January 4 – Roberto Mancini has named his first squad for a significant championship choosing a mix of youth and tried and examined expertise in a Saudi Arabian squad that’s drawn solely from the Saudi Professional League.
Mancini took up the Saudi job simply two weeks after quitting the Italian males’s nationwide staff in August.
Having guided Italy to the Euro 2021 championship, Mancini mentioned his “goal is to win the Asian Cup after 27 years”. In 2019 on the Asian Cup within the UAE, the Saudis had been knocked out by eventual finalists Japan 1-0 within the spherical of 16. The Saudis have received the Asian Cup 3 times, the final championship win being in 1996.
Such is the ambition and funding in Saudi Arabian soccer, and notably following their 2022 World Cup win towards Argentina, there may be heightened expectation for Mancini in Qatar for the Asian Cup that kicks off January 12.
Though solely taking the job in August 2023, Mancini has already overseen an in depth collection of friendlies together with matches towards Venezuela, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Korea Republic, Nigeria and Mali. Saudi Arabia have additionally received their first two matches in 2026 World Cup qualifying towards Pakistan and Jordan.
Tonight Mancini has a pre-Asian Cup warm-up towards Lebanon, adopted by Palestine on Tuesday with a closing warm-up towards Hong Kong on January 10. Saudi Arabia open their Asian Cup marketing campaign towards Oman on January 16.
Mancini’s choice sees a altering of the guard within the Saudi ranks with 13 gamers chosen for the 26-man squad who’ve 10 or much less caps.
A bulk of the staff comes from Saudi’s two highest profile golf equipment with eight gamers from Al-Hilal and 6 from Al-Nassr.
A trademark of Mancini’s video games in cost has been his willingness to strive youth, having even referred to as up 16-year-old budding star Talal Haji. However his Asian Cup squad has a bunch of extra acquainted and seasoned worldwide faces.
AFC participant of the 12 months Salem Al-Dawsari will likely be essential to Saudi Arabia’s creativity in midfield, as will his capability to attain objectives. Defensively Mohammed Kanno ought to present regular affect within the midfield. However in entrance and behind them there are lots of untested gamers.
Up entrance essentially the most prolific ahead within the home league has been Firas Al-Buraikan, who scored 17 objectives final season for Al-Fateh, incomes himself a transfer to Al-Ahli the place he has continued to hit the again of the web.
However for the nationwide staff Mancini turned to Saleh Al-Shehri within the two World Cup qualifiers and was rewarded with 4 objectives.
He was not concerned within the two World Cup qualifiers however his goalscoring exploits have been laborious to disregard.
He might not begin although. Mancini, who has additionally chosen younger ahead Abdullah Radif forward of Abdullah Al-Hamdan, turned to Saleh Al-Shehri within the two World Cup qualifiers and was rewarded with 4 objectives.
Defensively Mancini appears more likely to rely veteran Al-Hilal centreback Ali Al-Bulaihi alongside membership mate Hassan Al-Tambakti. Awn Al-Saluli is more likely to be the third member of a three-man central defensive line-up. The Al-Taawoun participant has been capped simply twice.
Saudia Arabia are very a lot in a rebulding part however in terms of nationwide staff managers they’re an impatient nation. Mancini won’t have an enormous period of time to get his staff proper and difficult for the massive honours. The Saudis count on nothing much less.
Saudi Arabia squad
Goalkeepers: Nawaf Al Aqidi (Al Nassr), Raghed Najjar (Al Nassr), and Ahmed Al Kassar (Al-Fayah).
Defenders: Hassan Kadish (Al-Ittihad), Aoun Al Saluli (Al-Taawoun), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al_hilal), Ali Lajami (Al-Nassr), Hassan Al-Tambakti (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdul Hamid (Al-Hilal), Fawaz Al Saqour (Al-Shabab), and Abdullah Al Khaybari (Al-Nassr).
Midfielders: AbdulIlah Al Maliki (Al-Hilal), Mukhtar Ali (Al-Fateh), Faisal Al Ghamdi (Al-Ittihad), Eid Al Mawlid (Al-Okhdood), Salem Al Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abbas Al Hassan (Al-Fateh), Nasser Al Dosari (Al-Hilal), Muhammad Kanno (Al-Hilal), and Sami Al Naji (Al-Nassr).
Forwards: Fahd Al Mawlid (Al-Shabab), Ayman Yahya (Al-Nassr), Abdul Rahman Gharib (Al-Nassr), Firas Al Braikan (Al-Ahli), Abdullah Radif (Al-Shabab), Saleh Al Shehri (Al-Hilal).
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