Bielsa’s new-look Uruguay test Saudi dreams of another World Cup upset
MIAMI: Saudi Arabia will attempt to recreate their World Cup magic from 2022 when they face Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay in their Group H opener on Monday, but this time it is uncertainty rather than confidence driving the Gulf nation’s campaign. Saudi Arabia arrive under new coach Georgios Donis, who has no international tournament experience and was appointed less than two months before the World Cup when Herve Renard was dismissed in April. Renard had secured his place in Saudi football history four years ago when he masterminded a stunning 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina in Qatar, one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Brought back in 2024 after Roberto Mancini’s brief and unsuccessful tenure, the Frenchman was expected to restore the intensity and organization that had made Saudi Arabia tricky opponents in Doha. Instead, inconsistent performances and concerning defeats, including a 4-0 loss to Egypt and a 2-1 setback against Serbia in friendly matches, prompted a late managerial change before a daunting group featuring Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde. Donis, a former Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United midfielder with extensive managerial experience in Saudi club football, now faces the challenge of reviving confidence in a squad that has struggled to build momentum. Captain Salem Al-Dawsari remains the team’s talisman and greatest attacking threat, with memories of his iconic winner against Argentina still fresh in Saudi football folklore.