Herve Renard looks to solve World Cup selection issues as Saudi face Ecuador in friendly

A little history will be made on Friday as Saudi Arabia take on Ecuador in Spain. According to reports, Herve Renard will take charge of the national team for the 31st time, equalling the number reached by Jose Peseiro from 2009 to 2011. It is an impressive record and would have been even better had COVID-19 not hit in 2020.

The Frenchman won’t care too much about that as his time will not be judged only on what he has done since his appointment in July 2019 but what happens in November and, hopefully, December in Qatar.

Unlike Peseiro, Renard has taken the Green Falcons to the World Cup and finished qualification on top of a group that also included Japan and Australia. It was an impressive campaign. Renard crafted a team that was more cohesive, flexible and tactically astute than before and got his just rewards with a contract extended to 2027 and a spot at Qatar 2022 in a group with Argentina, Poland and Mexico.

Preparations started almost immediately with June friendlies against Colombia and Venezuela in Spain, two South American opponents that had not qualified for the World Cup. Both games were lost 1-0 and showed there was work to do.

There was a little too much space behind the defense and perhaps a little too much respect given to the opposition, especially Colombia. Still, there were some absences, including star player Salem Al-Dawsari, and Renard himself missed the first due to illness and, as tests go, they were valuable.

Just how valuable will be seen on Friday against a South American team that will be at Qatar — and will face the hosts in their opening match and see Saudi Arabia as good preparation for that — and then a clash with the US four days later.

After three years in charge, Renard has a