JEDDAH, 15 June 2006 —  Shouts of disappointment rose high in Jeddah’s coffee shops as Tunisia scored an equalizer against the Saudi national team in their first World Cup match.

Cafes were packed full to the brim during the live transmission of the game with fans mostly dressed in green and heads wrapped with green Saudi scarves.

Some of the fans had even painted their faces and hair green and white.

Even though many people were not happy with the result of the game, Tahliah Street was jammed with cheering fans hanging the Saudi flag on top of their vehicles. Police cars were positioned in huge numbers around Tahliah Street even before the start of the match.

Inside the “In 10 So” café at Mega Mall, Tahliah Street, customers were offered free face and hair painting. As customers and waiters, mostly wearing green, intermingled with each other amid the hue and cry women could be seen wearing Saudi scarves with small Saudi flags clasped in their hands.

Fans and expatriate workers raised cries of despair when Tunisia scored, sounds which soon turned into joy and glee as the Saudi team equalized with their first goal of the match.

At the Second Cup café in Tahliah Street, people were packed around two big screens that were showing the soccer match at the outer section of the café. Air horns could be heard from the fans sitting in the café and nearby coffee shops.

Bandar Abu Ras, a 27-year-old Saudi art director at TBWA\RAAD advertising agency, said that he was a little disappointed with the result. “Now we have to take the long and more risky way along the tournament,” he said.

Abu Ras, who was wearing a green T-Shirt, said that the Saudi national team played with a nervous attitude, but they showed a more relaxed attitude by the second half of the match.

Yasmin Mahri, a 23-year-old public relations coordinator at Bates Pangulf PR, said that she was giving her full support to the national team but felt disappointed with the final result.

“A draw is better than loosing. They could have done better,” she said while still holding a green flag in her hand.

Mohammed Shata, a 23-year-old Saudi college student, who was wearing the national team T-Shirt, said that it was an unexpected good start for the Saudi team. “Frankly, I thought the team would lose against Tunisia,” he said.

Even non-Saudis were exuberant and happy about the Saudi team’s performance. Islam Abo Jebara, a 31-year-old Jordanian account director at Impact Proximity advertising, said that the Tunisian team was more organized, but in the second half the Saudi national team’s performance was stunning.

Abo Jebara, who was wearing the national team scarf and holding the Saudi flag, said, “I will support the Saudi national team till the end.” Fahd Al-Saadi was in Munich for the match together with his friend Ashraf. Speaking to Arab News by telephone from Munich, Fahd said: “Saudi Arabia played excellent during the second half.

Saudi coach Paqueta was brilliant in deciding to substitute Malek Al-Hawsawi, Muhammad Nur and Yassir Al-Qahtani with midfielder Nawaf Al-Temyat, Mohammed Ameen and Al-Hilal star Sami Al-Jaber.”

Yassir Otaibi, from Jeddah, says that although Saudi Arabia start was shaky nevertheless they gained confidence as the match wore on. He said, “Overall, we’re optimistic about the Saudi team.

We’re cheering and hoping out team will win against Ukraine. Tunisia didn’t deserve the point. We played better.” “In the first half both teams didn’t play that well. In the second half the Saudis dominated. The two goals were very good goals tactically speaking. It took only three passes to score,” he added.

Another fan from Jeddah, Zuhair Bashamir said: “We’re optimistic. The guys played good and we think we’ll win the next match.

The Saudis are going to play much better than what they played in 2002. I think the team has re-gained the reputation of the 2004 team. Everybody is now calling for the retention of coach Paqueta.” — With additional input from Samir Al-Saadi and Abdul Maqsud Mirza