Latest news with #GreenFalcons'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Socceroos confident of completing World Cup assignment against experimental Japan
When he was first introduced as the coach of the Socceroos, just days after Graham Arnold's decision to step down and with just weeks to prepare for his first qualifiers in charge, Tony Popovic was adamant there was enough time to right the ship and qualify automatically for the World Cup. Now, as Australia's men prepare to meet Japan in Perth, knowing that a win will all but guarantee them a place in North America, the coach has the chance to deliver on that promise. Numerous permutations will govern what could happen in Group C of Asian qualifying in the coming days – there still exists a scenario in which Indonesia could qualify automatically – but the straightforward scenario for the Socceroos is to just beat the Samurai Blue. Do that, and they will ensure they'll enter the final matchday a minimum of three points clear of the Saudis and be able to count on a goal difference cushion that currently, largely thanks to the Green Falcons' remarkable profligacy in their eight games, sits at nine. Advertisement Related: Mighty Japan stand in Socceroos' way – but it has never been a better time to face them | John Duerden 'We certainly are aware of what these games mean to us, they mean to Australia and to every football fan out there supporting the Socceroos,' said Popovic. 'We've taken an approach, window by window, to get the results we need, to keep improving our game, and we've maintained that through this preparation. Every game is significant for the Socceroos. But, obviously, these last two games, for automatic qualification, we know what we need to do; we need to put that into action, and we're confident we can do that.' But while the permutations may be relatively simple, beating Japan is anything but. It's probably one of the most difficult task in all of football right now – Hajime Moriyasu's side are unbeaten in their last 12 games and have lost just twice over the last two years, with wins over the likes of Germany and Turkey, as well as a first-ever away win in Saudi Arabia, recorded during this spell. They became the first nation to punch their tickets to 2026 during the March window, beating Bahrain to take an insurmountable lead atop Group C with three games to spare. The World Cup has never been won by a nation outside South America or Europe before, but Japan are shaping as genuine contenders to deliver on their promise to break this trend. The Socceroos haven't beaten Japan since 2009, when Tim Cahill scored a brace to secure victory at the MCG. Their last meeting came in Popovic's second game in charge back in October, when Australia were besieged but held out for a 1-1 draw. In hindsight, after the whirlwind of the coach's arrival, that result did far more than get a point for the side. It stabilised them and gave them a result to lay at the foundation of their efforts to build something. And the coach believes they're better since then. Advertisement 'The growth and development and the way the team has evolved are clear,' said Popovic. 'We all see that. We understand there is a lot more growth in us, but we're a much better team than we were in October.' In a boost for the Socceroos, they meet a less-than-full-strength Japan in Perth. Less than half of the squad that featured for Moriyasu during the March window have made the trip, with the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Ritsu Doan, Ayase Ueda, and Ao Tanaka absent. In their place, established figures such as Liverpool's Wataru Endō and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo will need to provide a steadying hand to a squad featuring more potential debutants – eight – than it does players with more than 10 international caps, seven. Related: Socceroos reach crunch time with World Cup 2026 qualification in sight But such is the growing strength and rising depth of Japanese football that even this lesser-heralded cohort possesses players signed to top European clubs. Domestic-based youth such as Junnosuke Suzuki and Ryūnosuke Satō, meanwhile, may not yet be too well known outside their homeland but the J1 League has long since established itself as the most consistently strong league in Asia. It was only last month that Kawasaki Frontale, sitting midtable in the J1 League, knocked out an Al Nassr side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo on their way to the final of the Asian Champions League Elite. Kōta Takai started that day and is in line to make his third appearance for the Samurai Blue in Perth. And with 2026 locked in, it's a side full of players looking to show their worth. 'The way we are going to play, I won't be changing anything in terms of mindset,' said Moriyasu. 'We play each game one by one. We take each game seriously. But still, we need to strengthen our squad. We need to expand our squad. We need to prove that Japan still has a lot more talent coming through. I would like to show the world that we still have lots of players who are coming through. I would like my players to shine on the very best stage tomorrow.'
Arab News
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
2022 - FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Saudi football revolution
DUBAI: On Nov. 20, 2022, billions of viewers tuned in to watch Qatar take on Ecuador and make history as the first Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup. The moment marked a turning point for football in the Arab world, and Saudi Arabia in particular as it set the stage for a revolution in the sport that would be fueled just days later by an unforgettable victory. Hosting the World Cup was a monumental achievement for Qatar, after more than a decade of preparation and significant investment in infrastructure. The tournament showcased state-of-the-art stadiums, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience for fans from all around the world. However, the significance of the event extended well beyond football as Qatar, together with the rest of the Gulf region, seized the opportunity to present itself as a modern, dynamic hub at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. The tournament not only broke new ground by taking place during the winter, it also introduced the world to the warmth of Arab hospitality and culture, challenging preconceived notions and fostering a greater understanding of the region. For the second World Cup in a row, and the second time ever, four Arab teams were taking part: Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. On the pitch, Morocco shocked the football world by reaching the semi-finals, defeating Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal along the way before losing to reigning champions France. It was finest-ever performance by an Arab nation at the World Cup. While hosts Qatar would disappointingly suffer an early exit, Tunisia at least managed the distinction of beating France 1-0 in the group stages. For Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, the World Cup became a catalyst for the country's football revolution, ignited by a historic result on the third day of the tournament. On Nov. 22, as the great Lionel Messi stood scratching his beard in bewilderment, Salem Al-Dawsari celebrated a goal with his traditional somersault. Half of the fans at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar were thrown into utter delirium. The rest were shocked into stunned silence. Across Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and, indeed, the globe, screams of celebration could be heard in the vicinity of every television screen. The world had just witnessed the greatest moment in Saudi football history, and arguably the most memorable at that point by any Arab nation on football's biggest stage. Just seven minutes into the second half of the Green Falcons' opening match of the competition, Al-Dawsari scored what turned out to be the match-winning goal against eventual champions Argentina. Messi had given the South Americans a 10th-minute lead from the penalty spot, and a procession to a comfortable victory was expected by most. But the Saudis had other ideas. After a goosebump-inducing half-time team talk from French coach Herve Renard, footage of which would later go viral, the Saudi players emerged after the break a team inspired. Saleh Al-Shehri equalized just three minutes into the second half, followed by Al-Dawsari's intervention five minutes later. Despite Argentina's best efforts, some heroic defending helped secure what is undoubtedly the nation's greatest football moment. The superlative winning goal and the famous victory it claimed were worthy of any World Cup. In hindsight, the game also marked the moment Saudi football truly emerged onto the global stage. Though Renard's team would not progress to the round of 16 in Qatar, a revolution in Saudi Arabian football was nevertheless about to unfold. Just over a month after the game, and only 13 days after Messi raised the World Cup trophy when Argentina beat France on penalties in the final, the world of football was again shaken to its foundations by the announcement that Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr would sign Cristiano Ronaldo during the winter transfer window. Overnight, Saudi Arabia became the center of attention in the football world. What was going on in the Kingdom? Newly formed Saudi Arabia women's national team plays its first international match, beating Seychelles 2-0. The Saudi Women's Premier League kicks off. The FIFA World Cup begins in Qatar, marking the first time the tournament has been held in an Arab country. Saudi Arabia beat eventual champions Argentina 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a historic moment that sends shock waves throughout the footballing world. Cristiano Ronaldo signs for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. The Kingdom bids successfully to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027 for the first time. FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as host of the 2023 Club World Cup, which takes place in December that year. Saudi Private Investment Fund takes ownership of four Pro League clubs: Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli. Transfer of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal completed. By the end of the transfer window, Saudi Pro League clubs spend a collective $957m on new players, with the most notable signings including Neymar, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, Aymeric Laporte, Fabinho, N'Golo Kante, Gabri Veiga, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ruben Neves. Saudi Arabia confirmed as host of 2034 FIFA World Cup. Long before that seismic event in late December 2022, Saudi Arabia already boasted a footballing history, at the domestic and international levels, that few countries in the Middle East and Asia could match. In fact, high-caliber foreign footballers were not a rarity in the country. As far back as 1977, Al-Hilal had signed Roberto Rivellino, a member of the magical, World Cup-winning Brazilian team of 1970. More recently, the likes of Bafetimbi Gomis, Abderrazak Hamdallah and Anderson Talisca numbered among the outstanding foreign players who made the Saudi Pro League their home. The signing of Ronaldo, however, was on a whole new level. And where the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star goes, others follow. The arrival in the Kingdom of the Portuguese legend opened the floodgates and what had been a steady stream of foreign signings became a deluge. In the summer of 2023, after the Saudi sovereign Public Investment Fund acquired majority stakes in four of the country's top clubs, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, along with other investments in the game, the Pro League became the hottest destination for some of the world's best players. Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte followed Ronaldo to Al-Nassr. Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino moved to Al-Ahli. Fabinho, N'Golo Kante and Karim Benzema joined then-champions Al-Ittihad. And, in the capital, the arrival of Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic bolstered an already formidable Al-Hilal side. Saudi clubs were not signing players at the end of the careers looking for one last big payday, they were having their pick of superstars from some of Europe's top clubs. And that was just the beginning. Many more would follow in the summer of 2023 and during the January 2024 transfer window. It was not long before Ronaldo proclaimed that the Saudi Pro League was better than Major League Soccer in the US and Ligue 1 in France. Those who would have bristled at such a suggestion just a year earlier had to sit up and take notice. The wider social changes that were sweeping through Saudi Arabia at the same time meant the rise of football in the country was also felt in the women's game, which had barely existed in any organized form in the Kingdom just a few years earlier. A Saudi women's national team was established in 2022 and soon earned its place on the FIFA rankings. The Saudi Women's Premier League was founded the same year and, like the men's Pro League, now boasts some of the world's top talents. While the influx of superstars was changing the face of Saudi football on the pitch, a lot of game-changing work was also being done behind the scenes by the nation's football authorities, with some very notable results. In 2027, the Kingdom will finally host the AFC Asian Cup for the first time. The Green Falcons will be among the favorites to win the trophy, for what would be the fourth time in their history but the first since 1996. But even that exciting announcement was surpassed when Saudi Arabia was awarded hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Fifteen futuristic stadiums are already in the pipeline for what will be the next World Cup hosted entirely by a single nation. While many are speculating about what the tournament will look like a decade from now — with the competition expanding next year to include 48 teams, up from 32 — the chances are that by then, Riyadh, Jeddah and the other Saudi host cities will be even more familiar to foreign audiences than they already are. Thanks to Saudi Vision 2030, the ambitious plan for national development and diversification, the sports sector has been a central part of the Kingdom's remarkable progress in recent years. This is set to continue, thanks to similar advances in the business, tourism and entertainment fields. One of the Vision's crowning achievements looks set to arrive in the form of Riyadh Expo 2030, when the Saudi capital will throw open its doors even wider to the rest of the world. By the time the World Cup rolls around four years after that, few people around the globe will be quite so surprised by any Saudi achievements in the way they were when Al-Dawsari made history that memorable evening at Lusail Stadium. Qatar 2022 had changed the game. But it was just the beginning.
Gulf Insider
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Edge South Korea On Penalties To Reach AFC U-17 Asian Cup Final
Host nation Saudi Arabia clinched a thrilling spot in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup final after defeating South Korea 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time, in front of a packed crowd at Okaz Club Stadium on Monday night. In a dramatic semi-final clash, Aboubakr Saeed emerged as the hero, scoring a stoppage-time equalizer from the spot in the 12th minute of added time, keeping the Green Falcons' title dreams alive before goalkeeper Al Otaibi made two vital saves in the shootout. South Korea had taken the lead just before halftime through Ha Ram Oh, who finished on the rebound after his initial shot was parried. Despite dominant spells by the Saudis, it wasn't until the dying seconds of the match that they found the breakthrough, as Saeed converted from the spot after Abdulaziz Al Fawwaz was fouled in the box. With this victory, Saudi Arabia — two-time champions of the tournament — advance to the final, where they will meet the winner of the other semi-final between North Korea and Uzbekistan. South Korea started brightly and nearly took an early lead through Jung Hwi Seop, who headed just over in the 2nd minute. Saudi Arabia gradually grew into the game, with Abdulrahman Sufyani and Sabri Dhal creating danger down the flanks. The Green Falcons came close in the 38th minute when Sufyani met Al Fawwaz's cross with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target. South Korea's opening goal came in the 45th minute when Jin Jeon Young played a quick free kick to Kim Ji Yeon, whose cross evaded the defense and found Ha Ram Oh. The striker's initial attempt was saved, but he pounced on the rebound to give his side the lead. Saudi Arabia increased the pressure in the second half, testing the Korean defense with long-range efforts, particularly through Sufyani and Mutari. Their persistence paid off in the dying moments, as Al Fawwaz was brought down by the goalkeeper, allowing Saeed to fire home from the spot and send the match to penalties. In the shootout, Al Otaibi made two crucial saves, while Al Fawwaz, Sabri Dhal, and Thari Saeed scored for Saudi Arabia. Only Sufyani saw his attempt saved by Park Do Hoon.
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia down Korea to move into Asia U17 final
TAIF: Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi was the hero once more on Thursday as Saudi Arabia beat South Korea on penalties to move into the final of the U17 Asian Cup. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport AFC U17 ASIAN CUP SAUDI ARABIA VS KOREA REPUPBLIC GOAL BY ABU BAKER SAEED (2008)#AFCU17 — TALENT SCOUT REPORT April 17, 2025 There were opportunities on either side but the Green Falcons' best chance of the first half came seven minutes before it was over. Abdulrahman Sufyani was in a good position and had time to guide his header into the top corner, but his effort went just wide. The Koreans broke the deadlock just before the break. A free kick from midway inside the home half caused problems. The ball fell to Oh Ha-ram. And while his first-time fierce shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, he was on hand to fire home the rebound. Saudi Arabia pushed forward from the start of the second half in search of the equalizer. Incredibly, it came with the last action of the game. The Korean goalkeeper, Park Do-hun, desperate to clear, brought down Abdulaziz Al-Fawaz, and after a lengthy and tense VAR intervention, the penalty was given and then Abubaker Saeed smashed home with 99 minutes on the clock. That meant a penalty shootout. Al-Otaibi saved from Jeong Hyeon-ung and Kim Do-yeon to win the game for his team. The victors will now go on to a final against either Uzbekistan or North Korea on Sunday. The journey is not over, however, as the focus will be on preparing for the 2025 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar in November.
Leaders
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Leaders
Renard Expects ‘no Let-Up from Japan' as Saudi Arabia Chase World Cup Spot
Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard insists his side are in a fierce battle to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup and does not expect any favours from already-qualified Japan when they meet in a crucial qualifier on Tuesday. The Saudis sit third in Group C of the Asian qualifiers, one point behind Australia with three matches remaining. Only the top two teams earn automatic qualification for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while third and fourth place must navigate an additional qualifying round. Japan have already secured their place at the finals after a dominant campaign, but Renard believes the Samurai Blue will be relentless in Saitama. 'It's a tough sprint for the second position,' the Frenchman told reporters on Monday. 'We know Japan are disciplined, we know their philosophy, so there is no doubt they will play this game at 100 percent.' Stunning Victory Over Argentina Renard, who famously led Saudi Arabia to a stunning victory over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, returned for a second spell in charge last October following Roberto Mancini's dismissal. His side ended a four-match winless streak with a 1-0 victory over China last week, moving three points clear of Indonesia, Bahrain, and China in the race for third. With crucial fixtures against Bahrain and Australia still to come, the Saudis must first navigate a daunting test against a rampant Japan side that has won six and drawn one of their seven qualifiers, sealing their World Cup berth with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain last week. 'We know we are playing against a very strong team, but with only three games left, this is very important for us,' Renard said. 'We need to be ready for a tough game, but in football, you have to believe in yourself and in your qualification.' Japan to make changes Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has confirmed he will make changes, with striker Ayase Ueda and midfielder Hidemasa Morita already returning to their clubs. Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma remains a doubt after missing training on Monday. Despite the alterations, Japan captain Wataru Endo insists his side's desire to win will be the key factor. 'They are in a tough spot, they need the three points,' said the Liverpool midfielder. 'But we need to want it more than them. We're aiming to win the World Cup, and we need to give everything in this game.' Saudi Arabia's path to the World Cup remains treacherous, but Renard's men know a strong performance against Japan could be the catalyst for their qualification hopes. Related Topics: Renard Unveils Green Falcons' 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Squad Green Falcons' Probable Lineup For China 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Game Saudi Arabia Clinch Vital Win Over China in World Cup Qualifiers Short link :
