Opinion

Saudi Arabia back in the World Cup

September 09, 2017



IT was truly a magical moment. Saudi midfielder Nawaf Al-Abed sent a laser-guided pass to substitute Fahd Al-Muwalad whose screamer from inside the area gave the Japanese goalkeeper no chance. And just like that, Saudi Arabia was in the World Cup, its fifth appearance in the world’s showpiece football event and its first since 2006.

Al-Muwalad’s second half winner gave Saudi Arabia a 1-0 victory over Japan to secure Group B’s second automatic qualifying spot, ahead of Australia on goal difference. Australia’s 2-1 win over Thailand in Melbourne meant Saudi Arabia needed only a win against Japan seven hours later to move above the Socceroos in Asian qualifying and go through to next year’s finals in Russia. Saudi Arabia handily obliged, making optimum use of the opportunity afforded them to become the first Arab team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and joining Iran, Japan and South Korea as the Asian representatives.

The goal sent the more than 62,000 fans inside the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah — led by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense — in raptures. There was a huge desire and an ambitious national goal to return to the World Cup, which is where Saudi Arabia staked its soccer claim to fame. While the Kingdom has won three Asian Cups, it is in the World Cup where it made its mark on the international stage, starting with the remarkable performance at its debut in 1994, outlasting every reasonable expectation.

Supporters want to relive those heady days when under the helm of Argentinian coach Jorge Solari, Saudi Arabia beat both Belgium and Morocco in the group stage to finish second. The roster was packed with illustrious names: Muhammad Al-Deayea, Abdullah Al-Dosari, Muhammad Al-Khlaiwi, Fahad Al-Ghashiyan, Fahad Mehalel, Sami Al-Jaber, Hamzah Saleh, Majed Abdullah and Saeed Al-Oweiran whose incredible end-to-end marauding run against Belgium resulted in a stunning individual goal voted the sixth best of all-time by FIFA.

In the end, Saudi Arabia bowed out to Sweden in the second round but not before becoming an established football power and showing fans around the world that not only could the Kingdom match the more famous teams of the day but could also beat them at their own game.

In the three following World Cups, Saudi Arabia could not do as well, failing to reach the second round on each occasion.

But the Kingdom is back on football’s world stage and with a new crop of players eager to emulate their predecessors. Now there’s Al-Muwalad, a 23-year-old quicksilver talent who played in the youth World Cup six years ago, a winning card who as a second half sub can change the face of a game, as he so aptly did against Japan. Nawaf Al-Abid, 26, a midfield goal scorer who cleared the ball twice from the goal line against Japan. And there’s Omar Hawsawi, a strong stalwart defender who played throughout the World Cup campaign. These are among the players Saudi Arabia is depending on as it enters its fifth World Cup.

Saudi Arabia’s return to the World Cup did not come by chance or overnight. It was done through relentless hard work on the part of all concerned, starting with the Kingdom’s leadership. While the team today might lack the same illustrious names of the past, it has succeeded by playing as a team. In today’s squad, the sum is greater than the parts. They have gone back to old-fashioned teamwork where preparation and persistence still count.

Going to the World Cup is a huge responsibility placed on the shoulders of the team and their Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk. The entire world watches the World Cup, which, along with the Summer Olympics, are the two biggest sports spectacles on the planet. Hopefully, once again, Al-Akhdar will make the Kingdom proud.


September 09, 2017
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