Arab Cup Showdown: Will Renard's Run End in Doha?

The Championship or the Sack

Saudi fans dream of lifting the Arab Cup crown, set in Qatar from December 1 to 18. The Green Saudi team is in Group B with Morocco, the winner of Somalia vs Oman, and the winner of Comoros vs Jordan. Coach Hervé Renard announced the squad for the Arab Cup, with Salem Al-Dawsari at the helm. The selection included: Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr) – Abdulrahman Al-Sanabi (Al-Ahli) – Mohammed Al-Yami (Al-Hilal) – Raghid Al-Najjar (Al-Nassr); Muteb Al-Harbi (Al-Hilal) – Jihad Zakri (Al-Qadsiah) – Walid Al-Ahmad (Al-Taawoun) – Mohammed Suleiman Bakr (Al-Ahli) – Abdulilah Al-Omri (Al-Nassr) – Hassan Timbakti (Al-Hilal) – Ali Mujrashi (Al-Ahli) – Saud Abdul Hamid (Lens) – Nawaf Boushl (Al-Nassr); Nasser Al-Dosari (Al-Hilal) – Abdullah Al-Khibri (Al-Nassr) – Ziad Al-Jehani (Al-Ahli) – Mohammed Kanno (Al-Hilal) – Murad Housaoui (Al-Khaleej) – Musab Al-Juwair (Al-Qadsiah); Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Ittihad) – Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Al-Ittihad) – Sultan Mandash (Al-Taawoun) – Saleh Abu Al-Shamat (Al-Ahli) – Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Al-Hilal) – Marwan Al-Sahafi (Royal Antwerp) – Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Ittihad) – Faris Al-Breikan (Al-Ahli).

In his pre-tournament remarks Renard faces a heavy weight of expectation. The Saudi public wants the title, and the team has not stood atop a podium in a long time. A pressure gap will test his leadership as much as any group stage match.

No Alternative to the Title

The pressure is not just from fans but from pundits. Ahmed Atif, a former national player, said on TV: “If Renard doesn’t win the title, there is no point keeping him longer.” He added that there will be time to pick another coach to lead the team in the World Cup if the Arab Cup fails. Atif emphasized that the team hasn’t reached a developed level under Renard and needs significant work.

Media personality Khaled Al-Shinef, a former Al-Ahli player, stated: “We must win the Arab Cup, and if not, it will be a major failure and the coach should be changed. We have a great group of players who can reach advanced rounds and win the title.”

Fans are not shy about demanding results. They want a squad that fights for the emblem and returns from Doha with gold, not excuses. The current roster is viewed as a blend of experience and youth, with stars like Al-Dawsari, Kanno, and Al-Breikan capable of making the difference, but concerns about early-season consistency remain.

The talk among fans has shifted from names and plans to a hunger for combativeness and discipline, which supporters say matter more than flair in these short tournaments. Still, the loudest demand is simple: lift the trophy and prove the bid for renewed glory wasn’t just a flash in the Qatar night.

Renard's Fate and Past Failures

Past disappointments haunt the Saudi national team. In the Gulf Cup, the Green reached the semi-finals with an underwhelming display and a lack of attacking bite, prompting renewed criticism of the team’s offensive effectiveness. In the CONCACAF competition, Saudi Arabia was eliminated in the quarter-finals after a painful defeat, exposing mental fortitude issues under heavy match pressure. These results have etched a cautionary memory for fans who fear a repeat in the Arab Cup.

As the Arab Cup approaches, patience wears thin. Do Qatar’s stadiums hold a different answer, or will Renard’s men echo previous missteps? Every result in Doha will be a measure of Renard’s ability to reconcile a talent-rich roster with a coherent, fearless identity. If the trophy remains elusive, many will question whether Renard remains the right man to lead the Green forward.

Punchline 1: If Renard nails this, the trophy might need a passport—it’s about to tour the Middle East on a victory lap.
Punchline 2: If not, Saudi fans will still be loud, because in football as in comedy, until the final whistle, the jokes are free and the questions are expensive.