However, the rival of Argentina’s debut in the World Cup Qatar 2022will arrive with the expectation of repeating or improving the round of 16 achieved in the 1994 World Cup in the United States -his great performance-.
It was precisely in that performance that the historic goal of striker Said Al Owairan, nicknamed the “Maradona of the Persian Gulf”, was given when he scored the best goal of the World Cup against Belgium and one of the best in FIFA history.
The attacker took the ball in midfield and dribbled past different rivals to score the goal that qualified him for the round of 16 for the first and only time so far.
Currently, the figure of Saudi Arabia is the attacker Saleh Al Shehri (28 years old), who plays for Al Hilal, managed by the Argentine Ramon Diaz, and was one of the figures in the consecration of the Asian Champions League. He then participated in the Club World Cup and fell in the semifinals against Chelsea, from England.
The striker finished as Saudi’s top scorer in the Asian tie with eight goals, and is strong in the air but also often drops back to get a better look and assist, something he did for the other two qualifying goals.
Not only his figure plays in Al Hilal, but the great base of his initial formation, with five footballers in the most powerful institution in the country. In addition, the rest also make up the Saudi championship and are divided between Al Nassr, Al Ahli, Al Batin, Al Faisaly, Al-Shabab and Al Hazem.
Saudi Arabia’s starting lineup is usually Mohammed Al Owais; Sultan Al Ghannam, Abdulelah Al Amri, Ali Al Bulaihi, Yasir Al Shahrani; Mohammed Kano, Abdulelah Al Malki; Salem Al Dawsari, Salman Al Faraj, Fahad Al Muwallad, Saleh Al Shehri.
Its technical director is French Herve Renardtwo-time winner of the African Cup of Nations (Zambia and Ivory Coast), and who has been in charge since 2019.
One of his main characteristics as a coach is the flexibility in the game systems, and in fact throughout the tournament he tried with a 4-2-3-1, a 4-1-4-1 or a 4-5-1 . He always accommodated the rivals on duty.
In the Asian Qualifiers, Saudi Arabia only lost one match in ten rounds when Japan took away the undefeated by 2 to 0, as a visitor, on February 1 of this year and the ticket was taken out on March 24 when they tied with China by 1 to 1 as a visitor.
Those led by Renard stayed with the group, with 23 points (7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss) and 12 goals for and six against.
Saudi Arabia never faced Argentina in the World Cups, but they did in four friendly matches: two defeats (2-0 in 1988 and 3-1 in 1992) and two draws (1-1 in 1988 and 0-0 in 2012). ).
In the last World Cup, the Arab team was directed by the Argentine Juan Antonio Pizzi but his participation was bad, with a negative debut (5-0 against the local Russia) and another fall against Uruguay (1-0).
The final victory over Egypt (2-1) in the closing of group A, gave him a joy in the face of yet another World Cup disappointment. The success placed it in the 26th. position over 32 participants.
In total, Saudi Arabia played 16 games at the World Cups, with just three wins, two draws and 11 losses.
Saudi Arabia at the World Cups
1994 – Eliminated in the Round of 16 (12th.).
1998 – Eliminated in Groups 1st Round (28th).
2002 – Eliminated in Groups 1st Round (32nd.).
2006 – Eliminated in Groups 1st Round (28th).
2018 – Eliminated in Groups 1st Round (26th.).
2022 – classified.
Source: Ambito
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