The reporter reported coldly In order to increase the training time of the national team as much as possible, the Saudi Football Association deliberately advanced the 25th round of the league last weekend by one day. The 27 internationals were concentrated in Riyadh last Sunday, but due to the impact of last week's AFC Champions League elite league, Riyadh Crescent and Jeddah National matches were all played on Saturday night, and of the four players in Europe, only Saad (Dunkirk, Ligue 2) played last Saturday, Abdulhamid (Roma, Serie A), Faisal Ghamdi and Sahafi (Antwerp Roar, Liga) all played last Sunday. Rather than possible injuries, Saudi Arabia coach Al-Hainach is more concerned about the state of the internationals, especially the main players.
In last week's AFC Champions League and league, Heinach and his assistant coaches went around to watch the game and check the state of the international players. Unfortunately, the overall performance of the internationals was not outstanding.
Salim, the highest-profile newcomer in the squad, is seen as the Saudi team's secret weapon to improve their attacking power, but last weekend's league defeat for his side Sehat Gulf was 2-0 at home to bottom-of-the-table Mecca United. Although he had scored away to Jeddah Nationals a week ago, it was also the only goal in the last six league games. In contrast, in the previous 11 league games, he handed over 8 goals and 3 assists, averaging 1 goal per game. Salim apologized to the fans after the game, saying he and his team "let you down." ”
In addition, among the four goalkeepers, only Al Ahsa's Akidi started and played the whole game, Kasal and Suyulku sat for the whole game, and the main goalkeeper of the U20 national youth team, Shankiti, did not even make the squad. Suyule was originally the main goalkeeper of the Buraidah Vanguard, but was replaced by Portuguese goalkeeper Moreira who recovered from injury last weekend; Akidi was loaned from Riyadh Crescent to Al Ahsa for conquest in the winter window before becoming the main force; Kassar, who started four consecutive games in the round of 18, has only played one of the 28 games in Jeddah United.
In the back line, although international players Kadish, Shanketti, Moussa (Jeddah United), Rajami, Bhushal (Riyadh Victory), and Takri (Qadisiyah) all started last weekend's league game, but Bhushale accumulated two yellows and turned one red and was sent off, Rajami made his own own, and Takri was also replaced for playing less than 60 minutes due to poor performance.
Jeddah United, who started with three internationals, did not rely on Al-Shehri's penalty until the 11th minute of stoppage time to narrow home to mid-table Riyadh side.
Jeddah National suffered a shock 2-1 defeat away to a weaker team, with two international players in Mash and Buraican underperforming. Breycan have scored just one goal in their last 16 club games and the goal drought extends to four.
Cadisia, the dark horse that also has 3 internationals, lost 0-1 away to the relegation team Damac, was overtaken by Riyadh Victory, and fell out of the AFC Champions League zone.
At the moment, only five Riyadh Crescent internationals have been consistent, with centre-back Tambakti, defender Kanu and national team captain Salim Dosari starting last weekend's league campaign, with Kanu setting up Al-Dosari's goal.
And Riyadh youth team defender Juvar brushed an assist to help the team win 6-0.
As planned, the Saudi team gathered at the Novotel hotel in the Sahafa district of northern Riyadh on Sunday, and coach Hainach held an intra-squad meeting before the start of the training camp, which lasted 30 minutes. Before the meeting, he first held an executive meeting of the same length with the Saudi team leader Dawad to clarify the full plan of the training camp and the itinerary and training and return arrangements for the subsequent competition in Japan.
The Saudi team's training session began at 9:15 a.m. local time and lasted for two hours at the home stadium of the youth team in Riyadh, near the hotel. The first phase of training lasted 3 days, and on the 19th, he went to the King Saudi Arabia University Stadium where the game was played for stepping on the field for training. The game started at 21:15 local time on March 20, and the next day the Saudi team chartered a plane to Japan to prepare for the game.
Among the four European internationals, Saad, who took the lead in the game, started but was substituted at half-time. Faisal al-Ghamdi, Sahafi and Abdulhamid will not be able to participate in the Saudi team's training camp until Monday and will only be able to do recovery training.
The battle in the Sand and China began on March 20, which means that the Saudi team has only two real tactical exercises. Saudi media believe that Hainach will continue to play the 4141 formation, but the original team's substitutions are relatively large, coupled with the general poor condition of the main players, resulting in almost half of the main positions undecided.
The goalkeeper will be Kassar, whom Heinach has always trusted, but Akidi, who has been starting back-to-back games at the club, also has a chance; The centre-back can only confirm Tambakti, with Kadish and Rajami competing for another main position. The right-back undoubtedly belongs to Abdullahamid, who stayed abroad, and the left-back is full of suspense; The main players in midfield can be determined to be Juvar and Kanu, and the attacking left winger Salim Dosari will start unexpectedly, but it is doubtful whether the center will be the homegrown Golden Boot Salim or the more experienced Brikan. As for the other three overseas players, the one who is more likely to start is right winger Sahafi.
Saudi Arabian internationals generally perform poorly in the league, and their physical fitness is not as good as the national football team that went to Dubai early to prepare for the game.