World Cup 2022 team guides part 12: Saudi Arabia

Rising expectation after an eventually dominant World Cup qualifying campaign has plateaued in the wake of a demanding group-stage draw and mixed warmup results. Saudi Arabia were Asia’s success story in the third qualifying round, topping a tough pool while successfully developing their next generation. And the prospect of facing Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Robert Lewandowski’s Poland and perennial dark horses Mexico has not tempered the belief of the Green Falcons’ head coach Hervé Renard.

“Even though we are in a tough group, you have to be ambitious,” he told Fifa.com ahead of a second successive World Cup, having managed Morocco in Russia. “Going to the World Cup without ambition is pointless. We have to believe we have a chance and push ourselves to the limit.”

The debonair Renard – he of Africa Cup of Nations-winning fame with Zambia and Ivory Coast, plus an incongruous stint at Cambridge United in 2004 – tweaked his tactics slightly for the recent warmup games, switching from the established 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3. Energy, injury permitting, should come from exceptional full-backs Yasser al-Shahrani and Sultan al-Ghanam, midfield control from Al Hilal icon Salman al-Faraj and inspiration from exceptional winger Salem al-Dawsari. Al Nassr’s magician Sami al-Najei is the squad’s wildcard.

There is talent aplenty and belief a repetition of the lionised run to the knockouts at the 1994 World Cup is achievable. All the above-mentioned players must recover from knocks – with Dawsari’s fitness a particular worry – during a training camp across the border in Abu Dhabi, featuring five friendlies.

The coach

Hervé Renard’s impressive achievements in Africa made him the man chosen to establish order within Saudi ranks after Juan Antonio Pizzi’s underachievement at the 2018 World Cup and the Asian Cup the following year. A slow start – headlined by September 2019’s rollercoaster 2-2 qualifying draw against Yemen – made way for punishing consistency in a consummate third round. Renard’s side topped Group B ahead of Japan and Australia, while blooding youngsters such as Abdulelah al-Amri, Abdulelah al-Malki, Firas al-Buraikan and Najei. The Frenchman’s regular presence at Roshn Saudi League games and the team’s clear development on the pitch makes the nation feel they are in safe hands.

Star player

Salem al-Dawsari. “The Tornado” is expected to leave a trail of devastation in Group C if he recovers from appendix surgery. He has built on the winner against Egypt at the 2018 World Cup, netting regularly at global and continental tournaments. The 31-year-old’s acumen inspired his former Al Hilal teammate Bafétimbi Gomis to tweet a picture of them together after last year’s iconic AFC Champions League display versus Al Nassr, with the gushing caption: “A photo very representative of the admiration I have for him. The best Asian player.”

Unsung hero

Saleh al-Shehri. Much has changed since the unsatisfactory outing at the World Cup four years ago but up front uncertainty still reigns, with Shehri battling the in-form Al Fateh striker Buraikan for a starting spot. Buraikan is expected to get the nod against Argentina, but don’t discount Shehri’s role off the bench. An unselfish performer and underrated finisher, whose “perma-sub” role at Al Hilal deflects attention – Shehri hit seven goals in 13 qualifying appearances, including key strikes versus Oman, Vietnam and China.

Probable lineup

Qatar stance