Saudi Arabia
Pizzi is third coach since September
Nobody disagrees that Saudi players need to play overseas in greater numbers but there have been plenty of questions about the timing
Bert Van Marwijk had barely come back down to earth after being thrown in the air by Saudi Arabia players before he was on his way back to Holland. The Dutchman had led the Green Falcons to a first World Cup since 2006 but could not agree on a new contract. His replacement, Edgardo Bauza, only lasted until November, and so now Juan Antonio Pizzi is in charge.
It has not exactly been a traditional preparation period for a World Cup, then.
And it became even trickier as three of the team’s best players headed to Spain in January as part of a deal between La Liga and the Saudi General Sports Authority, with the intention of giving Saudi players some international experience and Spanish teams some exposure in Saudi Arabia.
Nobody disagrees that Saudi players need to play overseas in greater numbers but there have been plenty of questions about the timing. Such concerns have come to pass as the players haven’t appeared in a competitive game yet in Spain and it remains to be seen what shape they are in when they turn up for national team duty in May.
There is better news in terms of friendly opponents. The likes of Belgium, Portugal, Germany and Italy will certainly give the team a taste of top-class football and get them ready for the opening game against Russia in front of 80,000 fans.
The draw itself, with subsequent meetings with Uruguay and Egypt, has been greeted relatively well.
Expectations are not high, though, as Saudi Arabia are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament. A point against Russia is the initial target and means that a win in one of the subsequent two games could be enough. Victory against Arabian rivals Egypt is seen as likelier but there are concerns about how an ageing defence will stop Mo Salah.
The major question though is where the goals will come from. Saudi Arabia don’t have a recognised goalscorer and much depends on Fahad Al Muwallad.
He is the team’s attacking key, the man who can make things happen and the one who scored the goal that secured qualification. However, since moving on loan from Al Ittihad he has done nothing but sit on the sidelines with Levante.