The decline of Saudi Arabian football

From the pride of Asia…

It took 28 years since North Korea finished fourth at the 1966 World Cup for the world's most populous continent to have another representative make it past the group stage. The team that did it was none other than Saudi Arabia.

At USA 1994, Saudi Arabia was in the same group with the Netherlands, Belgium and Morocco. Few people believed that the team from West Asia could make a surprise in America.

It is true that nothing can be predicted in football. Saudi Arabia has continuously created one surprise after another. In the opening match, the team nicknamed “Blue Falcons” almost held the championship candidate, the Netherlands (lost 1-2).

It seemed that the defeat against the “Orange Storm” would force Saudi Arabia to pack its bags and go home early. However, a small “earthquake” occurred.

After defeating their equal opponents Morocco (2-1), Saudi Arabia entered the final match of the group stage against Belgium. In every aspect, the "Blue Falcons" could not compare with the "Red Devils".

However, Owairan's only goal helped Saudi Arabia beat Belgium 1-0 and enter the round of 16 as the second-placed team (the Netherlands were the top team).

Owairan celebrates scoring against Belgium in 1994. Photo: Internet

Owairan's goal against Belgium was voted the best goal of the 1994 World Cup, and is also one of the best goals in World Cup history.

Although they had to stop against Sweden in the round of 16 (lost 1-3), with what they did at USA 1994, Saudi Arabia deserves to be the pride of Asian football.

Unfortunately, since then, the “Blue Falcons” have only caused disappointment. Every time they come to the World Cup finals, Saudi Arabia only participates as a “underdog”.

The resounding achievement in the US in 1994 could not become a “springboard” to help Saudi Arabian football develop further. The pride of Asian football in the past has now become a “beggar of the past”.

…to disappointment

Losing to Uruguay in the last match, Saudi Arabia failed to qualify for the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive time (1998, 2002, 2006, 2018). This is a very disappointing result for the team from West Asia.

Witnessing Saudi Arabian players playing in recent World Cups, Asian football experts and fans cannot help but feel disappointed and ashamed.

Not only were they weak in terms of technical skills, but the “Blue Falcons” also failed to show their competitive spirit. The Saudi Arabian players played listlessly and weakly, like “blue soldiers” for their opponents to practice against.

The defense is superficial, the attack lacks ideas. Observing the way Saudi Arabia plays, it is hard to believe that they are the 3rd ranked team in Asia (FIFA Rankings June 2018).

Saudi Arabian players were disappointed after losing to Uruguay. Photo: Internet

At the end of the opening match of the 2018 World Cup (Russia 5 - 0 Saudi Arabia), the online community called on FIFA to ban Saudi Arabia from the World Cup because they were...too weak. The 5 goals that the host team Russia scored, the credit goes to coach Pizzi and his team. If the Russian players were more precise in their finishing, the score would have been even bigger.

The same was true in the recent defeat to Uruguay. The Saudi Arabian players showed no fighting spirit or determination. Even when they were behind, even when they had nothing to lose (being eliminated), Hawsawi and his teammates still played as if they were leading or in an internal practice match.

Compared to Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, coach Pizzi and his team are the shame of Asian football. Win or lose, these teams have more or less shown determination in every move, in every match. They leave the field, leave the tournament with their heads held high, unlike what Saudi Arabia has been demonstrating.

Suddenly remember, “The Blue Falcons” is one of the teams that suffered the biggest defeat in the World Cup. At the 2002 World Cup held in Korea and Japan, Saudi Arabia was crushed by Germany with a score of 8-0.

Since Hungary's 10-1 win over El Salvador in 1982, no team has suffered as heavy a defeat as Saudi Arabia, 16 years ago.

Therefore, calling Saudi Arabia "the shame of Asian football" is not an exaggeration./.