Latest news with #HervéRenard
Arab Times
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Saudi Arabia's World Cup hopes hinge on a near-impossible task against Australia
MELBOURNE, June 9, (AP): A Saudi squad that has scored six goals through nine qualifying games needs to beat Australia by a five-goal margin to earn a direct spot at the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Hervé Renard knows it's an extremely unlikely outcome for his Saudi team, but he's urging his players to go all in Tuesday in the last game of the third round of Asian qualifying for next year's global tournament. "The door is closed, but we have to try to qualify even if it is through the window,' Renard said after his team's 2-0 win over Bahrain last week kept Saudi Arabia in contention. "Everything must go very well for us if we are to qualify; we have to score goals.' Anything less than a five-goal deficit means Australia, in second spot in Group C, qualifies for a seventh World Cup. The last time the Socceroos lost by such a margin was in successive 6-0 defeats against Brazil and France in 2013. The Australians have scored 14 goals and conceded six through nine qualifiers. After successive World Cup qualifications through the playoffs, Australia is close to securing a direct route, but coach Tony Popovic is taking nothing for granted. "We need to do a job in Saudi Arabia,' Popovic said. "We're in a great position, but we need to finish it off.' Popovic has only been in the job since September, stepping in after Graham Arnold resigned after collecting just one point in the group's first two qualification games. "It's been an intense period since I've come in, but everyone's embraced what we're aiming to do,' he said. "And we're very close now to achieving our goal.' Asia has been allocated eight places at the 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The top two teams in each of the three groups in this round advance directly. The third- and fourth-place teams in each group go into another round, vying for two more places. Japan was the first to qualify and will top Group C regardless of the outcome between Australia and third-place Saudi Arabia. Iran and Uzbekistan have qualified from Group A, and South Korea and Jordan have qualified from Group B. If Saudi Arabia fails to win by five, it will join the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, and Iraq in the next stage of qualifying in October. Oman, meanwhile, is fourth in Group B, a point ahead of the Palestinian team in fifth place, with the two teams meeting in Amman on Tuesday. "We still have everything to play for and we know what we have to do and that is to take all three points and continue our journey,' Palestinian coach Ihab Abujazar said.
Morocco World
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Ziyech In, Saïss Out: Renard's Dream XI Sparks Debate
Hervé Renard's dream XI of African stars he's coached is causing quite the stir, not least for who he chose, but for who he left out. In a podcast with L'Équipe , the French manager said that Moroccan playmaker Hakim Ziyech could be top class: 'If he's at the level he showed at the 2022 World Cup, he's an exceptional player.' Ziyech, alongside Mehdi Benatia, Achraf Hakimi, and Noussair Mazraoui, all made Renard's line-up. Renard, who managed Morocco from 2016 to 2019, guided the team through the 2018 World Cup and two AFCON campaigns. But eyebrows were raised at the absence of other African stars he once championed. Asamoah Gyan, Serge Aurier, Romain Saïss, Sofiane Boufal, and Idrissa Gueye were all left out, despite being pivotal in their national teams during Renard's tenure. Gyan's omission is the most glaring. Despite Renard having served as Ghana's assistant coach during the striker's prime, he didn't even mention this national icon and AFCON hero. The exclusion of Zambia's AFCON 2012 winners, barring a brief nod to Sunzu, also rankled. Renard, dubbed 'The Fox' for his tactical savvy, led Zambia and Ivory Coast to continental glory, but his selection seems to rewrite parts of his history. Tags: Hakim ZiyechHerve Renardromain saiss
The Guardian
17-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
France's Sakina Karchaoui: ‘If everyone brings their own little madness, it will make us win'
Sakina Karchaoui is one of the most popular players in the France team. Perhaps the most popular. But when she joins us at 9am at Clairefontaine, the national centre of French football, Les Bleues' No 7 appears quite shy. Wearing a blue tracksuit emblazoned with the French rooster, she smiles for the first time when Kenza Dali teases her: 'Interview for the Guardian … in English please, Saki!' Spring has finally sprung in the French capital and for the native of Salon-de-Provence, in southern France, the prospect of training in the sunshine is another reason to smile. 'We are almost ready for the Euros,' Karchaoui says as she looks at the training ground below. 'We work a lot tactically with the coach, we work technically, physically, all aspects of football. I think we can win many things together; we've got so much talent. And if everyone brings their own little madness, their own experience and their own qualities to the group, that's what will make us win.' Les Bleues face a difficult assignment at July's tournament in a group with England, the Netherlands and Wales. The team are led by Laurent Bonadei, the former assistant to Hervé Renard, who stepped down after an unsuccessful Olympic Games on home soil that brought elimination in the quarter-finals against Brazil. Bonadei was the continuity choice and was welcomed by Karchaoui, one of the dressing room leaders: 'He knows what happened, what he has to work on … his human side is so important, especially in a group and even more during competitions. He impresses me. I feel that he is everywhere. When there are [club] matches, he is there. Even if it's just less important matches, he is always there. He is always present, he knows what's going on. And having a coach like that, it changes [things]. He is really invested in all that.' Karchaoui was trained as a winger but the Paris Saint-Germain player became one of the French league's best full-backs and is now an undisputed starter in France's midfield. 'During Hervé Renard's era, he told me that I was a top left-back but he wanted me to play at the heart of the game,' the former Montpellier player says. 'He was so sure of that, I played my first match [there] in Newcastle, against England. We won 2-1. I had a great match, as a midfielder, against one of the best teams in the world … so I thought maybe he was right.' Karchaoui, who defines herself as 'a creator', now plays in midfield too for PSG. 'The coaches don't talk to me about the left-back position any more. As a full-back, I had a skill set so wide that I think I wasn't happy with this position any more. I wasn't happy just to stay in my area on the pitch. When you get to a stage where you go from playing as a left-back to a midfielder, it means that you already have an intelligent game. When you play in the midfield, you play even more intelligently.' To match the level of 'players who have been trained their entire careers as midfielders', she watches a lot of videos. 'I try to always add something new to my game,' she says. Her role model? Luka Modric. Although she cites a man as a reference for her position, she is an example herself for the next generation. Karchaoui embraces her role-model status, aware that two of her younger France squad-mates view her in that light: 'I remember one day, when with PSG we were playing against Paris FC, Melween N'Dongala [the Paris FC right-back] didn't dare to talk to me at the end of the match, as she was too overawed. I also know that Lou Bogaert [the Paris FC left-back] watches videos of my games to progress.' She is proud, after growing up without a female role model and being a fan of Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie, to be an idol for kids, whether girls or boys: 'I succeeded where I would never have thought,' she says. 'It shows the success of women's football.' Karchaoui describes herself as 'very discreet', even more so when it comes to protecting the 'cocoon' of her personal life, but when she is asked about her Moroccan roots, her face lights up. She has never been more expressive at press conferences than before France faced Morocco in the last 16 at the 2023 World Cup. 'I have a 100% Moroccan education and I'm not ashamed to say it,' says a player who grew up in the low-income housing projects of Miramas, less than 10 miles from Salon-de-Provence. 'I think it's wonderful in the French national team because you have other people who have their origins, who have a different education, but in the end there are the same values that bring us together.' It is a defence of multiculturalism in France, where the far right is rising and attempting to divide. 'If you don't see it with the right eyes, and you don't see that we have a country where we are lucky to have so many cultures, so many different origins, so many differences, and that's what makes everyone bring their own thing, I find it a bit stupid,' Karchaoui says. Last year, she extended her contract with PSG until 2028, despite offers from 'big European clubs, even from the United States or Saudi Arabia'. Karchaoui wanted to set an example and 'be a spokeswoman' to help a 'stagnating' French league grow. The top division has become professional but that will probably not tie her there for the rest of her career. 'I signed for PSG but it doesn't mean anything,' she says. 'I do everything for this club at the moment. I give my all. But it doesn't mean I won't go somewhere else later.' Speaking of a next destination, she has a precise idea: 'I really love the English championship. Why not play there one day? I almost signed there twice, and in France we say things always come in threes, so we don't know.' She has discussed the Women's Super League with her English PSG teammate Mary Earps. 'Her dream was to play in France, and now she's there. Maybe we can swap roles. I'm 29 years old, I'm in top form. I've never felt so good physically, mentally, in everything. As a woman too. And I know that I haven't done everything I would like to do yet.' If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email This is an extract from our free weekly email, Moving the Goalposts. To get the full edition, visit this page and follow the instructions. Moving the Goalposts is back in to its twice-weekly format, delivered to your inboxes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Saudi Gazette
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt
SAITAMA — Saudi Arabia secured a valuable point in their push for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, holding off a dominant Japan side to earn a 0-0 draw at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday in Group C of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26. The result lifts Hervé Renard's Green Falcons to 10 points, following their 2-0 win over China PR last week in Riyadh. They remain firmly in the race for the second automatic qualification spot, behind already-qualified Japan, who now have 20 points from eight matches. Despite making six changes to the starting lineup that beat Bahrain to seal World Cup qualification, Japan controlled the match, peppering the Saudi defense with chances throughout the game. Daichi Kamada returned to the XI and nearly made an instant impact, feeding Daizen Maeda in the ninth minute. The Celtic forward beat goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi but struck the left post. Minutes later, Maeda missed another golden opportunity after a bursting run by Keito continued to press and hustle the Saudi defense, coming close again in the 18th minute, only to shoot too close to Al Arabia struggled for rhythm in the opening half but managed one clear look at goal when Mohannad Al Shanqiti headed over from a rare foray resumed their pressure shortly after, with Takefusa Kubo sending a long-range effort over the the second half, Japan continued to dominate possession but were unable to find a Endo and Ko Itakura both missed opportunities with headers, while Maeda remained a constant threat but couldn't closest the Samurai Blue came to scoring was in the 81st minute, when Kamada released Junya Ito, whose shot was expertly tipped over by Al Aqidi to preserve the clean Ito fired high from distance in the closing minutes, and Saudi Arabia nearly snatched a late winner after a poor backpass, only for Zion Suzuki to clear just in time ahead of Turki Al draw maintains Japan's unbeaten run in the qualifiers while offering Saudi Arabia a hard-earned and morale-boosting result ahead of the remaining group fixtures.
Arab News
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Saudi coach Renard expecting a tough game against Japan
TOKYO: Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard says Japan's qualification for the World Cup will not affect how either team plays when they meet on Tuesday at Saitama Stadium just north of Tokyo. Japan qualified for next year's World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday and remained top of Group C with 19 points from seven games. Australia is second with 10 points followed by Saudi Arabia with nine. 'We still have to play Japan tomorrow, then go to Bahrain and to receive Australia for the last game, so it's a tough sprint for the second position,' Renard said at a press conference on Monday held in Saitama Stadium near Tokyo. "You always have to adapt yourself to the situation, to be strong and to fight to get the direct qualification. We know Japan are disciplined, we know their philosophy, and there is no doubt they can play this game against us at 100 percent. We are playing against the best team in Asia, so we will be ready to compete on the field tomorrow.' Goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aghidi said the Saudi squad have had a positive few days in Japan: 'We have a good a couple of days here in Japan and everything has been positive. I would like to thank the Japanese for their warm welcome for the team here and we would like to congratulate them on securing their spot in the World Cup finals. Tomorrow's game is a difficult game for both teams and hopefully we can manage to get the three points.' Renard said the previous game against China, which Saudi Arabia won 1-0 was 'a good game' but admitted his team was not efficient enough. 'We didn't score a lot of goals, but we got a lot of opportunities,' he said. Renard noted that the squad had suffered some injuries, and the demands of Ramadan had also affected some players, but he emphasized, he was not looking for excuses. 'Yes, it's true we have some injured players, but this is part of football where we must adapt ourselves. Concerning getting cramp during Ramadan, it is never easy for all the players, but they must adapt themselves. So, we must be ready tomorrow because tomorrow we'll have to run a lot.' Al-Aghidi said his role as a goalkeeper was just to help the team: 'My aim is always to help my national team, and this is why I wanted to have more playing time, and this is the place I want to be. As a goalkeeper, it's very important to have more playing time. I'm ready to play a key role for my team tomorrow. I will do my best to help my fellow players during the game to get the result that we have been working for.' Renard was asked about Japan's ambition to win the World Cup by 2050. 'It's normal when you have a big ambition,' he replied. 'To win the World Cup is a very big ambition, but they can do this in the future, I'm sure, because they have so many quality players. We are playing against a very strong team, so we need to be ready to have a tough game. But in football you must believe in yourself.'
