Saudi coach with point to prove
Saudi Arabia coach Nasser Al-Johar has again rounded on his critics for dwelling on the past rather than looking towards the future.
Al-Johar’s squad head into their final Group E clash with the Republic of Ireland without a point or a goal to their credit, and with a man now in his third spell in charge of his country still coming under fire.
If the Saudis bow out tomorrow at the International Stadium in Yokohama on the back of another defeat, and without finding the net, then it is likely it will be Al-Johar’s last match at the helm.
Despite Saudi Arabia losing narrowly, and bravely, to Cameroon in their last game, Al-Johar has not recovered from the mauling he received in the wake of the 8-0 hammering to Germany.
Sadly for Al-Johar, he believes the Saudi people are living on the memory of former glories, and in
particular the squad’s accomplishments in the United States in 1994.
On that occasion, despite an opening-game loss to Holland, Saudi Arabia qualified for the second round with shock wins over Morocco and Belgium.
After topping both of their Asian qualifying groups this time round, much was expected of the Saudi squad back in their homeland, only for the passionate supporters to suffer bitter disappointment.
Al-Johar has been the primary target of the backlash, but in his defence he said: ‘‘The Saudi people shouldn’t always focus on what we did in our first participation in 1994 because if they continue to do so we will not improve our level of performance.
‘‘They should realise there is a lot of difference between Belgium and Morocco and the three-time world champions Germany and African champions Cameroon.’’
Al-Johar is now expecting another stern examination from an Ireland side intent on qualifying for the knockout stages, and needing a victory by two clear goals to get there.
Al-Johar fears Ireland will prove tougher than in either of the other two matches given the level of performance of Mick McCarthy’s side.
He added: ‘‘The Irish team is actually on a par quality wise with the Germans and the Cameroons, and in fact were better than the two of them in the first two matches.’’
Al-Johar is without both his first-choice strikers in Sami Al Jaber, who underwent an appendectomy on Saturday, and Obaid Al Dosari who tore knee ligaments in the defeat to Cameroon.
The Saudis are also likely to be without one of their key midfielders in Abdullah Al-Sharani who is suffering with painful joints in his right leg which forced him to miss training over the weekend.
