Hi Koura – Critics and experts had different opinions about the reasons for the Saudi team's exit from the semi-finals of the 2024 Gulf Cup after losing to Oman by two goals to one.
Among the most obvious reasons cited are:
The players did not underestimate the game: Some thought that the dismissal of the Oman player, Al-Mundhir Al-Alawi, in the 34th minute made the Saudi players reckless, which affected the performance in the second half.
Unbalanced line: Critics criticized the coach Hervé Renard for his unbalanced line, as he was unable to take advantage of the opponent's lack of numbers effectively.
Heavy pressure on the players: The head of the Saudi Football Association, Yasser Al-Meshal, pointed out that the psychological and physical pressure on the players due to playing four games in ten days had a negative impact on performance.
Late changes: Renard's changes were considered late, as he was unable to change the course of the game in time.
Referee errors: Some analysts pointed out that there were errors by the referee that affected the course of the match.
Wasting easy opportunities: Players missed many easy opportunities, which contributed to not getting a good result.
As a result of these factors together, Al-Akhdar went out of the competition, which raises questions about the future of the team in the upcoming competitions.
