Saudi Arabia target return to past glories in Russia

Decades of disappointment ends as Egypt discover Holy Grail

RIYADH, Nov 23, (RTRS): Saudi Arabia make their return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2006 aiming to recapture the country’s glory days.

The Saudis reached the knockout phase in their first appearance at the tournament in the United States in 1994 when Saeed Owairan’s 80-yard run culminated in a remarkable goal against Belgium that helped take the country into the last 16.

Saudi Arabia’s fortunes at the World Cup have been diminishing ever since, however, with none of their appearances in 1998, 2002 – when they were thrashed 8-1 by Germany – and 2006 seeing them advance beyond the group phase.

The last decade witnessed a marked decline, with the Saudi team failing to make a sustained impact at any level until Bert van Marwijk took over as coach in 2015, with the Dutchman rebuilding confidence and steering them to Russia.

Van Marwijk’s side was built on the foundations of the Riyadh-based Al Hilal club, where Osama Hawsawi is an imposing presence in defence, and Abdullah Otayf controls midfield alongside the creative fulcrum of Salman Al Faraj and Salem Al Dawsari.

None of the squad that qualified for the World Cup finals plays professionally outside Saudi Arabia, with Al Nassr and Al Ahli from the domestic league also contributing key players such as Yahya Al Shehri and Taisir Al Jassim.

But the Dutchman was ousted from his role just days after qualification was sealed when he failed to agree an extension to his contract and he was replaced by Argentina’s Edgardo Bauza.

Bauza, who was fired by Argentina during their difficult qualifying campaign, was sacked by Saudi Arabia after five matches in charge.

He had made a disappointing start to his tenure, losing friendlies to Portugal and Bulgaria in November.

The Saudi football federation said on Wednesday that they were “working on finishing the details with another

SOCCER

manager to replace Bauza and lead the national team in the World Cup in Russia.”

Egypt

Egypt have finally found their Holy Grail, overcoming the disappointment of decades of heartbreaking failure to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990.

Qualifying had become an obsessive weight on the team, whose repeated failures in the World Cup came in stark contrast to their recordbreaking achievements in the African Nations Cup, where they repeatedly won the continental championship.

Egypt reached the African playoffs for the last World Cup but a 6-1 hammering in Ghana proved yet another huge setback and when they were paired with the Ghanaians again in qualifying for the 2018 finals, more disappointment was anticipated.

But Ghana started the campaign poorly, including being beaten 2-0 in Alexandria, and Egypt were able to keep their noses in front in the group, even after losing in Uganda and producing unconvincing displays in their last two home matches.

Giddy celebrations followed after qualification was secured with one game to play, with Mohamed Salah tucking away a late penalty to beat Congo 2-1 at home and avoid having to go to Ghana in their last match to try and secure a World Cup place.

Morocco

A peace offering in an Amsterdam coffee shop proved a catalyst for Morocco’s late rally to success in the World Cup qualifiers and their first appearance at the finals in 20 years since the 1998 tournament in France.

Coach Herve Renard travelled to the Netherlands in mid-year for a make-up meeting with maverick midfield talent Hakim Ziyech, who had quit the team after Renard left him out of the squad for the African Nations Cup at the start of the year.

Dutch-born Ziyech, 24, returned to the side with immediate effect and scored twice in a decisive 6-0 home win over Mali in September that proved the turning point of the campaign.

Ziyech is among a bevy of talented midfielders who make the Moroccan side tick along with Mbark Boussoufa, also born in the Netherlands, and French-born Younes Belhanda.

Tunisia

Tunisia were handed a relatively easy passage to their fifth World Cup but they went through the African preliminaries with a proficiency that augurs well for next year’s finals in Russia.

The north African country — whose size and population of nearly 12 million belies a regular seat at African soccer’s head table — won their group ahead of Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya and Guinea to qualify for the first time since 2006.

Tunisia were the first African country to win a match at a World Cup tournament — beating Mexico 3-1 in Rosario in 1978 — but in 11 games since at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 finals they have failed to emerge victorious.