Green Revival: Saudi Arabia Regains Its Identity in Arab Cup Opener
3 December 2025
Saudi Arabia Regains Its Identity in Arab Cup Opener
Nashat Akram, the former Iraqi international star, says Saudi Arabia clearly regained its identity on the night of their 2-1 victory over Oman, yesterday in the opening round of the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar.
Akram told TV that the Saudis have regained the identity they are used to, in terms of spacing and movement on the pitch, noting the team had looked scattered in recent times but now appears to play with precision.
He added: "The identity was lost, but the Green are now showing in a wonderful and different style from the previous period, with Salem Al-Dosari as the standout star thanks to his movements on the wings and in central areas."
The team focused on simple elements, including winning duels and securing second balls, and Oman could not match this approach due to continual loss of possession.
Akram stressed that beyond the brilliance of the attacking trio, the defense looked solid and freer than before, which gave the "Green" the capacity to dominate possession.
He concluded that Hervé Renard distributed roles well from the start, and the changes made in the second half made the difference.
Saudi Arabia's next match is against Comoros on Friday, in the group stage.
The Green now have 3 points and sit second in Group B, behind Morocco on goal difference after beating Comoros 3-1.
Punchline 1: If identity were a jersey, Saudi would wear a fresh kit every game—because a sparkly badge beats nostalgia any day.
Punchline 2: Renard’s plan? Keep the ball, keep the faith, and keep the jokes on the bench.
