According to AlWatan.com.sa , Nour and Sami AlJaber will gather up with the NT on Febuary 26th, which the training camp for Portugal's game on March 1 will begin on. http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/2006-02-21/sport/sport26.htm The Saudi Cup Final between Hilal and Ahli will be played on April 7. Saudi's training camp after the Portugal friendly will begin on March 14.
That's what I thought.Paqueta wanted to see other guys at NT...Noor and Jaber are probably starters against Portugal.
Saudis look to end winless run Feb 22, 2006 FootballAsia.com Saudi fans will be hoping that their team starts well against Yemen [WSG] SANA’A – Three-time Asian Cup champions Saudi Arabia will be looking to put a disappointing run of results behind them when they pay a visit to the Ali Mohsen Stadium in Sana'a on Wednesday for their opening fixture of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 qualifiers against Yemen. The Saudis find themselves in the midst of an eight-game winless run following last week’s 1-1 draw in Jeddah against Syria. Five of those matches have been under Brazilian Marcos Paqueta, who took over late last year from Argentine Gabriel Calderon, who was sacked after a poor performance by the Saudis at the West Asian Games. Given the short average span of service for most Saudi Arabia national coaches, Paqueta probably realises that a good start to the Asian Cup qualifiers is essential if he is enjoy any longevity in his position and lead the team to the World Cup in Germany later this year. The Saudis will be handicapped by the absence of Al Ittihad goalkeeper Mabrouk Zaid, who has suffered a leg injury, but with veteran Mohammed Al Daeyea available, Paqueta has a more than capable deputy between the posts. Creative midfielder Nawaf Al Temyat is expected to play despite nursing a slight knock but there is no room in the squad for Hamad Al Saqour, Taiseer Al Jassim and Ahmed Oteif, who have been dropped. Yemen have a poor record against the “Sons of Desert” with a draw and nine defeats in their previous 10 meetings. The Saudis are also likely to benefit from the current unrest in Yemeni football which saw the Yemen Football Association suspended by FIFA last year and Algerian Rabeh Saadan recently quitting as national coach. Interim coach Ahmed Al Raee will take charge of a team that has only qualified for the Asian Cup finals once before in 1976 and who biggest name is Bahrain-based striker Ali Al Nouno. The Group A game at Ali Mohsen Stadium kicks off at 16:00 hrs local time.
Saudis leave it late Feb 23, 2006 Footballasia.com Action from the Yemen v Saudi Arabia game in Sana'a on Wednesday night [WSG] Sana’a – Saudi Arabia kicked off their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a stuttering 4-0 win over Yemen in Group A on Wednesday night. The three-time Asian champions opened the scoring after 15 minutes but the expected deluge of goals did not materialise until late in the second half when Marcos Paqueta's side scored three goals, two of which came in the last seven minutes. The home side had the best of the opening exchanges and Saudi keeper Mohammed Al Deayea was called into action to thwart early efforts from Ali Al Nono and Fikri Al Hobaishi. After weathering the early storm, the visitors took the lead on the quarter-hour mark when Ahmed Al Sawailh beat Yemen goalkeeper Maaz Abdulkhaleq from close range. The Saudis dominated the rest of the half but could not convert their superiority in goals and Yemen went into break just the one goal down. In the second period, the Yemeni side toiled hard in defence and kept the Saudis at bay until the 77th minute when Mohammed Al Shlhoub received a long cross-field pass from the back to beat the advaning Yemen goalkeeper to put the ball into the empty Yemen net. To their credit, the Yemeni side, cheered on by 55,000 fans, continued to press their much-vaunted opponents who scored two late goals to give the scoreline a flattering look. With only seven minutes to the final whistle, Al Sawailh scored his second goal after being put through by Yasser Al Qahtani. Amd with the game approaching its end, it was Al Shlhoub turn to score his second of the night.
In the news today: Sami al-Jaber, Mohammed Noor, and Saad al-Harthi have been recalled to the NT for the Portugal game.
Figo back in Portugal squad for Saudi friendly 23 February 2006 by Reuters Midfielder Luis Figo is back in Portugal's squad for next month's 2006 FIFA World Cup™ warm-up with Saudi Arabia in Germany, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said on Thursday. The 33-year-old Inter Milan player was rested for the last two friendlies with Croatia and Northern Ireland in November but returns for the match in Dusseldorf on 1 March. Scolari has also recalled in-form Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma from the U-21 team. Midfielder Costinha, dropped from Dynamo Moscow's first team for indiscipline, has retained Scolari's confidence and is also included in the 18-man squad. Portugal have been drawn to play Angola, Mexico and Iran in Group D at the FIFA World Cup finals in Germany starting in June. Saudi Arabia are in Group H with Spain, Ukraine and Tunisia. Squad: Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Sporting), Quim Silva (Benfica) Defenders: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Jorge Andrade (Deportivo Coruna), Marco Caneira (Sporting), Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Nuno Valente (Everton) Midfielders: Costinha (Dynamo Moscow), Armando Petit (Benfica), Tiago Mendes (Olympique Lyon), Deco (Barcelona), Maniche Ribeiro (Chelsea) Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Helder Postiga (Saint Etienne), Luis Figo (Inter Milan), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Pauleta (Paris St Germain) -------------------------------- Thats a strong squad. Hopefully we can do well against the likes of Ronaldo, Figo and Deco. BTW, does anyone know what the Saudi squad will be for this game?
http://www.alriyadh.com/2006/02/25/article133584.html We will be facing Uruguay on March 18, and Egypt on April 19.
If Saudi Arabia plays against good teams like these and others then I am sure that KSA will do well at the WC. It seems that the Saudi FA are spending a lot of money to play friendly against big teams..... we can consider it as a positive step taken by the FA! Lets hope that KSA plays more friendlies against a lot of big teams.
Hammad, Yes indeed, March is a tough month for our NT, Portugal, Iceland, Poland, Uruguay, and probably during March we will hear some more friendlies in April. Seems the best thing our FA can do is organizing friendlies. AHM, the squad is the same as the one for Yemen's game. They were only given a short vacation. Only Alaa Kuwakby, Eisa Mahyani, and Abdo Ataif have left and wont be joining the squad anymore. And Saed Harthi, Mohammed Nour, and Sami AlJaber have rejoined the squad for Portugal's game. This squad is 80% the squad in WC, so we will have a very good team which will understand each other.
Saed AlHarthi the striker of Nasr is close to moving to Ittihad for the rest of the season. Since the relationship between Ittihad and Nasr is good, Nasr is ready to let Harthi play for Ittihad, since Nasr has no chance of winning a tournament, for 1 million riyals. The Portugal game will be played at 8:30 PM Saudi time, and good chances of it coming on Saudi Sports (ground) which means for those living in Saudi Arabia.
Osama AlMowaled was injured yesterday during the NT's training. This is a huge blow to our NT, since after Montashri and Tukar, he is the best defender we have. Also the injury is strong, a rip in his thigh's muscles, and he might not be back in form for the WC, espicially since he was in his best form lately. Our NT will be leaving for Germany tonight, and my mistake, the game will be 10:45 Saudi time.
Khatran assured that they will be looking for experience more than result. Basasi the Ahli sub goalie, was banned for one year and fined 2000 riyals, after the problems he made in the Ahli x Hilal game.
Ahli Jawal will be launched today, which follows the Hilal and Nasr Jawal. (Jawal AlNasr send a sms to 5599, and Jawal AlHilal send a sms to 5111, 12 riyals per month, and 40 halala per day.) On a poll in AlWatan.com.sa : The loss to Portugal 3-0 friendly game was : 1) A useful friendly even though the loss : 26.09% 2) Showed the rather weak fitness and understanding of players : 52.17 % 3) Showed the need of revision of the weak points of the defense : 10.87 %
الرياضة والاستثمار منتخبنا بين الخوف والثقة! د. حافظ المدلج توقعت ان تنتهي مباراتنا الودية مع البرتغال بفارق ثلاثة اهداف لبرازيل اوروبا، ولكنني توقعت ان يبذل المنتخب البرتغالي جهداً اكبر لتحقيق تلك النتيجة. في الواقع ان منتخبنا لم يجهد الخصم الا في النصف الثاني من الشوط الثاني، وتحديداً بعد نزول «نواف التمياط» لماذا؟ في رأيي المتواضع ان غالبية نجوم الاخضر لعبوا بحذر مبالغ فيه، فلم يطلبوا الكرة حين تكون في حوزة زميل ولم يضغطوا حين تكون في حوزة الخصم، فكانت المباراة اشبه بمناورة لتطبيق الجمل التكتيكية، مما قلل من فائدة المباراة والتعرف على قدرات الاخضر، ويقيني اننا بحاجة الى علاج هذا الامر قبل المباراة الودية القادمة.. حتى يلعب جميع نجوم الاخضر بعقلية واسلوب «التمياط» ولعل من المفرح ان بيننا وبين المونديال فرصة لتصحيح جميع الاخطاء لنصل الى المانيا والمنتخب بأفضل حالاته بإذن الله، فلدى الصقور الخضر افضل مما قدموه، وتصاعد الاداء من مباراة لاخرى هو الهدف الرئيس لبرنامج الاعداد. انها دعوة لنجوم الاخضر بالتخلي عن الخوف وتعزيز الثقة في انفسهم والاستمتاع بالمشاركة في هذا الحدث الهام ليكون محطة الانطلاق للاحتراف الخارجي، ولعل الاندية السعودية تغير سياستها حيال هذا الامر حتى لا تتكرر احداث الماضي التي عطلت احتراف النجوم. ولنعد لاكثر نجومنا جرأة وفعالية في مباراة البرتغال، ولنتخيل «التمياط» لو تم احترافه في هولندا عام 2001م، ربما كان اليوم يلعب مع بعض نجوم البرتغال في الاندية الاوروبية، وبالتأكيد كان سيفتح المجال لعدد من نجوم الاخضر ليحترفوا اوروبياً، فكثير منهم يملك الامكانيات ولم يملك الفرصة. شكراً موبايلي.. عذراً STC منذ بدأت الكتابة وقلمي يصرخ مطالباً بمساهمة القطاع الخاص لخدمة الرياضة والشباب، وقد تمنيت من الشركات ذات الارباح الهائلة ان تخصص جزءاً من تلك العوائد ليعاد ضخها في شكل رعاية لنشاطات شباب الوطن الذي وفر لتلك الشركات بيئة تحقيق تلك الارباح وتوقعت استجابة «ارامكو» والبنوك السعودية وشركة الاتصالات، كأكثر الشركات تحقيقاً للارباح وارتباطاً بالمجتمع، وكانت المفاجأة السارة من شركة «موبايلي» التي بادرت لضخ المال في خدمة الرياضة والشباب، في الوقت الذي اكتفت شركة الاتصالات STC بمبادرة ضعيفة لتقديم جوائز بسيطة في المباريات الهامة لتحظى بالدعاية دون تقديم الدعم المناسب، والكل يعلم ان مشتركي الجوال في شركة الاتصالات تجاوزوا (11 مليون مشترك) مما يعني مليارات الريالات في الشهر الواحد، نسأل الله للشركة المزيد من الارباح ونتمنى ان تحذو حذو منافستها الجديدة شركة موبايلي التي ترعى المنتخب السعودي وتدعم الرياضة والشباب بسخاء تشكر عليه، واقتراحي ان تبادر STC برعاية المسابقات الرياضية بمبالغ مجزية تصب في خزائن الاندية لتخدم بشكل مباشر شؤون الرياضة والشباب، ويقيني ان الشركة قادرة على خدمة الكثير من المجالات الاجتماعية شريطة الايمان باعادة تدوير جزء من ارباحها في شكل رعاية للانشطة الشبابية وغيرها. انني في الوقت الذي اشكر فيه «موبايلي» اعاتب بأمل STC لعلها تبادر لتغيير سياستها التسويقية. www.alriyadh.com
Hasan AlOtaibi Hilal's goalie is back from his injury, and he will now return to his usual trainings. Mabrouk Zayed will be back from his injury in 3 weeks inshallah.
We will be officially facing Iraq on Wednesday March 15, but unfortunately we won't be facing Uruguay on the 18th. Why? Well, the 'official' reason is because they couldn't get the visas etc on time to enter KSA, but my research says that they wanted to play the game outside, since their playing friendlies in USA, on Mar 23 and 25. Saudi FA has suggested to play it next month. The squad is the same with Yasir Musylem (Ahli's first goalie), Mohammed Anbar (Hilal), and Ghamdi added, with Khatran and Suwaleeh removed. Ittihad's Yourdenscu has been officially been fired, after his poor results lately, tying Ittifaq, Ahli, and Hilal, losing to Shabab at home, and losing to Hazm away.
6 players will return to KSA today to the training, Sami AlJaber, Mohammed Amin, Saoud Kariri, Saed AlHarthi, Mustafa Malaeka, and Yasir AlQahtani, after shooting a commercial in Beirut for Mobily. How stupid, Mobily one of the hosts of the NT, make them go to Beirut to shoot a lame commercial? Why can't they shoot the commercial in Saudi Arabia? Also Mohammed Nour will be away today since his bigger brother (Khaled) has died, allah yirhama. Theirs low chances of those 7 players to play in Iraq's game on March 15.
Can I just say thank you to Saudi64 you are a star mate with the constant updating, so in brief 7.azak allah '7air.
The 6 players have began their trainings today, Iraq NT has arrived Jeddah and will do two training sessions before the friendly. Shalhoub has left to Riyadh for family business yesterday, but will be back today. Mohammed Deayea and Yaser have both asked for rest after feeling exhausted. Also Mohammed Nour is back to the training too.
The Saudi Arabia Vs. Iraq will be very interesting...looking forward to it. After this, Iraq will meet Mexico in their next friendly match. Btw, will the match be played in Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium?
Saudi Arabia held to last-gasp draw by Iraq 16 March 2006 Action from the match. Photo from alriyadh.com JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia conceded a last-minute goal and were held 2-2 by Iraq in a World Cup friendly played here at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Wednesday. The draw left the World Cup finalists still looking for their first win under former Al Hilal coach Marcos Paqueta who took over last December from Argentine Gabriel Calderon. The Saudis got off the blocks early with an 18th minute strike from former AFC Player of the Year Nawaf Al Temyat but failed to preserve this lead and allowed Mohamed Shakroun neutralised 10 minutes later. Veteran Sami Al Jaber re-established Saudi Arabia’s advantage on the hour mark after finishing a good move inside the area but a glaring defensive lapse in the final minute saw Haider Abdelamer equalising, a demoralising result for Paqueta’s men despite the return of ace Al Ittihad midfielder Mohamed Noor after a long absence. The Saudis next play fellow World Cup finalists Poland in Riyadh on March 28. www.the-afc.com Anyone knows if this is Poland's first team? If it is, then I'll sure go to the game.