The Saudi Arabian national football team, nicknamed "The Green Falcons," begins its campaign in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup on Tuesday with high hopes for a perfect start when it faces Oman in a highly anticipated Gulf derby at Education City Stadium, one of the World Cup venues in Qatar. This participation, the seventh in the Saudi team's history, comes at a time when the team is eager to compete strongly for the title, which has eluded them since 2002.
General context and background of the tournament:
The 2021 edition of the Arab Cup holds special significance as it is the first to be held under the auspices of FIFA, granting it unprecedented international prestige and official status. Qatar is hosting the tournament as a comprehensive operational test less than a year before the start of the 2022 World Cup. Dating back to 1963, the tournament is one of the oldest regional competitions, and the Saudi Arabian national team has won it twice, in 1998 and 2002, and is aiming for its third title this year.
Al-Akhdar's preparations and ambitions:
The Saudi national team enters the tournament after holding a preparatory camp in Jeddah, during which they played two friendly matches to assess the players' readiness. They won the first match against Ivory Coast 1-0, while they lost the second to Algeria 2-0. The team is led by French coach Hervé Renard, who selected a squad that blends experienced players with promising young talents. Leading the lineup are Al-Hilal star and AFC Player of the Year Salem Al-Dawsari , along with other promising players such as Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Hassan Tambakti, Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri, and Saleh Abu Shamat. Midfielder Musab Al-Juwair's statements reflect the team's ambition. He told FIFA.com: "The Arab Cup has a special character, and we will enter it with the aim of competing for the title, without a doubt. We want to demonstrate the strength of the Saudi national team and make our fans happy, while also using the tournament as early preparation for the World Cup."
The Omani national team and the challenge of qualifying:
In contrast, the Omani national team reached the finals after a difficult qualifying campaign, overcoming Somalia in a penalty shootout. The Omani team is relying on a number of key players, including goalkeeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini, midfielders Jameel Al-Yahmedi and Nasser Al-Rawahi, and striker Issam Al-Subhi, to deliver a respectable performance and achieve a positive result in their opening match.
The importance of the confrontation and its expected impact:
This match is more than just about three points at the start of the campaign; it carries the weight of a "Gulf derby," always characterized by fierce competition and passionate fan support. A victory in this game would provide a tremendous morale boost for the winner, placing them at the top of the group early on, while the loser would have to quickly regroup. Regionally, the tournament represents an opportunity for Arab teams to prove their strength on the international stage, and this encounter between Saudi Arabia and Oman is considered one of the most anticipated matches of the first round, captivating millions of football fans across the region.
