2023-24 Saudi Pro League review: The hits and misses

LONDON: Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 in Japan on Tuesday to follow the 1-0 win over China last Thursday. The results leave the Green Falcons on 10 points in Group C in the third round of 2026 World Cup qualification, three points behind Australia in second. Japan are already sure of first.

Only the top two from each of the three groups of six are guaranteed a place in North America next summer, while those that finish third and fourth advance to another stage of qualification.

It goes without saying that Saudi Arabia want to take the direct route. Here are five things we learned from this World Cup qualification window.

The Japan result was a good one

Four points from the two games is a good showing. The China game should have ended with a more emphatic scoreline and ideally would have been followed by victory in Japan.

Coach Herve Renard said after the 0-0 draw that he would have taken the point if he had been offered it 24 hours earlier, and understandably so. Japan are the best team in Asia by some distance, even if they had already qualified.

If Saudi Arabia do miss out on the automatic places for the World Cup it will not be because of the stalemate in Japan but because of earlier home draws with Indonesia and Bahrain. If six points had been taken in those two games under Roberto Mancini, then the result in Saitama Stadium would have been hailed as an excellent one. The same could be said if Australia had not picked up six points in the last five days.

Attacking threat sacrificed for defensive solidity

Renard did not need to say that he would have taken a point: His game plan and tactics made it obvious that this was what he wanted.

There was talk about keeping it tight for the opening exchanges and then perhaps getting down the wings to cause problems for the East Asians.

The first part of that equation happened, but the second? Not really. There was little in terms of attacking threat from the visitors. There were long balls out of defence but Firas Al-Buraikan was often left isolated on the rare occasions that the ball went into dangerous areas.

Yet the concentration, the tactical discipline and hard work were impressive. Saudi Arabia frustrated a better team away from home and while there was luck at times, they are only the second team to take points from Japan in 14 World Cup qualifiers.

Jehad Thakri impresses

With injuries at the back, a problem not helped by Hassan Kadesh getting carried off against China, there were some understandable worries against the team with the most firepower in Asia. There may have been a few nerves when Renard handed a debut to Jehad Thakri but the Al-Qadsiah center-back did not display any signs of them as he took the field at Saitama Stadium on the right side of a three-man defense.

The 23-year-old has made a name for himself this season in the Saudi Pro League and looks like he belongs on the international stage too as he was confident, strong and hard to beat. His distribution was not quite as impressive but there is time for that to develop, especially as there will not be many games when Saudi Arabia are under so much pressure. With Nawaf Boushal also impressing, there are some new names coming through.

Fatigue and injuries play a part

Following the Japan game there has been plenty of reaction on social media about how extending the number of foreign players allowed in Saudi Pro League squads to 10 has negatively affected the national team. 

That is perhaps a debate for another day, but it should not be forgotten that the Green Falcons have had to deal with numerous injuries. Just before the China game, midfielder Mohamed Kanno was ruled out, then Kadesh was also unavailable and, perhaps most damaging of all, Roma star Saud Abdulhamid picked up an injury. There are also longer-term knocks such as Yasser Al-Shahrani and others. 

And then there is the travel factor. There was a hard-fought game at home and then a long, long trip east, across six time zones, to face the best team in Asia. This should not be underestimated (and will work against Australia in the final window).

Renard has gambled on Japan

There are two games remaining, with the final clash between Saudi Arabia and Australia on June 10 — and this cannot be a dead rubber. The problem is that the Socceroos are three points clear with a much superior goal difference. 

Whatever happens, Renard and his men have to win in Bahrain in the penultimate match. Then the hope is that Japan get something in Perth on the same day. Even though they have already qualified, the Samurai Blue are certainly capable of winning Down Under. There is a rivalry between the two teams and Japan would enjoy denting Australia’s World Cup hopes.

It would mean then that it all comes down to the last game. If Saudi Arabia go into the Australia match knowing that a win means second place and the World Cup, then Renard will be happy.

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard says Japan’s qualification for the World Cup will not affect how either team plays when they meet on Tuesday at Saitama Stadium just north of Tokyo.

Japan qualified for next year’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday and remained top of Group C with 19 points from seven games. Australia is second with 10 points followed by Saudi Arabia with nine.

“We still have to play Japan tomorrow, then go to Bahrain and to receive Australia for the last game, so it’s a tough sprint for the second position,” Renard said at a press conference on Monday held in Saitama Stadium near Tokyo. "You always have to adapt yourself to the situation, to be strong and to fight to get the direct qualification. We know Japan are disciplined, we know their philosophy, and there is no doubt they can play this game against us at 100 percent. We are playing against the best team in Asia, so we will be ready to compete on the field tomorrow.”

Goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aghidi said the Saudi squad have had a positive few days in Japan: “We have a good a couple of days here in Japan and everything has been positive. I would like to thank the Japanese for their warm welcome for the team here and we would like to congratulate them on securing their spot in the World Cup finals. Tomorrow's game is a difficult game for both teams and hopefully we can manage to get the three points.”

Renard said the previous game against China, which Saudi Arabia won 1-0 was “a good game” but admitted his team was not efficient enough. “We didn't score a lot of goals, but we got a lot of opportunities,” he said.

Renard noted that the squad had suffered some injuries, and the demands of Ramadan had also affected some players, but he emphasized, he was not looking for excuses. “Yes, it's true we have some injured players, but this is part of football where we must adapt ourselves. Concerning getting cramp during Ramadan, it is never easy for all the players, but they must adapt themselves. So, we must be ready tomorrow because tomorrow we'll have to run a lot.”

Al-Aghidi said his role as a goalkeeper was just to help the team: “My aim is always to help my national team, and this is why I wanted to have more playing time, and this is the place I want to be. As a goalkeeper, it's very important to have more playing time. I'm ready to play a key role for my team tomorrow. I will do my best to help my fellow players during the game to get the result that we have been working for.”

Renard was asked about Japan’s ambition to win the World Cup by 2050.

“It's normal when you have a big ambition,” he replied. “To win the World Cup is a very big ambition, but they can do this in the future, I'm sure, because they have so many quality players. We are playing against a very strong team, so we need to be ready to have a tough game. But in football you must believe in yourself.”