Reasons for the Saudi national team's exit from the 2025 Arab Cup and the defensive crisis
The Saudi national team exited the 2025 Arab Cup in the semi-finals after a campaign that sparked widespread controversy in sporting circles, as the results fell far short of high public expectations. The tournament exposed clear technical weaknesses in the "Green Falcons" squad, most notably their complete inability to keep a clean sheet in any of the five matches they played. This statistic clearly reflects a defensive crisis and poor organization at the back, which directly contributed to their disappointing exit from the tournament.
General context and scale of expectations
The Saudi national team has always entered regional and Arab tournaments as one of the top contenders for the title, relying on its rich history and past Asian dominance, in addition to the strength of its domestic league, which is among the strongest in the continent. Hopes were high that this edition of the Arab Cup would serve as a platform to reaffirm its footballing supremacy and prepare the team for upcoming international competitions. However, the reality on the field revealed tactical challenges, as the tournament demonstrated a marked improvement in the levels of the competing teams, making reliance on historical reputation alone insufficient to secure victories without a truly solid defense.
Figures reveal the depth of the defense crisis
The Saudi national team played five matches during the tournament, and the strange paradox is that they conceded a goal in each game, with their goalkeepers and defenders failing to keep a clean sheet in any match. This inability to do so placed a significant psychological and technical burden on the team, especially in the knockout stages where mistakes are unacceptable
- Group stage: The team conceded three goals in three matches (one against Oman, one against Comoros, and one against Morocco). Despite qualifying, alarm bells were ringing, but there was no real response.
- The knockout stages: The defensive bleeding continued, as they conceded a goal against Palestine in the quarter-finals, and then the knockout blow came with conceding a single goal against the Jordanian national team in the semi-finals, which was enough to end the Saudi dream.
Technical analysis: Why did the defense fail?
Sports analysts and pundits unanimously agreed that the Saudi national team's elimination was not a fluke, but rather the result of a clear lack of cohesion among the backline. The problem lay in poor coverage in the defensive midfield and a sluggish transition from attack to defense upon losing possession, which gave opponents ample space to exploit. Furthermore, a lack of mental focus in crucial moments, whether dealing with set pieces or positioning in the flanks, cost the Green Falcons goals that could have been avoided.
Post-Exit: Lessons for the Future
This elimination places the coaching staff and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation under pressure to conduct a comprehensive review of the defensive system. The upcoming competitions, whether World Cup qualifiers or the Asian Cup, demand a team with a true balance between attacking prowess and defensive solidity. The Saudi fans, who have always been the team's biggest supporters, are waiting for a course correction and the construction of an impenetrable defense capable of protecting the team's attacking achievements. As the established football principle states: "Attack wins matches, but defense wins championships.".
