Saudi Arabia’s national team suffered a setback on Tuesday as defender Muhannad Al-Shinqiti missed training due to a thigh injury. The team, currently in Melbourne, are preparing for two crucial World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Australia and Indonesia.
Al-Shinqiti sustained the injury during Monday’s training session and will undergo additional tests to determine his availability for Thursday’s match against Australia.
In a statement, the Saudi national team clarified that Al-Shanqeeti engaged in specialized exercises with the medical team during Tuesday’s session, which aimed to evaluate his fitness comprehensively.
الأخضر يرفع استعداداته لمواجهة منتخب استراليا💪
— تفاصيل مران اليوم الثالث 📝⬇
🔗 https://t.co/OXPaZblPe3 .
#معاك_يالأخضر 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/LyN2bf8KSk— المنتخب السعودي (@SaudiNT) November 12, 2024
Training Continues in Melbourne
Despite the injury, the Green Falcons held a full training session at the Hume Training Centre in Melbourne. Saudi defender Saud Abdulhamid, who recently joined from AS Roma, was part of the training after arriving in Melbourne on Monday following club duties.
Under the guidance of French coach Hervé Renard, the session included warm-up drills, tactical exercises, and a full-field scrimmage. Renard concluded the session with a practice match, dividing players into two groups to simulate game conditions.
Renard’s Press Conference and Final Preparations
Renard is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the team’s final preparations for the Australia clash. The conference will take place at Rectangular Stadium’s press room.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia will complete its final training at 7 p.m. local time at Rectangular Stadium, with the first 15 minutes open to media.
Saudi Arabia currently sits third in its qualifying group, with five points from four games, including a win against China, draws with Bahrain and Indonesia, and a loss to Japan. These upcoming matches are critical for the team’s progression in the Asian qualifiers for World Cup 2026.
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