5 things we learned from Roberto Mancini’s start with Saudi national team

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia lost 1-0 to South Korea, following a 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica four days earlier. In Newcastle, a first-half header from Cho Gue-song proved to be the difference between the two Asian powerhouses.

Here are five things we learned from the first two games under new boss Roberto Mancini.

Not a great start but …

Whatever the performances and whatever the spin put on it all, for a new national team coach to lose his first two games is far from an ideal start. At this stage the performances are more important than the result but Mancini, who was appointed last month, will not want the media and fans talking about the lack of wins for too much longer.

In some ways, the selection of opposition was not the best. Costa Rica and South Korea both present solid tests but are not the kind of world-beating teams that fans back in Riyadh, Jeddah and elsewhere would expect their side to lose to.

With hindsight, perhaps it would have been better to have one game against weaker opposition that Saudi Arabia could have beaten comfortably. It may not have been the most serious test but would have given Mancini the chance to get his first win out of the way.

Midfield improved but lacks cutting edge

After struggling to contain a talented Costa Rica team on Friday with Jewison Bennette, who plays his club football in nearby Sunderland, causing many problems, there was more control in the middle on Tuesday.

Mohamed Kanno was energetic and at times, along with Nasser Al-Dawsari and Abdullah Al-Khaibari, the Green Falcons looked good in the first half and asked questions of the Koreans. In the end it was a defensive mistake that allowed the Taeguk Warriors to take the lead, but there were chances created.

The team