The NT is camping in Austria. It was believed they would play some local friendlies with clubs..As it is non FIFA days,I dont think any one will be willing to play..
http://www.thesaff.com.sa/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=14528 Seems to be a balanced squad, lets see how they perform. My choice: Goal Keeper: Yasser Al Mussailem Defender: AlBraik, Osama Howsawi, Mansoor AlHarbi, Hassan Maaz Mid-field: Salman Al Moashir, Yahya Shehri, Taiseer Al Jasim, Abdul Majeed Al Rowaili, Nawaf Al Abid Forward: Al Sahlavi Formation: 1-4-5-1
International Friendly Match | Saudi Arabia vs Laos 24 / 08/ 2016 Saudi Arabia vs Laos 27 / 08 / 2016 Saudi Arabia vs Laos Al Arabi Stadium Grand Hamad in Doha http://laoleague.com/news/304-two-t...lifiers-and-aff-suzuki-cup-qualification.html
Why Laos ?... What's the rank of Laos in FIFA ?... Also, is Saudi FA out of bucks to arrange friendly against some competitive nation ?
This is solely because they dont want players to get exhausted playing competitive friendly and avoid injuries..Regarding FA out of bucks, if they can camp in Austria and Qatar they can arrange for good friendlies too
So we Kick-Off today.. No doubt KSA is favorites to win the game looking at there record against Thailand. Sincce we have 3 games home at first round against Australia and UAE next with Japan and Iraq away, it will be good opportunity to the team to seize early advantage and make themselves comfortable in the group. Too much to ask, but if we win all the games before we meet Japan away, then no one can top the team to go Russia. Team Analysis - Defence and Midfield is really good. Striking is a issue and we can't carry on with only one striker all qualifiers , Hazazi or someone else other than Sahlawi has to step up.. Shahrani and Muhammed Buraik injured.. My preferred line-up- Waleed Abdullah Hassan Muaz Osama Hawsawi Moataz Hawsawi Mansour Harbi Abdul Majeed Ruwaili Salman Faraj Nawaf Abed Tayseer Jassem Fahd Muwallad Sahlawi
Since Yasser Al Shahrani and Al Braik are injured so, My preferred line-up- Yasser Musailem Hassan Muaz Osama Hawsawi Moataz Hawsawi Mansour Harbi Abdul Majeed Ruwaili Yahya Shehri Nawaf Abed Tayseer Jassem Salman Al Moasher Sahlawi
Saudi Arabia are really lucky to win tonight against Thailand, Thailand had far more better and clear chances as compared to Saudi... Saudi hardly had 2 to 3 chances (shot on goal) and that too did not tested the keeper... What will Saudi do now since the main players Sahlawi, Braik and Shahrani are injured... Will Saudi FA or Coach call Nasser Al Shamrani and Yasser Al Gahtani as the former is still in Deadly Form and can be a great service to the National Team... It's worth taking a call in...
After today's match, I would say that following players are either out-of-form OR not in match-practice: 1. Hassan Moaz 2. Nayef Hazzazi So, what will be against Iraq after 5 days ?... Very difficult choice for the coach... The best thing is that following players seems to be in form (even though they played less): 1. Abdul Majeed Al Ruwaili (should play entire 90 minutes IMO) 2. Yahya Shehri What do you say ?...
Another boring display from the NT... I hope can Var Mir Jik can continue with the team till the fate is decided..Too much possession with loose passing..They could not penetrate the Thailand defence at any time..Credit goes to the defenders who did not leave their places in the back.Hassan Muaz disappointed a lot with his control over the ball and hitting the ball straight over the cross bar..Only thing positive was players try to rob the ball from the Thai players. Abdul Malek Khaibari really performed well and for me he is MOTM.. Fahd and Yahya should start the next match against Iraq inplace of Mowashir and Abed..Hope Sahlawi comes back to play against Iraq.. But at this rate how NT performed today , they won't even finish 6th..
Iraq vs KSA preview - So Malaysia is the venue, important game for the NT if they want to compensate for any result against Australia at home next month. Yes, I am saying compensate, as there is no debate of how team will play against Australia at the rate they are playing now..If KSA manage to win against Iraq , then we can digest any result against Aus at home, loss means no way back to qualifiers at any cost.. Match against Iraq will be boring and tough. Both teams sucked big time in there opening games. Slow play and wasteful passes. Let alone, the match is at neutral venue which again will provide dull atmosphere. For KSA , Sahlawi out and injured, which means Hazazi will start again as the coach had named only 2 strikers in the squad. Fahad should start with Sehri and Jassim as usual in the middle. Salman Faraj was a waste and so was Hassan Muaz. Play Ruwaili along side Abdul Malek Khaibari and replace Hassan with Moataz Hawsawi or give Hassan another chance. Other option can be play Jassim along Khaibari and deploy Yahya, Abed and Fahd behind Hazazi.. All the three have good pace and can penetrate the defence well in case of counter-attacks. Jassim also from behind can feed the ball well to the final third ..
Ruwaili does not have international experience. He might scumb under pressure..Give him time in friendly matches to soak up the NT pressure
Next match is against Australia who won against UAE 1-0 in UAE, though the goal scored by Tim Cahill was perfect but what he did to UAE defender before getting into goal scoring position was missed out by all the referees on the field i.e., he pushed the UAE defender and ran towards the goal to take position while the pushed defender got wrong footed and a bit confused. End result, Tim scored... this should have not been the case if the referee would have had seen his cheating... Also, UAE are to be blamed themselves i.e., UAE played a very slow paced game with NO Quick movement, one-two, and penetration or shooting from out-of-the-box at Australian Goal... Australia entered the match with a frame of mind to draw the game and slow pace of the match helped Australia than UAE, and Australia looked for a winning goal in the 2nd half later on once Aussies realized that UAE is playing a slow paced game in their own backyard. UAE was passing the ball around too much without any real movement and penetration for creating goal scoring chances. Saudi should attack Australia from the 1st minute of the match. If Saudi plays the way UAE played against Australia i.e., too much slow pace or giving too respect to opponent by not having guts to attack then Saudi can have a repeat of 2014 WC qualifyer in Dammam (God Forbid A'meen)... Saudi should look to cease the opportunity to take all 3 points against Aussies in Riyadh by hook or by crook... 3 points against Australia are a must for Saudi in Riyadh... Otherwise, it will be difficult to qualify and getting a 2nd spot in the group if not first will be a high task. Also, Saudi should get all the in form players in the team such as Nasser Al Shamrani, etc. Dead weight such as Al Faraj and Hazzazi to some extent should be dropped. Rest, Saudi FA, Coach and Saudi Masses & Media to decide who is in form to be in the team... even if it takes to get Yasser Al Ghatani to be called in the team after taking him out of his retirement. If Messi can come back then why can't Yasser Al Ghahtani and Nasser Al Shamrani ?
As expected, many so called football pundits have started to criticize the coach and fairly said the team won both the matches out of luck. 180 Minutes of football played with no clear chances on goal plus all the three goals came via penalty. Against Australia, it will be phsyical game. Don't allow them for long passes and give them heading opportunities they are tall and strong enough to out muscle the NT players and score goals. A draw will be good result , win will be bumper bonus. Still a month to go , injured players will be back giving the coach good options to choose from..
Saudi Arabia will have to improve. On the bright side they have maximum points so far despite not playing well.
You already are on defensive mode even before the match is played (just like UAE was against Australia)... Come on, Saudi is playing Australia in Home ground and Saudi should really go for all-out-attack... This is your time to cease all the opportunity you can to gain maximum 3 points against Austalia in home match. Saudi has almost 1 month from now to prepare hard and well for this match just like UAE prepared hard & well for the match against Japan in Japan. Don't be on the back foot and give easy points to Australia (if you are thinking to achieve a draw), this is not the right approach. You should be on the front foot since you are playing at home and should look to take all the maximum 3 points by any means. Bring in your in form players in the team. I believe AlBraik, Sahlawi, Yasser Al Shahrani all would be fit by then to play. Also, bring in Shamrani and Yasser Al Gahtani who both are in deadly and brilliant form. At least, Shamrani deserves to be in the National Team. Also, there are other players who can play aggressive and effective against Australia like AlRowaili seems to have the potential to be destructive player for any opponent. Who do you prefer to be playing ?... I prefer 4-4-2 formation with Sahlawi and Shamrani upfront.