Sunday, June 4 2006

DUBAI: Saudi officials have been upbeat about the team's preparations ahead of the World Cup, insisting that several warmup matches and training camps were beneficial.

“I'm very happy with the preparations and the players have reached a high standard technically,” said Saudi Arabia coach Marcos Paqueta, a Brazilian.

Despite the upbeat comments, the Greens have played nine friendlies since the beginning of the year, losing five, drawing three and winning one.

The head of the Saudi Soccer Federation, Prince Sultan bin Fahd, has said that Paqueta would remain in charge for the next two years, regardless of the team's results in the World Cup.

Sultan said the disastrous campaign at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan, when Saudi Arabia failed to score a single goal and was routed by Germany 8-0, would not be repeated.

“The fans fear such a scenario because they love the team, but the situation this year is completely different,” he said. He said bad preparation, bad morale and technical mistakes were behind the “unexpected and unacceptable results.” Saudi officials said it was possible the team would play a few more friendlies against some German clubs ahead of their opening match against Tunisia on June 14.

With a budget of 45 million riyals, (US$12 million) to prepare for the final tournament, the Saudis are trying ensure a successful campaign. In warm-up matches, Paqueta has focused on tight, defensive play, fielding four defenders and crowding the midfield with five players, leaving one striker upfront. The Saudis, based in Bad Nauheim, have no major injury worries, with veteran goalkeeper Mohammed al-Deayea, the world's most capped international player, expected to recover from a slight shoulder injury.

Saudi Arabia was unbeaten in Asian qualifying, including home and away wins over South Korea, and will be hoping to replicate their performance from 1994, when they beat Belgium and Morocco to make the second round. “All we want now is to help the team in the best way possible.

Taking part in the World Cup is any player's dream,” al-Deayea said. The team’s captain, Sami al-Jaber, said the players were aware of their responsibility. “We know that the Saudi fans are still angry at the failure in 2002, but we promise them that we will spare no effort to display Saudi Arabia's true colours this year,” he said.

(AP)