BRUSSELS, 11 May 2006 — Saudi Arabia are determined to erase the memory of their last World Cup appearance at this year’s finals in Germany.
“We want to erase the image we got at the last World Cup which still hurts the players and the fans in Saudi,” coach Marcos Cesar Dias Castro, better known as Marcos Paqueta, told Reuters in an interview.
“But what Gus Hiddink achieved with South Korea shows what can be achieved, even if it seems impossible. He is someone I admire and hope to do the same as he did,” added the Brazilian.
While Hiddink was leading 2002 co-hosts South Korea to a World Cup semifinal, Saudi Arabia were back at home licking their wounds after losing all three group games, including a record 8-0 defeat to Germany in their opening match.
They finished bottom of the group, going on to lose 1-0 to Cameroon and 3-0 to Ireland.
“What Hiddink showed at Korea and at PSV Eindhoven when he got them to a Champions League semifinal, is the quality of a team ethic over individual players,” Paqueta said.
“We have a few dangerous individuals, but our group is strong and that’s where our strength lies. We don’t have players playing in Europe, but this means they are together a lot and also they can give our opponents a surprise.”
Saudi Arabia kick off their campaign in Germany against Tunisia in Munich on June 14, before facing Ukraine five days later in Hamburg. Their final Group H match will be against Spain on June 23 in Kaiserslauteren.
“Spain are favorites for our group and Ukraine will be tough. But we start against Tunisia and if we can beat them in the first game and can get a draw in the other games, then who knows,” Paqueta said.
His team have been preparing this week at a training camp in the Netherlands where they will play World Cup warm-ups against Belgium on Thursday and fellow finalists Togo on Sunday.
“Preparation is key and was not good to say the least the last time round. That’s why, for me, Mexico could be the surprise team in Germany as they have had longer together,” Paqueta said.
The 47-year-old Paqueta took over in January after the Saudi Football Federation fell out with Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon, who led them to their fourth finals in succession. Saudi Arabia were unbeaten in 12 games in qualifying, scoring 24 goals and conceding two.
Despite their poor showing in 2002, Saudi Arabia have performed well in the past, reaching the second phase in the US in 1994.
Thursday’s meeting with Belgium could be a positive omen for the Saudi side as it was an historic 1-0 win over the Belgians in Washington which saw them clinch second spot in their group.
Paqueta is no stranger to success himself on the world stage and is already a World Cup winner — twice in the same year. He led Brazil’s under 17 and under 20 side’s to victory in 2003.
Born on the island of Paqueta in Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay, the proud Brazilian hopes making an impact with Saudi Arabia could lead to his ultimate dream.
“There are many comparisons with my career and that of other Brazilian national coaches. If I can achieve success in Germany who knows where it could lead, of course my dream is to one day coach Brazil,” Paqueta said.
