Despite boasting some exciting players in wide areas, Saudi Arabia are something of an unknown quantity heading into World Cup 2018.
Two managerial changes since securing qualification to this summer’s finals make it hard to know what to expect from the Green Falcons.
Furthermore, some of their best squad members have not played much league football since January following a strange deal struck between the Saudi Arabia Sports Authority and La Liga.
Road to Qualification
Saudi Arabia qualified as the runners-up of Group B in the third round of the Asian section.
After dominating United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Malaysia and Timor-Leste in the previous stage, a 1-0 win over Japan in their final match secured passage to Russia and consigned Australia to the play-offs.
One of the more attacking nations from the Asian contingent, none of the 12 sides who competed in the third round scored more than Saudi Arabia, who were level with Japan on 17 goals.
However, it’s hard to know how much to read into those results considering both the poor quality of the Saudi’s continental opponents and the fact that the man who orchestrated qualification is now long gone.
Bert Van Marwijk, who took Holland to the World Cup final in 2010, left his position in September because he could not agree on a new contract. It was a huge blow for Saudi Arabia as the Dutchman knew the players well and they understood his system perfectly. He was replaced by Edgardo Bauza who lasted just five matches before being sacked. His reign included 3-0 defeats to Ghana and Portugal as well as a 1-0 reverse in Bulgaria.
In charge for the World Cup finals is Juan Antonio Pizzi, whose most recent achievement prior to joining the Green Falcons was overseeing Chile’s surprise failure to qualify themselves little over a year after guiding them to the 2016 Copa America title.
The Spaniard has opted for a more measured passing game compared to Van Marwijk’s direct approach, which seems sensible given the task presented to them as the lowest ranked team at this World Cup. It’s certainly hard to see the 49-year-old implementing the aggressive high-pressing style used at Chile.
Pizzi has presided over some solid recent results since taking over, which include 2-0 wins over Moldova, Algeria and Greece. Iraq were 4-1 winners over a weakened Saudi side in February, while a full-strength Belgium hit them for four in March.
In the World Cup warm-up games Saudi Arabia were beaten 2-1 in Italy and 3-0 by Peru in Switzerland
AFC World Cup Qualifying Third round
Most starts: Salman Al-Faraj, Taiseer Al-Jassim, Omar Hawsawi, (all 10), Nawaf Al-Abed, Abdulmalek Al-Khabri, Yahya Al-Shehri, Osama Hawsawi, (all 9).
Most goals: Nawaf Al-Abed (5), Fahad Al-Muwallad, Mohammad Al-Sahlawi, Yahya Al-Shehri (all 2).
Most assists: Taiseer Al-Jassim (3), Nawaf Al-Abed, Hassan Muath Fallatah (both 2).
International Friendlies since August 5th 2017
Most starts: Omar Hawsawi (8), Yasser Al-Shahrani, Osama Hawsawi (both 7), Taiseer Al-Jassim, Abdullah Otaif (6).
Most goals: Salem Al-Dawsari, Salman Al-Faraj, Taiseer Al-Jassim (all 2).
Most assists: Mohamed Al-Sahlawi (3), Mohamed Al-Kwikbi (2).
The Key Targets
Up front, striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi (priced modestly on Fantasy iTeam at £5.4m and £6.5m in McDonald’s FIFA game) has a total of 28 goals in 37 international appearances, that works out at 0.76 per game.
Two of those came during qualifying, three in friendlies (two from the spot when Al-Abed was off the pitch) and since that campaign drew to a close he has added another three assists to the one recorded against Australia in June 2017. In April Al-Sahlawi spent also three weeks training with Manchester United to improve his game for the World Cup.
Meanwhile the virtually ever-present veteran midfielder Taiseer Al Jassim (£5.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) has a tendency to pop up with important goals. He has three in the last two years but could add to that in Russia and recorded three assists in qualifying. Only centre-back Osama Hawsawi (£4.5m on McDonald’s) represented the national team more times than Al Jassim since the summer of 2016.
The Long Shots
The 23-year-old Fahad Al-Muwallad (£5.3m on Fantasy iTeam and £6.5m in McDonald’s FIFA game) is considered the star attacker in Saudi Arabia’s ranks but hasn’t converted too much of his talent into Fantasy returns over the last two years.
The Al Ittihad winger scored twice in qualifying and has featured in just two of the matches since Pizzi took over. That may be because Al-Muwallad has been the unfortunate victim of an agreement between the Saudi Arabia Sports Authority and La Liga gone wrong. In order to broaden the experiences of the Saudis’ best players, seven of them were sent on loan to Spanish clubs wage-free for the recipients.
Al-Muwallad joined Levante but has only played 25 minutes in two substitute appearances since. How match fit he’ll be come the start of the World Cup is hard to determine, but his ability is well documented and Al-Muwallad is at the age where the occasion could bring out his best.
Salem Al-Dawsari (£5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) is another of Saudi Arabia’s exciting wingers with plenty of quality but just 33 minutes of pitch time under his belt following a loan move to Villarreal.
Areas to Avoid
An ageing defence will be an area to avoid as Saudi Arabia look likely to concede their fair share of goals in Group A. Osama Hawsawi, capped 132 times, is a hugely important figure to the side but at 34 is more susceptible to exploitation by pace, the same goes for left-back Mansoor Al-Harbi (£4.5m on McDonald’s) Omar’s namesake Omar Hawsawi (£4.5m).
Meanwhile Osama’s new 26-year-old centre-back partner, and another namesake, Motaz Hawsawi (£4.5m) may have been named the best defender in the most recent Saudi Premier League, but at 1.79cm tall could be exposed.
In fact, of the outfield players in the frame to start against Russia on June 14, only Osama Hawsawi is over six foot and the Saudis may struggle with the physicality of their opponents.
There is no firmly established name in goal either with Yasser Al-Musailem (£4.5m) the favourite, but Mohammed Al-Owais (£4.0m) and Abdullah Al-Mayuf (£4.0m) have all competed for the number one jersey during Pizzi’s tenure so far. With Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani all to be faced in Group A, the Saudis may have trouble keeping the score down.
Upcoming Friendlies
June 8: Germany v Saudi Arabia (Leverkusen)
Further Analysis
Our comprehensive World Cup guide can be found here.
Group A – Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group B – Iran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain
Group C – Australia, Peru, France, Denmark
Group D – Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E – Brazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia
Group F – Mexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea
Group G – Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H – Senegal, Japan, Poland, Colombia
Our editor’s Fantasy World Cup tips as told to Proper Sport
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6 years, 7 months ago"Last RT from @DiMarzio suggests Manchester United have agreed a deal with Shakhtar for Fred at £44 million and the club also retain an interest in one of Mario Mandzukic and Marko Arnautovic"
Looking at Arnie as a backup striker apparently.