Saudi Arabia’s head coach Herve Renard is bracing for a tough challenge when his side faces the Czech Republic in a friendly match, as the team intensifies its preparations for the critical upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The Green Falcons completed their final training session, a mix of tactical drills and physical exercises, before the match, which Renard described as “far from easy.”
“I know the Czech team well. They are a strong side, and it won’t be an easy game for us,” Renard told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
“This friendly is a valuable opportunity to fine-tune our preparations for the key qualifiers in October, which are crucial for securing our World Cup berth.”
Saudi Arabia’s European training camp kicked off with a 2-1 win over North Macedonia in Prague on Thursday.
Renard was pleased with his team’s performance in that match and is hopeful of a strong finish against the Czech Republic.
“We played well against North Macedonia, and we aim to continue that momentum and deliver another solid performance against the Czech Republic to wrap up our camp on a high note,” he said.
The French coach stressed that the focus remains on peaking at the right time for the critical October qualifiers.
“Our primary goal is to be in our best form for the two crucial matches in October and to secure our spot in the World Cup,” Renard added.
Injury crises
Injury concerns continue to affect the squad. Four players missed the North Macedonia match due to muscle issues.
Renard confirmed that goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi and midfielder Nasser Al-Dawsari will also miss the Czech clash, although the team will be bolstered by the return of Salem Al-Dawsari and Ziyad Al-Johani.
Renard noted that the final squad selection will depend on the medical assessments of the two returning players.
Saudi Arabia has been in camp in the Czech Republic since last Sunday as part of its preparations for the Asian World Cup playoffs against Indonesia and Iraq, scheduled for 8 and 14 October in Jeddah.
