‘No picNic’: Saudi ExudE coNfidENcE
Coach Renard says the team will make its presence felt
THE head coach of the Saudi
national football team, Herve Renard, said his players were
all excited ahead of their first match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Argentina on Tuesday.
The Frenchman said they were aware of the challenges in the tournament but the players
had the belief and the determination to overcome them.
Renard told a press conference that the Saudi national team had not come to Qatar
for a picnic, but had come with the aim of making their countrymen proud of their national team and express their love for hosts Qatar.
“The players are very enthusiastic about making a great beginning against Argentina in their confrontation tomorrow,” he said.
“The Argentine national team is a contender to win the tournament. They are definitely a strong team, but participating in the World Cup means you
have to always face the strongest teams,” Renard said.
He said that the Saudi side had put in a great effort for a long time to make their presence felt in World Cup Qatar 2022.
“We have a lot of players who have already participated in the 2018 World Cup and we have
no problem with goalkeeping, we have a high fighting spirit.
Salman Al Faraj is ready and training normally,”he added.
“Messi is a football legend, he is the best passer in the French league and his level is special,
The Argentine national team is a contender to win the tournament. They are definitely a strong team, but participating in the World Cup means you have to always face the strongest teams. — Coach Herve Renard
but we must also focus on the rest of the players,” he said.
For his part, Saudi player Abdulelah al Maliki reiterated
that his teammates are enthusiastic about taking on the Argentinians and give an honourable fight.
The team’s preparations were a result of a thoughtful program developed by the technical staff. “I hope to play a good match, we have no excuses, we are getting used to
the weather in Qatar, and we are ready to play at any time, noon or night.”
“We want to play Argentina now, given the enthusiasm and the collective spirit of our national team players,” he said.
“Argentina are one of the best teams in the world in the last two years, but the Saudi
team have great public support, and this gives the Greens the opportunity to perform honourably,” Al Maliki said. “We
hope to play at such a level that will delight the fans.”