Saudi Arabia World Cup 2022 preview - prediction, fixtures, squad, star player

The Green Falcons were impressive in their qualification campaign, picking up 23 points from 10 matches to finish top of Group B ahead of Japan and Australia, who will also both be present at the competition.

However, it will be difficult for Herve Renard's side to make a serious impression in this tournament considering the strength of their group, which involves Argentina, Poland and Mexico.

Saudi Arabia have previous when it comes to advancing through the group stage of the World Cup, though, having been present in the last-16 stage of the competition back in 1994.

Here, Sports Mole previews the team's chances at the 2022 tournament.

GROUP

Saudi Arabia have a difficult start to their Group C campaign, taking on one of the favourites for the trophy, Argentina, on November 22.

Renard's side have another tough match against Poland four days later, and defeats in both could leave them out of the running ahead of their final fixture in the group against Mexico on November 30.

Argentina and Poland will be expected to progress from this particular section, but Saudi Arabia's impressive qualification campaign should mean that confidence is high heading into the tournament.

FIXTURES

November 22: Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia (10am, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

November 26: Poland vs. Saudi Arabia (1pm, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)

November 30: Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico (7pm, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

HOW THEY QUALIFIED

Saudi Arabia finished top of Group B in their Asia qualification section, picking up 23 points from their 10 matches courtesy of a record of seven wins, two draws and one defeat.

That section followed their participation in the second round, where they finished top of Group D with a record of 20 points from eight matches.

The Green Falcons only scored 12 times in their 10 matches in Group B, which is just one more than fourth-place Oman managed, but they conceded only six times to finish with a goal difference of plus six.

Saudi Arabia's only defeat in the group came against Japan at the start of February, but they also dropped points against China and Australia.

However, seven victories represented a strong qualification campaign, and there is certainly enough quality in their squad to make it a competitive Group C.

RECENT FORM

Saudi Arabia have not played a competitive match since beating Australia 1-0 in their final World Cup qualification fixture back in March.

Each of their last nine matches have been friendlies, and they will play once more before the World Cup begins, preparing to take on Croatia on November 16.

Saudi Arabia lost friendlies against Colombia and Venezuela back in June before drawing 0-0 with both Ecuador and the United States at the end of September.

The team's form since last month has been strong, though, playing five friendlies as preparation for the World Cup, which has included wins over North Macedonia and Iceland.

Saudi Arabia have drawn three of their last four matches, meanwhile, sharing the spoils with Albania, Honduras and Panama, but they face a tough examination by Croatia on November 16.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Al-Yami (Al-Ahly)

Defenders: Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal)

Midfielders: Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Ittihad), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab)

Forwards: Fahad Al-Muwallad (Al-Shabab), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahly), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal) Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh)

STAR PLAYER - SALEM AL-DAWSARI

Salem Al-Dawsari already has a World Cup goal to his name, having found the back of the net against Egypt in the finals of the 2018 competition.

The 31-year-old will now be looking to build on that strike in Qatar, and he is expected to be key to Saudi Arabia's chances of enjoying a strong competition.

It is now almost 11 years since he made his debut for the national side, and the winger has a record of 15 goals and three assists in 51 appearances for the Green Men.

Al-Dawsari has spent his entire club career with Al-Hilal, scoring 70 times and registering 61 assists in 305 appearances in all competitions.

The attacker did also represent Villarreal on loan in 2018, but he only made one appearance for the Yellow Submarine, which came in La Liga against Real Madrid.

MANAGER - HERVE RENARD

Renard has been in charge of Saudi Arabia since 2019, with the Frenchman previously managing Morocco.

A defender during his playing days, the 54-year-old started his career as a head coach back in 1999 for SC Draguignan, while he has also been in charge of the likes of Zambia, Angola and Sochaux.

Renard also had a short spell with Lille between May 2015 and November 2015, but three of his last four positions have been at international level, managing the Ivory Coast before taking charge of Morocco.

The Frenchman has won the Africa Cup of Nations on two occasions, leading Zambia to success in 2012 before lifting the same trophy while with the Ivory Coast in 2015.

The highly-rated coach has been credited for the team's recent development on the pitch, and he will be featuring at his second World Cup, having managed Morocco at the 2018 tournament.

WORLD CUP RECORD

Best finish: Round of 16 (1994)

As mentioned, this will be Saudi Arabia's sixth appearance in the finals of a World Cup, and they have been eliminated in the group stage in four of their previous five participations.

The national side failed to win a match in the 1998, 2002 or 2006 competitions; they did record one victory at the 2018 World Cup, beating Egypt, but it was not enough to qualify from Group A.

Saudi Arabia did reach the round of 16 back in 1994, though, which is their best performance at a World Cup to date.

Having finished second in Group F, which included wins over Morocco and Belgium, the Green Falcons qualified for the next round in second position, but their journey was ended by Sweden in the first knockout round.

In the tournament, Saudi Arabia became just the second Arab team to reach the round of 16 of a World Cup after Morocco, who had managed to progress to that stage in 1986.

PREDICTION

Saudi Arabia deserve respect for their performances during qualification, but it is very difficult to imagine them making a big impression at the finals of the tournament.

Argentina are expected to top Group C, with Poland and Mexico potentially battling for second, which could leave Saudi Arabia bottom of the group.

VERDICT: Fourth in Group C