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    World Cup 2018: Saudi Arabia

    World Cup 2018: Saudi Arabia
    mooinblack / Shutterstock.com

    Saudi Arabia's quest to win the World Cup 2018 kicks off on June 14 in Moscow. The Saudis will take on hosts Russia in the first match of the event.

    Juan Antonio Pizzi's team will be the second lowest ranked nation according to FIFA when the tournament begins. Who is the lowest? Saudi Arabia's first match opponents Russia, who are ranked 65th in the world, two places below Saudi Arabia.

    Based on FIFA rankings, English newspaper The Guardian has labelled Group A as the weakest in the tournament. Although Uruguay are the highest ranked nation of the four teams in Group A, and should win it, second place could go to any of the other three: Saudi Arabia, Russia or Egypt.

    Pizzi's team just edged an underachieving Australia in Asian Football Confederation qualifying thanks to a superior goal difference. While both teams finished on 19 points, the Saudis boasted a +7-goal difference. The two goals that separated the nations meant Saudi Arabia qualified automatically rather than in the AFC playoff game.

    Pizzi was appointed as team manager in November 2017. It hasn't been a position many have been able to get comfortable in. The expectations of the Saudi Arabian Football Assocation don't seem to be based in reality much of the time. Upon being hired, Pizzi was the third coach in three months appointed to head the nation. Pizzi joined Saudi Arabia after failing to lead Chile to World Cup qualification.

    In preparation for the World Cup, the national team has spent several training camps in Marbella. It has given the Saudi team the chance to train away from the country's FA and press. Whether it will work is anyone's guess.

    Pizzi favours a high-energy team that isn't afraid to pressure the ball. His tactics see his players win the football and attack quickly. Saudi Arabia's results have been decent under Pizzi as the team have won three, drawn once and lost twice with him in charge. The team's wins over Moldova and Algeria were completely expected. However, a draw against Ukraine wasn't; and it could be a sign of things to come in the team's opener against Russia. Pizzi also guided the Saudis to a win over Greece in the team's most recent friendly. However, Greece will not be at the World Cup and it is difficult to gauge just how good the Green Falcons are leading up to the tournament.

    Striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi led all AFC players in scoring during qualifying with 16 goals. His total was impressive, although Saudi Arabia had 18 qualifiers for him to score them in. Regardless, he will be the team's main goal scorer in Russia. Fahad Al-Muwallad is considered Saudi Arabia's potential breakout star. The winger spent the last season on loan at Levante, but that move was mostly down to the Saudi FA working out a deal with Spanish teams to send players out on loan. He played just twice for Levante. Regardless, the 23-year-old could be the spark to the team's attack.

    Saudi Arabia will benefit from being in Group A. If the team can get a result against Russia on matchday 1 and a result against Egypt nine days later, they could come second. Uruguay should top the group, but the Green Falcons may make it difficult for that to happen.

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    Group A

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Mexico 9 3 3 0 0 6
    2
    		 South Africa 4 3 1 1 1 -1
    3
    		 South Korea 3 3 1 0 2 -1
    4
    		 Czech Republic 1 3 0 1 2 -4
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group B

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Switzerland 7 3 2 1 0 4
    2
    		 Canada 4 3 1 1 1 5
    3
    		 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 3 1 1 1 -1
    4
    		 Qatar 1 3 0 1 2 -8
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group C

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Brazil 7 3 2 1 0 6
    2
    		 Morocco 7 3 2 1 0 3
    3
    		 Scotland 3 3 1 0 2 -3
    4
    		 Haiti 0 3 0 0 3 -6
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group D

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 USA 6 3 2 0 1 4
    2
    		 Australia 4 3 1 1 1 0
    3
    		 Paraguay 4 3 1 1 1 -2
    4
    		 Türkiye 3 3 1 0 2 -2
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group E

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Germany 6 3 2 0 1 6
    2
    		 Ivory Coast 6 3 2 0 1 2
    3
    		 Ecuador 4 3 1 1 1 0
    4
    		 Curaçao 1 3 0 1 2 -8
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group F

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Netherlands 7 3 2 1 0 6
    2
    		 Japan 5 3 1 2 0 4
    3
    		 Sweden 4 3 1 1 1 0
    4
    		 Tunisia 0 3 0 0 3 -10
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group G

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Belgium 5 3 1 2 0 4
    2
    		 Egypt 5 3 1 2 0 2
    3
    		 Iran 3 3 0 3 0 0
    4
    		 New Zealand 1 3 0 1 2 -6
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group H

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Spain 7 3 2 1 0 5
    2
    		 Cape Verde 3 3 0 3 0 0
    3
    		 Uruguay 2 3 0 2 1 -1
    4
    		 Saudi Arabia 2 3 0 2 1 -4
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group I

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 France 9 3 3 0 0 8
    2
    		 Norway 6 3 2 0 1 1
    3
    		 Senegal 3 3 1 0 2 2
    4
    		 Iraq 0 3 0 0 3 -11
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group J

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Argentina 9 3 3 0 0 7
    2
    		 Austria 4 3 1 1 1 0
    3
    		 Algeria 4 3 1 1 1 -2
    4
    		 Jordan 0 3 0 0 3 -5
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group K

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 Colombia 7 3 2 1 0 3
    2
    		 Portugal 5 3 1 2 0 5
    3
    		 DR Congo 4 3 1 1 1 1
    4
    		 Uzbekistan 0 3 0 0 3 -9
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

    Group L

    OVERALL TABLE
    OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
    1
    		 England 7 3 2 1 0 4
    2
    		 Croatia 6 3 2 0 1 0
    3
    		 Ghana 4 3 1 1 1 0
    4
    		 Panama 0 3 0 0 3 -4
    Play-off 1/16-finals
    Possible next round

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