The head coach of the Saudi national team, Frenchman Hervé Renard, announced the official lineup that will face the UAE in the highly anticipated Gulf derby, in the third-place match of the 2025 Arab Cup. This match presents an opportunity for the Green Falcons to appease their fans and secure the bronze medal after their commendable performance in the tournament.
Saudi Arabia's starting lineup for the match against the UAE
Renard decided to field his strongest lineup, a mix of young and experienced players, to ensure control of the match. The squad selected for the game is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Raghed Al-Najjar.
- Defense line: Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Mohammed Suleiman, Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri, Nawaf Boushal.
- Midfield: Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwair, Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
- Attack line: Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri.
Saudi Arabia vs UAE match date and details
The Saudi national team is scheduled to face their Emirati counterparts at 2:00 PM Mecca time today in a crucial match for third place. This encounter carries particular significance due to the historical and geographical rivalry between the two brotherly nations, with matches between Saudi Arabia and the UAE always being highly competitive and exciting.
The two teams' journey in the tournament and background of the match
The Saudi national team enters this match looking to bounce back after a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Jordan in the semi-finals, a game characterized by high-level tactical competition. Meanwhile, the UAE national team seeks to recover from a heavy 3-0 loss to Morocco (the Atlas Lions) in the same round.
The importance of the match and the context of the Arab Cup
The Arab Cup is one of the most important preparatory tournaments for Arab national teams, offering coaches an ideal opportunity to assess their players' readiness in a competitive, official FIFA-sanctioned environment. For Hervé Renard, achieving third place is a significant morale booster ahead of upcoming international competitions, and winning such matches also contributes to improving the team's FIFA ranking.
Historically, matches between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have always been a special "Gulf derby," transcending the mere positional play of a league match to become a showcase of football's evolution in the region. In this match, Renard is counting on the experience of captain Salem Al-Dawsari and the dynamism of Firas Al-Buraikan to unlock the Emirati defense and secure an early victory.
