Herve Renard imprint from Saudi Arabia debut v Mali and other talking points

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  • (Twitter/@SaudiNT).

    Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia reign got off to a low-key start with a 1-1 friendly draw against Mali.

    The double Africa Cup of Nations champion required a second-half tap-in from Al Hilal winger Salem Al Dawsari to avoid a debut defeat at Dammam’s Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium on Thursday. Metz winger Adama Traore had curled in a 38th-minute opener that Hilal goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf should have done better with.

    Here are the talking points from a clash that provided several hints about Tuesday’s opening World Cup 2022 qualifier against Yemen in Bahrain:

    EARLY IMPRESSIONS

    In the fullness of time, this run-out should mean little to Renard.

    There was, however, things to glean about the Frenchman’s set-up and lessons to be learned by him about the options at hand.

    The frantic side that turned into a pressing machine under predecessor Juan Antonio Pizzi was no more. A patient approach from a nominal 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation was instantly apparent, both in attack and defence.

    Al Nassr’s Abdulrahman Al Dawsari had last week run Xavi’s Al Sadd into the ground as a box-to-box midfielder. The 21-year-old’s influence during a restrained second senior cap, however, was negligible.

    An early charge into the penalty box by Yasser Al Shahrani almost created a goal for club-mate Salem Al Dawsari, whose shot on the turn fell narrowly wide. The demure 87 minutes that followed from the adventurous Hilal full-back ensured this promise wasn’t realised.

    At the back, concern comes from Al Mayouf’s suspect technique and lack of chemistry between defenders Omar Hawsawi and Ali Al Bulaihi.

    This stale affair made for a taxing watch. An issue, naturally, exacerbated by 2019 Asian Cup breakout Hattan Bahebri’s forced 33rd-minute removal.

    Further mitigation came from their lack of preparation, temperature in the mid-30s Celsius and draining impact of the nascent Saudi Professional League/2019 AFC Champions League knockouts.

    Renard will hope for much better in next week’s competitive bow. So, too, will the watching Saudi public.

    A STRIKING FUTURE?

    A forgettable home stalemate against Africa’s 11th-highest ranked nation by FIFA was not all negative.

    The promising display of Al Shabab’s debutant teenage striker Abdullah Al Hamddan saw a long-term solution emerge to a long-lasting problem.

    The AFC U-19 Championship winner was positioned as the fulcrum of the Green Falcons attack, despite drawing a blank across 10 SPL career appearances. There was no sign of rust from only 46 minutes of 2019/20 club action, either.

    Renard, instead, witnessed polished link-up play. His deflected centre created Al Dawsari’s goal, while an earlier quick-fire double one-two with the same player almost produced a refined leveller at the near post.

    Beyond Al Hamddan, a late run-out from $5.9 million Al Ittihad striker Haroune Camara featured some fancy footwork. Confidence clearly is not an issue for an erratic talent who merits perseverance.

    Illness in the build-up also denied Nassr’s 19-year-old Firas Al Buraikan a first cap and possibility to build on last week’s match-winner at Al Fateh.

    The banned Fahad Al Muwallad will be back to perform his ‘false 9’ duties when the third round begins. It would be healthy, though, to foster an alternative option in the interim.

    TESTS OF TIME

    Renard will be patently aware that time is on his side.

    Palestine’s 2-0 victory against Uzbekistan in Group D exemplified the latter’s decline. Progression from top spot should be a procession for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers in a section that also contains lesser-lights Yemen and Singapore.

    Steady development and acclimatisation, then, is key throughout the next year.

    Thursday’s handing out of debuts to Al Hamddan, Ittihad midfielder Khaled Al Sumairi, and defensive club-mate Saud Abdulhamid meets this remit. Lively substitute Abdulaziz Al Bishi impressed, while affirmation came about Salem Al Dawsari’s growing importance as an attacking spark.

    Renard also gained first-hand knowledge about the limitations of Al Mayouf and Al Bulaihi.

    Expectations about Saudi Arabia are, eternally, sky high. They create pressure that can become insufferable – just ask Edgardo Bauza, Frank Rijkaard and Carlos Alberto Parreira.

    Renard’s glory at the AFCON with minnows Zambia and giants Ivory Coast, plus returning Morocco to the World Cup after two decades away, has earned conviction about his methods. A mundane friendly against Mali should not detract from this reality.

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