crushing 5-1 ‌defeat in their opener against Sweden, the team fired ‌former coach Sabri Lamouchi and ‌rushed in fellow Frenchman Renard, who vowed to galvanise his shell-shocked team."We are seeking revenge ​tomorrow and we ‌believe this spirit ​will make a difference on ⁠the pitch," he said.Renard said that in the few days since he took charge of the squad, he had been focusing on ​the basics."Being ⁠rigorous, disciplined, and ⁠playing as one collective team. Even the players won’t know today who we will start tomorrow," he said.Tunisia are facing a ⁠tough challenge against Japan, the four-times Asian champions, who showed resilience and grit in their opening match, fighting back twice to snatch a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.Renard, acknowledging his team were the underdogs, said Cape Verde's shock draw with ‌Spain would inspire his players."This gives us hope," he said.Tunisia midfielder and captain Ellyes ​Skhiri agreed."We know the Japan team... they play as one and they are very disciplined," he said. "But this is a football match and we know that in the World Cup everything is ​possible."