The Green Falcons, who finished first in Asian qualification Group B ahead of both Japan and Australia while losing just one game, will be making their sixth FIFA World Cup appearance. The fact that they were placed in a difficult group with one of the favourites, Argentina, Poland, and Mexico implies that they will have to perform even better than they did in USA 1994.
They will have the advantage of being familiar with the conditions in neighbouring Qatar at the very least. What to anticipate from Saudi Arabia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup is listed below. Here, we shine a focus on some of the greatest names from Saudi Arabia who will be working tirelessly to make headlines during Qatar 2022.
Abdulelah Al-Amri
Position: Centre-back
Age: 25
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The young Al-Nassr defender has established himself as one of Saudi Arabia’s top performances since being called up to the senior team in 2021 and took part in all but one of The Greens’ World Cup qualifiers. He significantly contributed to the team’s five out of nine clean sheets.
As he prepares to pit his wits against the outstanding skills of Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, Al-Amri will need to be at the top of his game to contain Group C’s quick shooters. His defensive capabilities will undoubtedly be tested by those lethal finishers, and his backfield distribution will be crucial.
Al-Amri is difficult for attackers to beat in the Saudi Pro League (once per two games), and his ability to prevail in one-on-one contests in the air and on the ground (on average 4.8 per game) speaks volumes about his defensive prowess. Al-Nassr will be essential against some of the finest teams in the world, despite the bad season he had the previous year.
Yasser Al-Shahrani
Position: Left-back
Age: 30
Since receiving his first cap in the 2012 friendly match against Spain, Al-Shahrani, who currently plays club football for the reigning Saudi champions Al-Hilal, has been a regular in the Green Falcons’ backline. With 66 international appearances under his belt, he is currently one of the team’s most-capped players.
Even though he plays with his right foot naturally, his high interception (1.9 per game), blocking (1.4 per game), and quick running up and down the flank make him the left-back of choice.
The adaptable defender, who is equally comfortable at center-back, has virtually always been present in his country’s most important matches during his international career. He participated in all but two of the qualifications, which was crucial in helping the Arab team qualify for Qatar 2022. It is highlighted by the fact that Al-club Shahrani’s teammates Saud Abdul Hamid, a right-back who plays frequently, and Nasser Al-Dosari, a midfielder, had to fill the void during his two matches away from the squad.
Salman Al-Faraj
Position: Midfielder
Age: 33
Al-Faraj, who serves as captain for both club and country, has put in a string of outstanding performances in recent years for both Riyadh-based Al-Hilal and the national team, and is an important part of Herve Renard’s system. Al-Faraj missed the team’s most recent games, and his absence made the skill he brings to the team, particularly in the middle of the field, obvious.
In order for the Arabs to duplicate their performance from the tournament’s 1994 edition, the veteran midfielder will need to draw upon every last bit of his enormous expertise in the matches against Argentina, Poland, and Mexico.
Salem Al-Dawsari
Position: Winger
Age: 30
In a time when flair players are a little harder to come by, Al-Al-Dawsari Hilal’s stands out as a special talent. Ten years after making his debut for his country, he is still producing impressive performances for both his club and his country. In just 21 games during the previous Saudi League season, he contributed to 14 goals (9 goals and 5 assists).
The Wideman’s recent absences from the team’s matches haven’t diminished his importance to the team, though, as a result of the variety of roles he can fill. Regarding his World Cup background, Al-Dawsari started each of the three group-stage matches at Russia 2018 and scored a 94th-minute winner against Egypt in the final group-stage match.
Firas Al-Buraikan
Position: Forward
Age: 22
The youthful player received his first senior cap from head coach Renard at the tender age of 19. The Frenchman has great faith in the rising star. However, the numbers speak for themselves. Al-Buraikan outscored rivals Salem Al-Dosari and Hattan Bahabri, who scored nine and seven goals, respectively, with a total of 11.
While some may feel that Al-Buraikan is too young to be the offensive captain of the Green Falcons, he is a stalwart of the national team and seizes any chance that comes his way. Despite not finding the back of the net much to this point, the goals he scored against Japan, China, and Oman all turned out to be game-winning strikes.
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