A Fan Uproar: Renard Struggles After Algeria's Shock in Jeddah

Saudi fans vented sharp anger at French coach Hervé Renard after the Green were beaten 0-2 by Algeria on Tuesday night at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah. The Saudis had just edged Ivory Coast 1-0 last Friday before this setback against Algeria in back-to-back November friendlies.

Lackluster Performance

The display against Algeria lacked life or bite. From the first whistle the tempo was low, passing was slow, and movements lacked intent.

There was no real momentum, and every forward move looked like it was searching for its own form before aiming at the goal. Defensively, the lines drifted, and the midfield failed to provide balance. Algerian attacks arrived with little resistance.

Even when Saudi tried to lift the pace, the attempts were brief and left the bench asking questions.

Poor Management

Renard's lineup looked off balance, with choices that didn't translate into a coherent plan against a physically strong and fast side. There was no clear identity: no high-press, no compact block, and no early intensity—only reactive play in response to Algeria's pushes.

Midway through the match, as the Saudi tempo sagged, substitutions failed to alter the rhythm, and the coach seemed to watch more than steer. He did not adjust quickly enough, and the team failed to regain control, leaving space for Algeria to press and exploit gaps.

Fan Uproar

Social media exploded with criticism of Renard, with fans arguing that the performance reflected more than just a bad night. Some viewed it as a temporary blip, others as a sign that the project needs new leadership to restore the Green's spark. With important challenges looming, the backlash raised questions about Renard's future and the squad's direction.

The following days underscored that football is a results-driven business and patience wears thin when plans fail to materialize.

Punchline 1: If Renard's tactics were a playlist, someone pressed shuffle and forgot to press play.

Punchline 2: Watching this defense is like a GPS that keeps shouting recalculating while you stand still on the ball.