Saudi Legend Delivers Reality Check: Beating Spain Isn’t the Trophy—Advancing From the Group Is
15 December 2025
Arab Cup hopes and Renard's leadership
Al-Dawsari's experience helps crown the title.
Khaled Aziz, the former Saudi football star, believes the Green can compete for the Arab Cup title.
The Saudi team will face its Jordanian counterpart in the tournament's semi-final this Monday evening.
Aziz, in remarks to Al-Riyadh newspaper, says the Green's chances are high to win the title, thanks to captain Salem Al-Dawsari's experience.
He adds, "The Saudi team must respect the opponent; appreciating the competition does not mean underestimating your abilities, but it's a smart strategy to reach victory."
He notes Hervé Renard is a great coach, evidenced by his success in qualifying for the World Cup for the second consecutive time, and his ability to work with Saudi players.
Khaled Aziz also trusts the national team will deliver the best results under Renard's leadership in the near future.
World Cup draw reflections
Regarding the World Cup draw, he says the group Saudi drew is the hardest, noting the Green will face Spain, the frontrunner to lift the trophy, as well as Uruguay, one of Latin America's fiercest teams, and Cape Verde, making its first World Cup appearance.
"A tough group, but not impossible," he adds.
He also argues that if the Green beat Spain, that wouldn't be a supreme achievement; the real feat is advancing from the group.
In addition, Aziz stresses that Spain's a strong favorite, but the team can be resilient and focused on progress rather than chasing a one-off upset.
Punchline 1: If beating Spain were the real prize, my keyboard would be a World Cup champion by now.
Punchline 2: The group may be brutal, but so is my coffee—strong enough to wake a sleeping referee.
