The Frenchman confirmed Hervé Renardtechnical director For the Saudi national teamHe emphasized the importance of the Australia match scheduled to be held tomorrow, Thursday, noting that Al-Akhdar is not in a bad position in his group in the Asian qualifiers for the finals. World Cup 2026.
The Saudi national team will face its counterpart, Australia, tomorrow in Melbourne, in the fifth round of the decisive round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which is Renard’s first match after returning for a second term.
The Saudi national team occupies third place in Group C with 5 points after 4 rounds, trailing only Australia, who is in second place, on goal difference.
Fahd Al-Mawlid
Hervé Renard commented emotionally on the health condition of former Saudi national team star Fahd Al-Muwallad.
Fahd Al-Mawlid, the Saudi star, Al-Akhdar, fell from the balcony of the second floor of his house in Dubai, while the investigations conducted by the Dubai Police Command have not yet revealed any evidence. Renard said in press statements: “We are talking about Salem Al-Dosari and Abdul-Ilah Al-Maliki, but we must remember Fahd. “The generator, we miss it and we have to fight for it.”
🎙️| Renard, the Saudi national team coach, seemed “affected” when speaking to media representatives after the end of the conference about the absence of Fahd Al-Muwallad:
-We miss him, and we will fight for him. pic.twitter.com/WqDXLaz4N8
— Middle East – Sports (@aawsat_spt) November 13, 2024
Renard said, in the press conference held on Wednesday morning, “The Australia match is difficult, but we must not neglect the Bahrain and Indonesia teams, especially since Bahrain came here and won.”
The coach who replaced the Italian Roberto Mancini added, “We are halfway through. The time is long and the competition will be intense between 3 teams to obtain the qualification card, and we hope to decide it in our favor.”
Regarding the situation of the Saudi team in the group, he responded by saying, “We are not in a good situation, but we are not in a bad situation. The current stage is more difficult than the last, and we must work together to overcome it.”
Regarding the atmosphere in the Saudi national team camp and how he found the players’ interaction, he said, “The feeling is as if I have not been absent from the team. Three-quarters of the players I know and we played the past qualifiers and the World Cup together, and they were good memories, and we must look to the future.”
Fahd Al-Mawlid
Regarding the absence of Salem Al-Dosari, captain of Al-Akhdar, due to injury, Renard said, “His absence is touching, but the Australian team is also missing Goodwin. You must adapt to achieve the most important goal.”
Regarding the news that circulated about his nomination to coach the Australian national team about two months ago, he commented, “I heard this news, but the Australian Federation contracted with its coach, and he started well with the team. I am happy to return to the Saudi national team and we must work together to qualify for the World Cup.”
He added, “The new coach of Australia achieved victory over China, and returned from Japan with a good result. The road is long for both teams, and the two teams are in the same situation. We must look positively to obtain the qualification card.”
Renard was asked about the team that will play under psychological pressure tomorrow in light of the equal points, and he responded by saying, “In football, pressure may be a good factor. Tomorrow we will play an exciting and interesting match for both sides and it will be decided on the field.”
Regarding playing against Australia several times in his coaching career, he said, “In the last World Cup qualifiers, I won the qualification card for the World Cup against him. On the other hand, the Australian women’s team beat me and I coach the French team, so we are tied.”