Despite billions of dollars in investment and big star players, the Saudi Arabian national team still faces a tough challenge to succeed on the world stage after a crushing defeat to Spain.
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When Spain took a 4-0 lead over Saudi Arabia in the World Cup. That too early in the second half. Striker Saleh Al-Sehri, who was on the bench, was bowing his head. Whenever the Saudi team faces a European opponent, this team is often the ‘underdog’. The possibility of an unexpected result is always there.
After all, Saudi Arabia is the same team that defeated Argentina in Qatar four years ago. On the other hand, Spain was the same team that played a disappointing goalless draw against Cape Verde. That too just six days earlier in the same stadium. But this match between Spain and Saudi Arabia was a different story.
Spain had launched 22 attacks on Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia had to settle for just three. The defeat has already proven to be very costly for Saudi Arabia. If the Saudi team wins its final match of the league stage against Cape Verde, the Saudi team can still reach the knockout stage. But the defeat to Spain has raised many questions.
The 2034 World Cup is being held in Saudi Arabia. And the country has spent billions, if not millions, of dollars to improve its football. The current Saudi team is almost entirely made up of players from the country's own pro league. These players face the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane every week.
Saudi Arabia has recently reduced its investment in foreign players in football. But coach Georgios Donis believes that the presence of big-name players has raised the standard of Saudi football. It has helped local Saudi talent to emerge. But it will take time and is equally challenging to make the national team successful on the world stage.
He says, "The higher the level of competition, the better players are produced." Players of Saudi origin rarely get the chance to play in the Saudi league. For example, goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owasis. Last year, he had to sign with a club in the Saudi second division to spend more time on the field.
The Saudi team has also had three coaches in the last two years. Donis was appointed just two months before the start of the World Cup. Saudi Arabia's 1-1 draw against Uruguay in the current World Cup was a pleasant one. But the three goals in the first 25 minutes against Spain exposed the weaknesses of the Saudi team.
Donis had said about that result, "It was a bad result against a very strong team." Coach Donis is also enthusiastic about the match against Cape Verde and is confident that his team will perform well in it. He says, "We will definitely be in rhythm in that match and will play high-level football. The challenge we present will be strong."
