On September 6 at 02:00, the first round of Group C in the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup will see Saudi Arabia face off against Indonesia. Ahead of the match, Saudi Arabia’s head coach Mancini and forward Fahad Al-Muwallad attended a press conference.
Mancini said, “I believe this will be a tough game because we have a good understanding of Indonesia, and it is the first match, which always tends to be difficult in qualifiers. We know that Indonesian football has made significant progress over the past decade. Relatively speaking, we must be well-prepared and believe in ourselves to defeat our opponents.”
“I am satisfied with the players currently in the training camp; they are a combination of experienced players and younger ones. Some players need more playing time, but overall, I am pleased.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t be happy without a positive result, but we are now in a new phase where style and approach are changing.”
“It’s a good thing for Saudi players to play abroad, not only for me but also for the Saudi players themselves, as there are many upcoming matches that require them to be better prepared.”
“Indonesia is a team that has shown significant progress, and we’ve seen the development of their U21 squad, who will become part of their senior team. Therefore, we must respect our opponents and be fully prepared.”
“We need everyone’s support for tomorrow’s game, and Jeddah fans are known for their passionate support and encouragement of the national team.”
Saudi forward Fahad Al-Muwallad also spoke about the match, saying, “This will be a tough game against a progressing team, and the first match is always challenging. We will strive to secure all three points. September 5 is an unforgettable day in the history of national team matches; we once played against Japan in Jeddah, and the stadium was packed. The goals and memories from the World Cup qualifier are still vivid, and I hope to see the same audience support us tomorrow.”
