JEDDAH, 12 June — Saudi Arabia’s defeat by Ireland was yet another disappointment but the crushing France got from Denmark was shocking. This is how soccer fans across the Kingdom reacted to yesterday’s FIFA World Cup results.
Game followers said the Kingdom’s defeat was expected but what was not expected was France becoming the first defending champions to be knocked out of the tournament’s first round.
“Our defeat by Ireland was expected but not the crushing of France that dominated world and European football for the last four years. What is more shocking is that France finished the tournament with the worst record of any champions in the 72-year history of the tournament,” said Khalid Essa Hasnawi of the Moumena Investment Group, Jeddah.
“I knew our team would perform disastrously even before they headed for Korea/Japan. The reason is we were placed in a group that included strong teams,” Hasnawi said.
“Being in the Kingdom for 12 years, I expected Saudi team to perform better, especially when they did well in the last World Cup and regional tournaments. We must admit the Kingdom was grouped among very strong teams. I don’t think the coach has done a bad job. In the first match their expectations were very high. Let’s not forget that playing for the World Cup is a big thing in itself,” said Chintaka Bandara, SriLankan Airlines’ Western Province executive.
“Saudi Arabia’s defeat by Ireland was no doubt disappointing but France’s defeat embarrassed us Frenchmen because we’ve become the first defending champions to be knocked out of the World Cup in the first round for 36 years with our 2-0 defeat by Denmark,” said Julien Billet, a French executive in the food industry.
“Being the reigning champions, our players were over confident and they paid the price dearly,” he added.
In Riyadh, Musa’ad Al-Osaimy, sports editor of Asharq Al-Awsat, called for the replacement of the Saudi coach.
“The Irish coach knew more about the Saudi players than our coach knew about the Irish team,” Musa’ad said, adding that the changes at the level of the coach and some players were necessary to prepare the Saudi team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
“The Saudi team played without any clear-cut strategy when they knew they were up against a stronger Irish side. In the second half the Saudis were playing for themselves since they knew there was nothing much left in the game. Each player was trying to set a record for himself by making a pitch to score at least one goal. Ireland took advantage of the situation by scoring two goals in the second half,” Musa’ad added.
In the Eastern Province, fans angered by the Saudi team’s continued debacle, said they were now spared further humiliation as the team would not have to play any more matches.
Senegal’s graduation into the second round however game some solace to the citizens and expatriates.
During the first 15 minutes of the Saudi-Irish encounter, the crowd gathered at the Corniche feared a repeat of the opening tie in which Germany trounced the Kingdom 8-0.
But as the game progressed and the national team found its rhythm, it was hoped that a tough fight was ahead, but the failed chances, slow reflexes, lack of precision and a nervous goalkeeper added to the cup of misery in the Saudi camp.
Abdullah Al-Jaman, a Saudi employee at Dammam Port, said: “The nightmare of Japan and Korea is finally over. We’ll not be put to agony and humiliation any more.”
Ahmad Al-Furaih, a student at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, felt that the national side had let down the people, the country and, above all, its coach.
“The willingness to win was just not there. They were not even prepared to salvage the lost pride. The whole team should be scrapped and an inquiry ordered into the debacle. The sports authorities should initiate a search for fresh talents,” he said.
Moqbil Al-Sayyari, Gulf editor of Arriyadiyah, said: “The Kingdom would have easily won against Ireland had they kept their cool and played with a sense of purpose. After the first 15 minutes, the game was played virtually in the Irish half and most of the time our players were in possession of the ball.
“Hasan Al-Yami squandered a good chance of scoring in the last minutes of the first half. His body language reflected extreme nervousness and pressure. Nawaf Al-Themyat and Ali Al-Dossari displayed some fine tackling and passes but the entire team lacked precision and ability to convert chances into goals.”
Fares Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi youth, said: “The performance of our team in the tournament has brought us out of a dream to reality. The myth of super heroes is broken. Overall performance of our team was much below average and showed they lacked fitness, coordination and the vital killer instinct.”
Ahmad Al-Abki, a journalist of Eqtisadiah, said: “Now that the ordeal is over, it’s time for introspection and soul-searching. We’ve to accept the fact that we’re nowhere near European and American teams.”
— Javid Hassan in Riyadh, Saeed Haider in Dammam & K.S. Ramkumar in Jeddah
