A state of extreme dissatisfaction and outrage prevailed in Saudi sports circles, following the loss of the Saudi national football team in the semi-final match of the Arab Cup against its Jordanian counterpart by one goal to nil, so that “the Green” bid farewell to the tournament amid great disappointment for the fans who had hoped to reach the final and win the title.
The shock of elimination and the history of the Green Falcons in Arab championships
The Saudi national team's exit was not merely a one-off loss, but a harsh blow given the Green Falcons' rich history in Arab and regional tournaments. The Saudi team, a cornerstone of Asian and Arab football, entered the tournament with high hopes, but their performance and final result against Jordan have raised serious questions about the team's future and its preparations for upcoming competitions. This defeat also opens up sensitive issues concerning the team's management and the technical decisions made during the tournament.
Harsh criticism of the Football Association and coach Renard
Okaz newspaper observed angry reactions from prominent sports critics and media figures. Sports critic Mohammed Al-Bakiri a scathing attack, saying, "May God grant us patience in our predicament with the Saudi national team, which has been hijacked by the arbitrary decisions of the Football Federation." Al-Bakiri described the current federation's era under Al-Mishal's leadership as "the worst," pointing to the squandering of huge budgets without sound planning. He also praised the performance of the Jordanian national team, which deservedly qualified despite its depleted squad, as well as the Moroccan national team.
For his part, writer Ahmed Al-Shamrani for the immediate departure of coach Hervé Renard, saying: “Leave, Renard, you will not be missed… Our national team does not have a coach, and the decision must be made from Doha,” in a clear indication of the need for urgent administrative intervention.
The crisis of local players and the impact of foreign professionals
In analyzing the reasons for the decline, writer Ali Al-Zahrani highlighted a structural problem facing Saudi football, considering the loss "a painful culmination of years of absence from achievements." Al-Zahrani proposed a radical solution: reducing the number of foreign players in the Saudi league to give local talents the opportunity to participate and develop. This view aligns with many experts who believe that the large number of foreign players could negatively impact the national team's options.
The absence of individual solutions and a fighting spirit
Fahad Al-Harifi criticized the lack of a clear strategy and the absence of individual solutions among the players, describing this as one of the most prominent flaws of the Saudi national team. Meanwhile, journalist Salman Al-Mutaiwi even more scathing in his criticism, calling the coach a "coward" and indicating that the tournament revealed players "who do not deserve to wear the national team jersey."
Adnan Jastaniah concluded the scene with a comment summarizing the general situation, stressing that the problem is not a product of the moment but rather the result of years of “stubbornness” and poor decision-making, warning that “Al-Akhdar is in danger” if the same administrative and technical policies continue.
