Road to 2034: What does Saudi Arabia have to do to produce a successful national team?

Road to 2034: What does Saudi Arabia have to do to produce a successful national team?

RIYADH: In hindsight, Saudi Arabia’s exit from the World Cup after a stalemate with Cape Verde does not look as bad as it did at the time.

The Blue Sharks were one of two teams to put two goals past runners-up Argentina, and the only team in the tournament to avoid both losing and conceding a goal to the eventual champions, Spain. But if that is what the Green Falcons were to take from the World Cup, it risks shifting focus away from the deeper underlying issues hindering Saudi football on the Road to 2034.

In the 90 minutes against Cape Verde, all of Saudi Arabia’s problems were laid bare.

Some pointed to the late appointment of Georgios Donis as head coach, with little time to install a clear identity before the tournament. Others pointed to the lack of playing time for domestic players. Neither fully explains the sheer lack of desire to win a game that needed to be won.