‘Dangerous’: Spain wary of Saudi threat as two fight for World Cup Group H supremacy
LONDON: Spanish knowhow is helping Saudi Arabian football to develop and at the same time using that inside knowledge to warn their countrymen to expect a tough test in Sunday’s crucial 2026 World Cup clash in Atlanta.
Before the 48-team tournament kicked off, few predicted that these two teams would be level on points after the opening games in Group H as Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 with Uruguay, and Spain were, much more surprisingly, held to a 0-0 draw by debutants Cape Verde.
That result has led to a lot of criticism coming the way of the coach Luis de la Fuente in the Spanish media. It has also brought a renewed determination not to slip up against a Saudi Arabian side that is looking to reach the knockout stages for the second time in their seventh appearance.
Indeed, Ramon Planes, who spent the past two years as sports director of Jeddah giants Al-Ittihad, has warned his countrymen that this current version of the Asian team is better than the one that beat Argentina 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup.
