Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia head coach Hervé Renard said his team is “completely focused” on achieving their goal of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing Tuesday’s decisive AFC Asian Qualifiers clash with Iraq as one of the most important moments of his career.
Speaking at a press conference in Jeddah on Monday, Renard emphasized calm and confidence within the Green Falcons camp ahead of the crucial fixture at King Abdullah Sports City.
“We’re about 24 hours away from this important match, and our goal has been clear from the start — to qualify for the World Cup,” said the French coach.
“When I returned to lead the national team, I had great confidence in the players, and I have the full support of the federation president. Football, like life, is full of challenges, but I enjoy them. We have strong motivation to take a big step toward qualification.”
Renard stressed that all the preparation means little without victory on Tuesday night.
“Everything we do won’t matter unless we win tomorrow,” he said. “I’m lucky to work with experienced players like Saleh Al Shehri, Salem Al Dawsari, and Hassan Al Tambakti. We’re preparing with focus and composure — our only objective is to win and qualify.”
Calling the Iraq clash “a personal milestone,” Renard added: “For me, this is the most important match in my career as a coach — I’ll explain why after it’s over. We know Iraq’s quality and the magnitude of this encounter. In 2018 we qualified from this same stadium after beating Japan, and in 2022 after defeating Australia. Tomorrow, we want to do it again against Iraq.”
Addressing criticism of the team’s defensive performances, Renard dismissed concerns. “There’s no reason to worry about our defense,” he said confidently. “We’re organized and fully ready for this match.”
Forward Saleh Al Shehri echoed his coach’s determination, insisting Saudi Arabia will play to win despite needing only a draw to qualify. “We’re entering the match with a winning mentality,” Al Shehri said. “A draw may be enough, but our goal is three points. The most important thing is reaching the World Cup.”
Al Shehri also paid tribute to his teammates and the fans: “We have a full and ready squad. Al Aboud and Kanno are very important players for us — thank God for Al Aboud’s recovery. Whoever is on the pitch will give their all for the national team. I thank our fans for their incredible support in the last match. We feel their energy and hope to celebrate qualification with them tomorrow night.”
He concluded: “This is the most important match of the season. We must be at our best — fully focused — so that we can walk off the pitch proud and happy with qualification.”