LONDON, 29 Nov. (dpa/EP) –
The Saudi Arabia coach, Hervé Renard, has challenged his players to make history by sealing their pass to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar with a victory this Wednesday against Mexico, recalling that they are still “alive” and that they will have to “fight” to get a historic ticket.
“If these players want the fans to remember them, they have to make history, otherwise people will forget about it in 20 or 30 years, because the last time we went to the playoffs was in 1994,” he said at a conference press.
The Saudis, who shocked Argentina on their debut, know that a win in their third and final Group C game will be enough to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 1994, when Saeed Al-Owairan’s great goal sank Belgium.
“The most important thing is that we are still alive in this game and we have the chance to qualify, but we will have to fight hard. Mexico has a lot of experience in the World Cup and a better record than Saudi Arabia,” he warned.
Team captain Salman Al-Faraj has withdrawn from the tournament with a leg injury, while fellow midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki is suspended after receiving his second yellow card in the loss to Poland. The Saudis could even advance with a draw, depending on the outcome of the other Group C match between Argentina and Poland.