Saudi Arabia’s coach not new to big stage excellence

HERVÉ Renard relishes being the underdog and is no stranger to pulling off huge upsets on the football field, writes thestar. com.

Just hours before yesterday’s kickoff against Argentina at the World Cup tournament in Qatar, Saudi Arabia’s head coach, Renard, was talking about how he relishes being the underdog. unbeaten streak for their

“We love it when they forfirst game at the W orld get about us and consider Cup stage, and marks the us the smallest team. In the first time the South

World Cup, there are surAmerican country has lost prises and that is the mena game in which internatality we have,” the 54- yeartional super star, Lionel old French- born manager Messi, scores. told Euro Foot. Renard, who took the

By the time the final whishelm of the Saudi’s side in tle was blown, his Green 2019, is no stranger to Falcons were the big gest pulling huge upsets. spoilers so far on the He was the manager of the world’s biggest stage. Zambia national team that Renard helped the Saudi won the 2012 Africa Cup of Arabia national team put Nations. Zambia was on a performance for the ranked 16th in Africa, and record books when it edged powerhouse Cote defeated a heavily favoured d’ivoire, who were ranked Argentina, shocking more No. 1. than 88,000 football fans Three years later , Renard at Lusail Iconic Stadium was head coach of Cote and the millions watching d’ivoire when they defeatacross the globe. ed four- time champions,

The 2- 1 defeat puts an end Ghana, for the 2015 Africa to Argentina’s 36- match Cup of Nations trophy.