Al Johar - team aren't in crisis (Allsport)
SAUDI COACH PLAYS DOWN SETBACK
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Saudi Arabia coach Nasser Al Johar refuted
suggestions that his team are in crisis after their 3-0 defeat by Tokyo Verdy.
The Saudis have produced some excellent recent results, including wins over
Uruguay, South Africa and Senegal, and a narrow loss to Brazil.
And Al Johar brushed off Thursday's Verdy defeat, saying the team's opening
World Cup fixture against Germany on June 1 was the only one that mattered.
"We're very happy about our success up to now, but those were only training
games. The real thing will begin against Germany," he said, dismissing the
defeat to Verdy as understandable with the tournament so close.
"In that one the players didn't want to risk their legs, they were afraid of
getting injured.
"This is a team full of stars, with players very skilled. But they need
someone that understands them, someone who knows how to handle them."
Al Johar took over as Saudi Arabia's coach last November and this will be
their third successive World Cup.
They reached the second round in 1994 and producing one of the great World Cup
goals along the way
Said Al Owairan's brilliant individual effort in the 1-0 win over Belgium
sealed their qualification and knocked the Europeans out.
The Saudis also played in the 1998 tournament in France but were eliminated at
the group stage.
Their opening group match against Germany is in Sapporo on June 1, and they
are also drawn with Cameroon and Ireland in Group E.
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