9 of 11 Saudi starters play for identical membership. Who’re Al Hilal? | Qatar World Cup 2022 Information

Doha, Qatar – Because the announcer blared one after one other the names of the Saudi gamers – to loud cheers inside Lusail stadium – a particular sample emerged.

Of the 11 gamers lined up on Tuesday as much as play in opposition to Argentina, 9 had been from Saudi champions Al Hilal – a uncommon prevalence for a modern-era soccer World Cup.

What’s extra, two of the 5 substitutes that took to the pitch for the Inexperienced Falcons additionally play for a similar membership.

And crucially, Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari – the scorers of each Saudi Arabia’s targets within the historic upset in opposition to the Lionel Messi-led Argentina – are additionally Al Hilal gamers.

Who’re Al Hilal?

Based in 1957, Riyadh-based Al Hilal are the dominion’s – and Asia’s – most profitable crew, attracting huge names from house and overseas.

In June, the crew nicknamed the Blue Waves had been topped champions of the Saudi Professional League for an 18th time.

Their roster included Nigerian worldwide and former Watford and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo, who scored the 2 decisive targets within the final match of the season that helped them clinch the title.

Because the high Saudi league was established in 1976, Al Hilal are amongst solely 4 groups to have participated in each season.

They’ve additionally received the Crown Prince Cup, the oldest home soccer competitors within the kingdom, a file 13 occasions.

And final yr, Al Hilal grew to become the primary membership to win 4 Asia Soccer Confederation (AFC) Champions League titles. They’ve additionally scooped the Asia Cup Winners Cup and the Asian Tremendous Cup twice.

Is Al Hilal’s success good for the Inexperienced Falcons?

In worldwide soccer, gamers, busy with membership commitments, hardly get time to coach with their nationwide crew friends and develop an in depth understanding of every others’ motion on the pitch.

Within the run-up to the World Cup, the primary to be performed right now of the yr, many gamers joined their nationwide groups just some days earlier than the 32-team world match bought beneath means on November 18.

Managers getting ready for months had little time to place their ultimate stamp on their groups or assess their gamers adequately.

However for the Saudis, it was a unique story.

Eleven of the gamers that stepped onto the sphere in opposition to Argentina prepare with one another day by day. And in a somewhat attention-grabbing twist, these footballers are all coached at Al Hilal by an Argentinian: Ramón Díaz, an skilled supervisor who has been in command of a number of groups in his house nation, in addition to the nationwide crew of Paraguay.

Motivational coach

Apart from having virtually all their beginning 11 from one crew, the Saudi nationwide crew has a coach who has made a reputation for himself turning unfancied groups into killers of giants.

Frenchman Herve Renard, 54, burst onto the worldwide scene in 2012 when he led Zambia to the Africa Cup of Nations title for the primary time, beating within the ultimate an Ivory Coast crew that included English Premier League legends akin to Didier Drogba and brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure.

Renard, a strong motivator, then headed to Ivory Coast the place he led them to the continental trophy earlier than establishing camp in Rabat. He then guided Morocco to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the primary time in 20 years the North Africans certified for the match.

Saudi Arabia are subsequent within the World Cup motion on Saturday in opposition to Poland, searching for a win that may get them to the following stage. And with a gaggle of gamers who’ve educated collectively for therefore lengthy and a coach who has mastered the artwork of overachieving, the Inexperienced Falcons can hope to have the ability to scale new heights.