YOKOHAMA, Japan, 12 June — Saudi Arabia’s coach again apologized to supporters after losing their third match of the World Cup finals and letting in another three goals, but promised he would try harder next time.
“I would like to apologize to everyone in Saudi Arabia — officials and fans — for these results and I promise to do my best in the future,” Nasir Al-Jowhar said after his side’s 3-0 defeat by Ireland.
“We’ve gained a lot of experience and learnt a lot of lessons from our participation at this World Cup but we will go home and discuss all the negatives with the Saudi Arabia Football Association and we will rebuild our team again to get lots of positive results in the future,” he pledged.
Saudi Arabia let in 12 goals and grabbed zero points from their three group matches, never recovering from the 8-0 demolition by Germany in the opening match. Al-Jowhar, relatively happy with the Gulf side’s showing against Ireland, said: “Tonight we played very well, especially in the first half but we missed a lot of chances that could have made a big difference to the result.”
But as the team trundled towards the exit, heads bowed and miserable, a spokesman said they just wanted to get on a plane and go home.
Saudi goalkeeper steps down
after Ireland defeat
Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea has played his last game of international football after letting in three goals against Ireland in their final World Cup Group E match yesterday.
“I have announced tonight I will retire from international duty. That was my last game,” Al-Deayea told reporters after the game.
Al-Deayea has let in 12 goals in three matches — eight against Germany in Saudi Arabia’s disastrous opening game, one in a much-better performance against Cameroon and the three Irish ones, including the late shot from Damien Duff that slipped embarrassingly through his fingers.
“I’m not satisfied. I let in a lot but that’s football,” he said, speaking through an interpreter.
The Saudis lost all three matches in the tournament and failed to score a goal.
Ireland in World
Cup ecstasy
Euphoria swept across Ireland yesterday and roars of ecstasy echoed around empty streets and deserted suburbs from hotels and homes after its team beat Saudia Arabia to take their place in the World Cup final 16.
The country virtually ground to a halt for the decisive 90-minute crunch match in Yokohama’s International Stadium, which showed that Ireland were no mere flash in Japan.
When it was over a jubilant nation punched the air as Ireland’s Asian odyssey was set to continue to the South Korean capital Seoul.
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, a keen soccer fan, hailed it as a “great achievement” and sent his congratulations to the squad.
“I am delighted for the team,” he said. “It was an excellent performance and I am really looking forward to the next game.”
The country erupted with the first moment of magic when Robbie Keane’s goal just six minutes into the match marked the first step on the way to victory.
After the match, cars flying the Irish tricolor blew their horns and dancing fans spilled onto the streets chanting “Ole, Ole, Ole” and “You’ll never beat the Irish.”
The anticipation had been building from early in the day.
AA Roadwatch reported an early rush hour in cities as traffic built with people wanting to get work and build up credit with bosses so that they could get the time off to see the match. Others were opting to work late.
However, many simply took the day off and cafes did a roaring trade as they were packed to standing room by cheering supporters well before kick-off. After the match it was set to be a day-long session in many.
About 2,500 watched the match in a hotel in Killarney, County Kerry in the southwest, which claimed to have the biggest screen — 60 square meters — and about 1,000 gathered in Dublin’s Royal Dublin Society.
Homes were bedecked with green, white and orange bunting for the festivities and many exhilarated celebrators put on green shirts and face paint in the electric atmosphere as the country becomes obsessed with the World Cup.
The team’s qualification is sweeter because it was unexpected in the runup to the tournament.
Just weeks ago fans and pundits alike had feared humiliation, an early flight home and a short obituary for the team.
The country had virtually gone into a state of mourning after the debacle of a row between team captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy resulted in the Manchester United star being sent home.
