Saudi Arabia's 2-0 loss to Japan in the FIFA World Cup qualifier last night can be attributed to following 2 major factors: 1. *Lack of Midfield Connectivity*: The midfield struggled to link effectively with the forwards, leading to a lack of creative passing and movement in the attacking third. 2. *Defensive Passivity*: The defenders were often caught passing amongst themselves without progressing the ball forward, making it easy for Japan to defend. Recommendations for Improvement: 1. *Midfield Movement*: Midfielders should focus on making dynamic runs to create passing lanes and offer options. They need to break lines and push forward to support attackers. 2. *Quick Transitions*: The team should practice quick, vertical passes to move the ball rapidly from defense to attack, catching opponents off guard. 3. *Utilizing Width*: Wingers should stretch the play, opening up central areas for attacking midfielders and forwards to exploit. 4. *Building Play from the Midfield*: Encourage midfielders to confidently move the ball forward, either through dribbling or direct passes, to reduce reliance on sideways passing. 5. *Enhanced Communication*: Ensuring better communication between players can help in identifying opportunities and creating more cohesive attacking plays. By focusing on these areas, Saudi Arabia can enhance their attacking capabilities and be more effective in future matches.
I think the 8 foreigners rule in Rohsen will hurt the national team even more in the future. They were not convincing against Indonesia as well. The number should drop to 6. Probably 4 was too tiny in the past but now double is way too much
Out of 13 shots made by Saudi Arabia, only 2 on target ... Only 1 shot from outside the penalty box, the Saudis did not even tested the goal keeper in the 2nd half with shots on goal from anywhere outside the penalty box. The ball possession was mostly at the defenders level, the mid field didn't pass the ball that much compared to defenders and didn't do any suitable movement that could result in goal... Saudi Arabia need to work on mid field possession, need to work on passing the ball to main player who creates movement such as Salim Al Dossary and AlJuwair, and should ensure that ball is passed to main forwards like Saleh Al Shehri who should have free will to play his natural game as he likes, be it shooting from long distance or penatrating into opposition penalty box.