So here we are, barely four minutes behind schedule and already the weight of history presses down on the Saudi Arabia attack. The name on everyone's...
So here we are, barely four minutes behind schedule and already the weight of history presses down on the Saudi Arabia attack. The name on everyone's lips, and rightly so, is Salem al Dawsari. The man who wrote himself into immortality with that stunning winner against Argentina four years ago now stands as the focal point of a side that knows exactly what it means to cause a shock. But Uruguay, even in transition, do not park the bus with anything less than savage discipline.The kick off came from left to right, a small detail perhaps, but one that tells you the Saudi coaching staff have their tactical flexibility dialled in from the first whistle. For a side that thrives on transitional play and exploiting space in behind, forcing Uruguay to defend their own half early could be the psychological edge they need. The question is whether the South Americans, renowned for their low block and physicality, will allow Al Dawsari the kind of time and space he needs to run at their back line.In the studio at GoalZaza we have been discussing this very point. Uruguay will not want to concede an early goal and invite the sort of defensive panic that made Saudi Arabia's Argentina win so unforgettable. If the Saudis can keep the tempo high, force mistakes, and get their wide men into the mixer early, we could be looking at another night of romantic chaos. If not, Uruguay's clinical finishing on the counter might just punish any overambitious forward runs.For now, the pitch is pristine, the atmosphere is building, and the clock is ticking. Squeaky bum time for the defenders. Al Dawsari has the stage. The rest of us just get to watch.
