ST. GALLEN, Switzerland: Juan Antonio Pizzi said Saudi Arabia’s World Cup preparations will benefit from the examination Italy gave them on Monday night, believing the test against high-caliber opposition will prepare them well for their group opponents in Russia.
The Green Falcons defeated Greece and Algeria earlier this month to boost confidence levels and the Saudi Arabia Football Federation could easily have selected similar opponents in the final three friendlies to ensure they enter the tournament on a high.
Instead, they have arranged tough games against Italy, Peru and Germany, three sides ranked in the top 20 of FIFA’s rankings, and Pizzi reckoned they will have learned more from a 2-1 defeat to Italy in Switzerland than they would have done in a routine win over a lesser nation.
“It was the kind of test that we needed,” Pizzi said. “We all know that Italy are a strong team but the hard work that we have been putting on the training pitch showed and we can take confidence from this performance. We played a good game against one of the best teams in the world, regardless of the fact that they did not qualify for the World Cup in Russia. Italy have a coach and players on a high level and were the world champions and the Saudi team achieved what was required.”
Mario Balotelli opened the scoring as Italy dominated the first half and then Andrea Belotti extended the Azzurri’s advantage after the break. Saudi Arabia got their reward for a fighting performance 18 minutes from the end following a classic counter-attack.
Salem Al-Dawsari won possession on the halfway line, freed Yehya Al-Shehri who skipped past the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an empty net. And the Green Falcons could have had an equalizer had Gianluigi Donnarumma not denied Fahad Al-Muwallad late on.
“We knew that we would come under pressure in the early stages,” said Pizzi. “We took time to get going. The players responded well to the changes I made and we started to play much better in the second half and showed that we are progressing. We have friendly matches against Peru and Germany and our goal is to reach the World Cup highly prepared.”
Captain Osama Hawsawi felt the performance boded well ahead of the Group A games against Russia, Uruguay and Egypt.
“This performance is the result of the hard work and training we have been doing in training camps and the experience of facing Italy will be good for the players,” Hawsawi said.
“We were close to a draw but while we had the chances we were not able to take them.”
Al-Dawsari made a difference when he came on at the start of the second-half and he must be pushing for a start against Peru on Sunday.
“We recovered our confidence and spirit after the break, and showed what we could do,” he said. “It was a team effort to get back into the game.”
The match represented Roberto Mancini’s first in charge of Italy and the Green Falcons certainly gave him plenty to think about as he begins the rebuilding process following the Azzurri’s failed World Cup qualification bid.
“It was my first game, so important to win,” he said. “The first half went well, as we had 16 shots on goal and 11 corners, but then as fatigue emerged later on, we lost intensity. Saudi Arabia are a long way behind us in the ranking, but they are preparing for the World Cup right now and that’s not to be taken for granted.”
Saudi Arabia will kick off the World Cup with a game against hosts Russia.
“I think Russia will win but Saudi Arabia are not a bad team and they have pace in attack,” said Mancini.
Juan Antonio Pizzi points to positives after Italy defeat for Saudi Arabia
Juan Antonio Pizzi points to positives after Italy defeat for Saudi Arabia
AC Milan rally past Juventus to meet Inter in Italian SuperCup final
- AC Milan were transformed after the break in the second semi-final of the four-team tournament in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: AC Milan came from behind to beat Juventus 2-1 on Friday and set up a showdown with city rivals Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup final in Riyadh.
Sergio Conceicao took charge of his first game as AC Milan coach after he was appointed to replace Paulo Fonseca earlier this week.
But Kenan Yildiz fired Juventus ahead after 21 minutes after poor defending from Theo Hernandez allowed the Turkish midfielder beat Mike Maignan in the Milan goal.
AC Milan were transformed after the break in the second semi-final of the four-team tournament in Saudi Arabia, which is staging the SuperCup for the third year in a row.
Christian Pulisic pulled Milan level from the penalty spot after 71 minutes before under pressure Juventus defender Federico Gatti inadvertently turned into his own goal four minutes later.
AC Milan will try to win the Italian SuperCup for the eighth time and first since 2016 on Monday, against three-time defending champions Inter who dominated Atalanta 2-0 on Thursday thanks to a double from Dutch international Denzel Dumfries.
South African Lategan wins Dakar Rally prologue in Saudi Arabia
- Lategan, driving a Toyota Hilux, finished a second clear of Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom over the 29km run in Bisha
- The sixth edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia will stretch nearly 8,000 kilometers across 12 stages
BISHA: South Africa’s Henk Lategan won the Dakar Rally prologue in the cars category Friday, kicking off the sixth edition in Saudi Arabia that will stretch nearly 8,000 kilometers across 12 stages.
Lategan, driving a Toyota Hilux, finished a second clear of Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom over the 29km run in Bisha, with five-time Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar third.
The prologue times do not count toward the overall standings but those in the top 10 get to choose their starting position for the first stage on Saturday, a 499km route featuring 413km of timed sectors.
Sebastien Loeb came seventh but Carlos Sainz, who became the oldest winner of the race last year at the age of 61, was down in 25th place.
Loeb, a nine-time world rally champion, is chasing a first Dakar crown in his ninth attempt.
Australian Daniel Sanders was the quickest of the motorbikes on his KTM, ahead of Botswana’s Ross Branch and Spanish teenager Edgar Canet.
Reigning champion Ricky Brabec of Honda came home fourth fastest.
A 434-strong colorful caravan made up of cars, bikes, quads and trucks set out from Bisha for the opening prologue.
Twelve stages now await the 778 competitors from 72 countries, with a January 17 finish in Shubaytah, on the border of the United Arab Emirates.
This year’s route includes a second 48-hour stage in the Empty Quarter, a vast sea of sand with dunes as far as the eye can see.
The 47th running of the event may be called the Dakar, but the last time the Senegalese capital actually hosted the finish was way back in 2007 — the security situation in Mauritania forced the 2008 cancelation.
It moved then to South America until finding a new home in Saudi Arabia since 2020.
UFC lineup announced for February as part of Riyadh Season
- GEA chair Turki Alalshikh reveals fights will take place at anb Arena on Feb. 1
RIYADH: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, announced the lineup of fights for the global event organized as part of Riyadh Season in collaboration with UFC, the world’s premier MMA organization.
The event, with tickets now available on the webook platform, will be held at the anb Arena in Riyadh on Feb. 1, 2025, and is expected to feature exciting matchups between some of the world’s top fighters.
In the bouts, Dagestani Said Nurmagomedov (18-3-0) will face Brazilian Vinicius “Lok Dog” Oliveira (21-3-0), while Tajikistani Muhammad Naimov (11-3-0) will take on Australian Kain Ofli (12-3-1).
In another bout, American Terrance McKinney (15-7-0) will meet Danish Damir Hadzovic (14-7-0), and Austrian Bogdan Grad (14-2-0) will clash with Brazilian Lucas Alexander (8-4-0).
The French fighter Fares Ziam (16-4-0) faces the American Mike Davis (11-2-0) in a lightweight bout.
In a standout bout, Egyptian Hamdy Abdelwahab (5-0-0) will face American Jamal Pogues (11-4-0), while Bahraini Shamil Gaziev (13-1-0) will go up against American Thomas Petersen (9-2-0) in a tough fight.
The excitement continues as Americans Jordan Leavitt (11-3-0) and Abdul Kareem Al-Silwadi (15-4-0) face off, and Russian Sergei Pavlovich (18-3-0) takes on Surinamese Jairzinho “Bigi Boy” Rozenstruik (15-5-0).
Dagestani Ikram Aliskerov (15-2-0) will also meet Brazilian Andre Muniz (24-6-0) in a decisive battle.
Previously, Alalshikh announced the main event, featuring former middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya (24-4-0), known as “The Last Stylebender,” against rising star Nassourdine Imavov (15-4-0), ranked fourth globally.
Israel Adesanya, the Nigerian-born New Zealander, is one of the biggest names in UFC history, returning to the ring after his loss to current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis earlier this year. He aims to regain his form with a decisive victory over Imavov.
Meanwhile, Imavov, the French fighter of Dagestani origin, seeks to maintain his momentum following a significant win over Brendan Allen. Known for his well-rounded skills and powerful knockouts, Imavov hopes to topple a legend like Adesanya in a spectacular night.
The co-main event will feature another thrilling middleweight clash between undefeated Shara Magomedov (15-0-0), a Dagestani fighter ranked 14th globally, and Michael “Venom” Page (22-3-0), the English fighter known for his kickboxing prowess. Magomedov seeks to strengthen his ranking, while Page aims to return to his winning ways.
After 2 years in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo says he is hungry for titles
- Portuguese legend reflects on life, football in the Kingdom and vision for the Saudi Pro League
RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo is celebrating two years in Saudi Arabia with his club Al-Nassr, and on Friday reflected on his journey so far in an interview published by the Saudi Pro League.
The Portuguese superstar said he was happy with his life in the Kingdom.
“I’m happy and my family is happy. We started a new life in this beautiful country,” he said. “Life is good, football is good. In terms of individual and collective, we are still there; we are still improving.”
Ronaldo’s impact on the pitch since arriving at Al-Nassr has been undeniable. During the 2023-24 season, his first, he shattered the SPL record for the most goals in a single season, scoring 35 goals in 31 matches and earning the Golden Boot.
However, Al-Nassr fell short of the league title, finishing second to Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal, who went unbeaten.
This season, Al-Ittihad, captained by Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, lead the way. Despite the stiff competition, Ronaldo remains optimistic about Al-Nassr’s prospects.
“It’s hard to compete with teams like Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, but we are still there, still pushing and fighting,” he said.
“Football is like that; you have good moments and bad moments, but the most important thing is to be professional, to push hard, respect the club, respect your contract, and believe that things will change. For Al-Nassr, we’ll keep pushing to win more titles.”
He also has his eyes on the AFC Champions League. “The Champions League is something I want to win for the club, but the most important thing is to keep pushing and be professional.”
Ronaldo’s influence extends far beyond football. With more than 1 billion followers across social media platforms, he remains a global icon. His No.7 Al-Nassr jersey is seen worldwide, and his presence has inspired many international players to join the league.
The subsequent arrival of other star players in the following transfer windows, combined with the launch of the SPL Transformation Strategy in 2023, has positioned the league as a focal point of global football, with Brazilian superstar Neymar hailing Ronaldo as a “trailblazer” for the league’s meteoric rise.
“To be the first star to come here is an honor, but what I’m looking forward to is the next five-10 years of the league improving — not only the first teams but also the academies,” Ronaldo said.
He added: “Not just for the future of the Saudi players and the league, but for the country to compete with other leagues. This is my dream, and I will try to help the country and league reach that level.”
When asked about his favorite moment with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo singled out winning the 2023 King Salman Arab Club Cup.
“Probably when we won the first title,” he said. “The final against Al-Hilal was probably the most intense one that we lived. To have the privilege to win my first trophy here in my first year was amazing.”
However, Ronaldo remains as hungry as ever.
“I want more. I will continue to push and help my team Al-Nassr to win titles. I believe that this year will be a good year for Al-Nassr, inshallah.”
Teun Koopmeiners seeks silverware for Juventus in Saudi Arabia
- Juve play AC Milan in the second semifinal of this year’s EA Sports FC Italian Supercup at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday. The winners face Inter Milan on Monday
RIYADH: Teun Koopmeiners says he has fulfilled a footballing dream by joining a club of the stature of Juventus — one that is always competing for trophies — and hopes the team known as the Old Lady of Turin is smiling brightly in Riyadh come Monday night.
To achieve the first trophy of his Juventus career, however, the summer signing from Atalanta will first need to play his part in overcoming AC Milan in the second semifinal of this year’s EA Sports FC Italian Supercup. The clash of the Italian giants kicks off at 10 p.m. Saudi time at Al-Awwal Park on Friday night.
Should they overcome the Rossoneri, they would face their city rivals, Inter Milan, after the Nerazzuri defeated Atalanta 2-0 through a double from Koopmeiners’ international team-mate Denzel Dumfries on Thursday in the other semifinal.
Inter now have the opportunity to win three Supercups in succession in Riyadh.
Koopmeiners is eager to bag a double of his own in downing both Milan clubs in the space of four days.
He was a key part of the Atalanta team that claimed UEFA Europa League glory last season — earning the 26-year-old the first trophy of his career — before joining Juventus for a reported fee of more than €50 million ($51.5 million).
Juventus enter the Supercup, which is being staged in Saudi Arabia for the fifth time, as winners of last season’s Coppa Italia.
Koopmeiners said: “The dream was to go to a club that plays everything to win prizes, to win trophies. Juventus has proven over the whole history of Serie A that they can win the most trophies. I wanted to go there to have a good chance but in sport there are never any guarantees. I also knew I wouldn’t go there and automatically win trophies; I have to work (hard) every single day to achieve that, and also with the team. It’s nice that in one week we can win a trophy inside two games. That’s what we go for and that’s what the full focus is on and that’s what I want to do.
“We need to be at our very best because AC Milan are a very strong team, as a team but also as individuals. We have to be confident to make it a great match. We have to play at our highest level to reach the final. Then we have to play another great game (against Inter) because one is not enough.”
Koopmeiners has a number of international team-mates playing in the Saudi Pro League, including Gini Wijnaldum at Al-Ettifaq and Steven Bergwijn at Al-Ittihad. The midfielder reports an overwhelmingly positive experience from those he has spoken to about living and playing in Saudi Arabia.
Koopmeiners, who starred for AZ Alkmaar — where younger brother Peer plays — in the Netherlands for four years before moving to Serie A, said: “They tell me that it’s developing a lot (in Saudi), that the facilities are really nice, and every month let alone every year it’s getting more attention. There are also some more players now that I’ve played against in other competitions that are playing here who are really positive and say the people are really nice.
“I also played at the World Cup in Qatar, which is quite close to here, so I’ve seen the culture there a little bit and the people were really nice. I think the most important thing is that the sport is bringing cultures together and everyone is enjoying this and learning from each other. Everyone can do better developing on the field, the training methods, and helping children to do better. I think everyone in sport and especially football should have the chance to enjoy.”
