A consequential week of international football is upon Herve Renard and Saudi Arabia, as they both prepare to embrace their long-awaited return to competitive action plus map out a path into the future.
\nA 26-man squad was named last week\u00a0by the multiple Africa Cup of Nations champion for the gathering in Riyadh which features March 25\u2019s friendly with Kuwait and March 30\u2019s first World Cup 2022 qualifier since November 2019, versus Palestine.
\nThe Frenchman\u2019s intriguing selection,\u00a0later impacted by Al Hilal striker Abdullah Al Hamdan coronavirus-enforced pull-out,\u00a0contains\u00a010 changes\u00a0from November\u2019s double header versus Jamaica. It also features\u00a0seven uncapped players, including 11-goal Al Qadsiyah winger Hassan Al Amri and emerging Al Nassr centre-back Abdulelah Al Amri.
\nHere are four tactical options the 52-year-old tactician could embrace this month:
\n4-2-3-1 \u2013 TRUSTED OPTIONS<\/p>\n
Renard\u2019s success throughout a well-travelled career has, often, revolved around a 4-2-3-1 formation.
\nThere is no reason to think this shape will be ditched, despite the preceding 2-1 friendly loss to Jamaica from which a 3-4-3 was utilised.
\nA pivotal position, now and moving ahead, is the attacking midfielder. Enter Nassr\u2019s Al Najei.
\nThe 24-year-old\u2019s impressive 2020\/21 Saudi Professional league tally of five goals and four assists, including two of the latter in last week\u2019s 7-0 rout of promoted Al Batin, should see him add to a solitary international cap.
\nAl Hamdan\u2019s withdrawal provides a quandary up top, after nine starts under Renard. New Al Hilal team-mate Saleh Al Shehri has just four goals in 18 top-flight appearances this term, but netted when starting the 3-0 victory versus Jamaica.
\nWingers pick themselves, with Al Ittihad\u2019s Fahad Al Muwallad and Hilal\u2019s Salem Al Dawsari. Also expect a starting spot for fit-again midfield metronome Abdullah Otayf.
\nNassr\u2019s Abdullah Madu should hold off the challenge of on-form club-mate Abdulelah Al Amri to start against Palestine.
\n4-2-3-1 \u2013 MIXING IT UP<\/p>\n
A quandary is faced by Renard for Thursday\u2019s Kuwait clash: either provide an acid test for untried options in the international arena, or allow his first-choice XI invaluable time on the pitch together after\u00a0playing twice in 15 months?
\nThis situation is complicated by the Saudi position in Group D. They are second to Uzbekistan,\u00a0albeit with a game in hand,\u00a0and only top spot guarantees progression into the third round.
\nIf the first option is pursued, it\u2019ll also allow recent sparkling club form to be rewarded.
\nAl Amri has been the SPL\u2019s stand-out centre-back and deserves minutes, despite previously being a non-playing member of the 2019 Asian Cup roster. Madu could make way, even with Al Bulaihi making only 11 SPL starts for leaders Hilal this season.
\nUncapped Nasser Al Dawsari, 22, has emerged as a favourite of Rogerio Micale at Hilal and merits a shot at partnering the incomparable Ittihad warrior Abdulellah Al Malki at the base of midfield.
\nAn alternative solution for Al Hamdan\u2019s absence is to push Al Muwallad back into the \u2018false 9\u2019 role of the Juan Antonio Pizzi-era and slot Al Ahli Jeddah\u2019s Abdulrahman Ghareeb onto the left wing. The latter-mentioned 23-year has recorded a career-high five SPL strikes, from 21 games, in 2020\/21.
\n3-4-3 \u2013 AN ALTERNATIVE<\/p>\n
Different methods of playing will become essential for the challenges to come.
\nRenard\u2019s identification of this issue was recently apparent. A diversion away from a four-man defence appeared for the first time in his 13th\u00a0international outing; the second of two friendlies versus the Reggae Boyz.
\nThis system appears well suited to Al Shabab\u2019s 22-year-old centre-back Hassan Tambakti. Especially with colleague Ahmed Sharahili out injured and Renard a proven admirer.
\nA temptation to throw in Hilal speedster Mohammed Al Breik at right wing-back may be resisted because of Nassr\u2019s Sultan Al Ghanam\u2019s excellence.
\nAttacking freedom granted to the potential front three of Al Muwalad, Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari should strike fear across Asia.
\n4-4-2 \u2013 ON THE ATTACK<\/p>\n
It will be a seismic shock if Saudi Arabia do not advance into the latter stages of World Cup qualifying.
\nIn that intense arena, games should need to be chased. This week\u2019s friendly with Kuwait, therefore, could provide a testing ground for such a scenario.
\n4-4-2 remains a formation rarely utilised in the Middle East. But its merits are obvious, in the right situation.
\nThese benefits are glaring in attack where Al Shehri (or Al Hamdan when fit), Al Muwallad, the prolific Hassan Al Amri and magical Salem Al Dawsari could all start.
\nPower and athleticism in midfield is key for this system to effectively function. Hilal\u2019s striding Mohamed Kanno would appear an obvious beneficiary.
\nClub-mate Al Breik, too, with his superior engine at right-back.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A consequential week of international football is upon Herve Renard and Saudi Arabia, as they both prepare to embrace their long-awaited return to competitive action plus map out a path into the future.
\nA 26-man squad was named last week\u00a0by the multiple Africa Cup of Nations champion for the gathering in Riyadh which features March 25\u2019s friendly with Kuwait and March 30\u2019s first World Cup 2022 qualifier since November 2019, versus Palestine.
\nThe Frenchman\u2019s intriguing selection,\u00a0later impacted by Al Hilal striker Abdullah Al Hamdan coronavirus-enforced pull-out,\u00a0contains\u00a010 changes\u00a0from November\u2019s double header versus Jamaica. It also features\u00a0seven uncapped players, including 11-goal Al Qadsiyah winger Hassan Al Amri and emerging Al Nassr centre-back Abdulelah Al Amri.
\nHere are four tactical options the 52-year-old tactician could embrace this month:
\n4-2-3-1 \u2013 TRUSTED OPTIONS<\/p>\n
Renard\u2019s success throughout a well-travelled career has, often, revolved around a 4-2-3-1 formation.
\nThere is no reason to think this shape will be ditched, despite the preceding 2-1 friendly loss to Jamaica from which a 3-4-3 was utilised.
\nA pivotal position, now and moving ahead, is the attacking midfielder. Enter Nassr\u2019s Al Najei.
\nThe 24-year-old\u2019s impressive 2020\/21 Saudi Professional league tally of five goals and four assists, including two of the latter in last week\u2019s 7-0 rout of promoted Al Batin, should see him add to a solitary international cap.
\nAl Hamdan\u2019s withdrawal provides a quandary up top, after nine starts under Renard. New Al Hilal team-mate Saleh Al Shehri has just four goals in 18 top-flight appearances this term, but netted when starting the 3-0 victory versus Jamaica.
\nWingers pick themselves, with Al Ittihad\u2019s Fahad Al Muwallad and Hilal\u2019s Salem Al Dawsari. Also expect a starting spot for fit-again midfield metronome Abdullah Otayf.
\nNassr\u2019s Abdullah Madu should hold off the challenge of on-form club-mate Abdulelah Al Amri to start against Palestine.
\n4-2-3-1 \u2013 MIXING IT UP<\/p>\n
A quandary is faced by Renard for Thursday\u2019s Kuwait clash: either provide an acid test for untried options in the international arena, or allow his first-choice XI invaluable time on the pitch together after\u00a0playing twice in 15 months?
\nThis situation is complicated by the Saudi position in Group D. They are second to Uzbekistan,\u00a0albeit with a game in hand,\u00a0and only top spot guarantees progression into the third round.
\nIf the first option is pursued, it\u2019ll also allow recent sparkling club form to be rewarded.
\nAl Amri has been the SPL\u2019s stand-out centre-back and deserves minutes, despite previously being a non-playing member of the 2019 Asian Cup roster. Madu could make way, even with Al Bulaihi making only 11 SPL starts for leaders Hilal this season.
\nUncapped Nasser Al Dawsari, 22, has emerged as a favourite of Rogerio Micale at Hilal and merits a shot at partnering the incomparable Ittihad warrior Abdulellah Al Malki at the base of midfield.
\nAn alternative solution for Al Hamdan\u2019s absence is to push Al Muwallad back into the \u2018false 9\u2019 role of the Juan Antonio Pizzi-era and slot Al Ahli Jeddah\u2019s Abdulrahman Ghareeb onto the left wing. The latter-mentioned 23-year has recorded a career-high five SPL strikes, from 21 games, in 2020\/21.
\n3-4-3 \u2013 AN ALTERNATIVE<\/p>\n
Different methods of playing will become essential for the challenges to come.
\nRenard\u2019s identification of this issue was recently apparent. A diversion away from a four-man defence appeared for the first time in his 13th\u00a0international outing; the second of two friendlies versus the Reggae Boyz.
\nThis system appears well suited to Al Shabab\u2019s 22-year-old centre-back Hassan Tambakti. Especially with colleague Ahmed Sharahili out injured and Renard a proven admirer.
\nA temptation to throw in Hilal speedster Mohammed Al Breik at right wing-back may be resisted because of Nassr\u2019s Sultan Al Ghanam\u2019s excellence.
\nAttacking freedom granted to the potential front three of Al Muwalad, Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari should strike fear across Asia.
\n4-4-2 \u2013 ON THE ATTACK<\/p>\n
It will be a seismic shock if Saudi Arabia do not advance into the latter stages of World Cup qualifying.
\nIn that intense arena, games should need to be chased. This week\u2019s friendly with Kuwait, therefore, could provide a testing ground for such a scenario.
\n4-4-2 remains a formation rarely utilised in the Middle East. But its merits are obvious, in the right situation.
\nThese benefits are glaring in attack where Al Shehri (or Al Hamdan when fit), Al Muwallad, the prolific Hassan Al Amri and magical Salem Al Dawsari could all start.
\nPower and athleticism in midfield is key for this system to effectively function. Hilal\u2019s striding Mohamed Kanno would appear an obvious beneficiary.
\nClub-mate Al Breik, too, with his superior engine at right-back.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49348"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49348"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49349,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49348\/revisions\/49349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}