Saudi Coach Mancini Urges Players to Shine in Ronaldo-Dominated League for Ultimate Glory

Roberto Mancini, coach of Saudi Arabia’s national soccer team, is concerned about the lack of playing time his players are getting in the domestic league, troubling their preparations for World Cup qualifying. Despite star signings like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar boosting the Saudi Pro League, local players are sidelined, with clubs utilizing their full quota of 10 foreign imports. Mancini, who left his position as Italy’s head coach to lead Saudi Arabia, lamented that key national players are often benched, citing 20 national squad members not starting in club matches. “Saudi Arabia’s national team players must participate as core players with their clubs,” he emphasized.

Saudi Arabia’s World Cup qualifying campaign began on a shaky note with a 1-1 draw against low-ranked Indonesia. They face a crucial match against China in Dalian on Tuesday. Mancini identified missed opportunities as a recurring issue for his team.

In other qualifying action, Australia experienced a setback with a 1-0 home loss to Bahrain, hampering their bid for a sixth consecutive World Cup appearance. Socceroos coach Graham Arnold called it a learning experience and remains defiant ahead of their next match against Indonesia in Jakarta.

Group C leader Bahrain will host Japan, which stormed to a 7-0 victory over China. The qualification format, involving 18 teams across three groups, sees the top two teams earning automatic World Cup berths, with the third and fourth place finishers heading to a fourth round for additional spots.

South Korea, featuring EPL stars Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, struggled to a goalless draw with Palestine in Seoul, possibly hindered by poor pitch conditions. They now face Oman in Muscat, which lost 1-0 to Iraq. Palestine will take on Jordan, which drew 1-1 with Kuwait in its opener.

In Group A, UAE triumphed 3-1 over Qatar and will host Iran, also victorious in their opener. Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host country which has never qualified for the tournament, is set to play North Korea next.

These results mark the early stages of a challenging road to the World Cup, highlighting the regional struggles and competitive dynamics at play.

Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/09/10/saudi-coach-mancini-wants-his-players-to-get-more-time-in-a-ronaldo-dominated-league/
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