Tunisia experienced a dramatic reversal of fortune at the FIFA World Cup, suffering a complete collapse after a flawless qualifying campaign. The team qualified without conceding a single goal, winning nine of ten matches and finishing thirteen points ahead of their nearest competitor. However, at the tournament, they conceded twelve goals in three games, allowing a goal within the first seven minutes of each match and scoring two own goals. Manager Sami Trabelsi was dismissed prior to the World Cup, and his replacement, Sabri Lamouchi, faced criticism regarding his commitment to the national team and made controversial player selections. Despite a strong qualifying record with 22 goals scored, the team lacked a prolific striker, a weakness ultimately exposed on the world stage. The qualifying success masked underlying issues that contributed to their disappointing performance, highlighting a stark contrast between expectation and reality.