Renard's last-call gamble: Saudi lineup in limbo as Serbia friendly nears

Renard weighs lineup as Serbia friendly looms

The Saudi national team completed its final preparations on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Serbia, part of their preseason camp for the 2026 World Cup cycle.

Under head coach Hervé Renard, the training at Partizan’s sports complex focused on fitness, ball possession, and a half-field scrimmage to close the session.

Defender Abdul-Ilah Al-Omri took part in a portion of the group drill, while Sultan Mandash followed a medical treatment program with the staff.

According to the Saudi daily Al-Yawm, Mandash is set to miss the Serbia game due to an ankle injury, becoming the first casualty of the match squad. Renard will decide Al-Omri’s involvement in the final hours after monitoring his condition.

The Saudis are looking to rebound from the 4-0 defeat to Egypt in the previous friendly, seeking to restore confidence and win over the crowd with a solid performance.

What’s next and the injury watch

The friendly is scheduled for March 31, 2026 at 18:00 local time, with possible lineup tweaks depending on medical updates.

Punchline 1: If Renard’s selections were a sniper shot, the ball would still dodge the target only if it decides to take a nap mid-flight—classic football logic.

Punchline 2: In football as in comedy, the best joke is a goal—just not the one that vanishes when the defense sneezes.