Green Falcons bravely soar into the history books

How to describe the indescribable?

The greatest match in Saudi’s football history. Or even Saudi’s finest sporting achievement.

Neither statement does what happened at Lusail Stadium justice.

The greatest-ever performance by an Arab nation? Perhaps.

In the moments after Saudi Arabia had quite astonishingly vanquished Argentina and Lionel Messi, even these words seemed inadequate.

On television, tearful pundits struggled to be coherent. “Historic.” “Sensational.” “Impossible.”

But the performance of a lifetime could be summed up in one key word: bravery.

Not the physical bravery that requires flying into tackles or putting your safety on the line, although there was plenty of that from the heroic Saudi players as well.

No, this was tactical, footballing bravery. Full of courage to devise a tactical plan, and carry it out to the letter. To not fold after falling behind to Messi’s penalty. And to take the game to one of the world’s best teams and favorites for the trophy, and achieve a barely credible comeback win.

On Tuesday, Herve Renard’s team had that kind of bravery in abundance.

How must Qatar, and to a lesser extent Iran, have looked on in envy and regret after not seizing the day in their opening World Cup fixtures against Ecuador and England; matches that ended in meek surrenders.

Saudi Arabia were never going to allow the same fate to befall them.

In doing so, they gave Qatar 2022 its finest moment yet, and in many ways kick-started a World Cup that was in danger of being consumed by off-the-field distractions and controversies.

The performance also provided the blueprint for fellow Arab team Tunisia to take into their own match against Denmark just over an hour later. The Carthage Eagles put on a