Group A Thread - Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Egypt.

[Vestvood Vizard]

Horrible game to watch but happy with the result because of the Saudis voting and lobbying agaisnt Morocco for 2026.

Also a world cup with 48 teams will have a lot of games like this one...

Kinda disagree. The game was entertaining even though it was one-sided, with 5 really beautiful goals in front of the home fans and world leaders. Goals are what makes a good World Cup. The tournament needed this.

[sarbaz]

Forget Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Uruguay will also destroy Russia badly.

[OFFSIDE_1]

Kinda disagree. The game was entertaining even though it was one-sided, with 5 really beautiful goals in front of the home fans and world leaders. Goals are what makes a good World Cup. The tournament needed this.

goals are what makes a good World Cup for casual fans. A lopsided 5-0 is not a good worldcup. If that were the criteria, the games would only involve European teams against the Maldives and the cayman islands :-)

[Hadi]

the Saudi team was outclassed physically.

Russia also had excellent wingers and their passing play was too good

[Kavian]

Honduras from Concacaf would have been a better participant!!!

What about Uzbekistan. They are head and shoulder above this Arabian oil money crap. They shamed Asia.

[Azeem98]

On his short hieght issue.Can they pick up their players like in rugby to head the ball or is it against the rule

[KeonKish]

the Saudi team was outclassed physically.

Russia also had excellent wingers and their passing play was too good

russia started off poorly and was rushing to make plays, but after their first goal they relaxed and built up a rhythm during the game.

our boys IMO will have the same issue with tempo and playing "hol holi " when we start.

Hoping for an early goal.

[Farhad21]

^we have to be relaxed tomorrow

[darvish_gorgali]

every one talks about saudi's physical weakness but what stood out for me was saudi's goalkeeper. He was so shitttty. i'm scared tomorrow

[GolfePersique]

Russia has now set the standard for sheikhdom of saudi arabia in that group! Other teams might be forced to do the same to keep their goal average!

Physically Saudis were shocking and couldn't keep up with a solid Russian team. Understandably they were intimated by the home crowd and also didn't have the AFC (Arab football confederation) referee on their side.

Although it's too early to judge and they still have a chance against Egypt or a miraculous draw against Uruguay, I guess some of that money they spent to send their players to la liga has gone down the drain.

They might have been better off playing in their domestic league! Also it was so dumb to fire their dutch coach and get this guy who was laughing in the post-match press conference.

[Camran khan]

I wonder how much they would've lost if they didn't spend millions preparing for the world cup..

[Vestvood Vizard]

In Saudi Arabia's last 11 World Cup matches, they have been outscored 34-5 (9 losses, 2 draws)

lol

That's obviously a bad recent history at the World Cup, but let's not forget that Iran to this date has only one victory (against a poor USA side in '98) through its 4 appearances on the global stage. And if they fail to get out of the Group stages again this time, at their 5th World Cup appearance, they will continue to be the only Asian side at this tournament that hasn't done so. Korea, Japan, Australia and yes even Saudi Arabia have all advanced to the next round in their histories.

[Saam]

Russia has now set the standard for sheikhdom of saudi arabia in that group! Other teams might be forced to do the same to keep their goal average!

Physically Saudis were shocking and couldn't keep up with a solid Russian team. Understandably they were intimated by the home crowd and also didn't have the AFC (Arab football confederation) referee on their side.

Although it's too early to judge and they still have a chance against Egypt or a miraculous draw against Uruguay, I guess some of that money they spent to send their players to la liga has gone down the drain.

They might have been better off playing in their domestic league! Also it was so dumb to fire their dutch coach and get this guy who was laughing in the post-match press conference.

Van Marwijk left himself, he wasn't fired. Also, they are a horrible team. You could see it in the qualifiers as well. How they managed to knock out Iraq and beat Japan is beyond me.

[Bessos]

That's obviously a bad recent history at the World Cup, but let's not forget that Iran to this date has only one victory (against a poor USA side in '98) through its 4 appearances on the global stage. And if they fail to get out of the Group stages again this time, at their 5th World Cup appearance, they will continue to be the only Asian side at this tournament that hasn't done so. Korea, Japan, Australia and yes even Saudi Arabia have all advanced to the next round in their histories.

I'm not really a fan of that argument. In a way, we have also made it to ''the last 16'', back when the WC had only 16 teams in 1978.

[Omids]

The game between Russia and Saudis showed how much tactics matter in game management. The Saudi coach overestimate the ability of his team and thought that they can play tiki-taka football in the middle of the park. Unfortunately they don’t have the quality to do so. This tactic exposed space in the back which the Russian exploited beautifully though counter attaching football. The modern football game is all about space management in danger areas. If you allow the opponent space chances are they will score. The first priority is not to get scored on, then you can, in a measured way, take the game to the opponents. Unfortunately after the few favourable friendly game results (where the opponents probably took it easy) the Saudis thought that they are able to play out to their determent.

Hopefully Iran plays the way that it has been playing and not fall into this trap tonight. Hopefully the fact that our friendlies have not been ideal will not let us lose focus on the reality as to where we stand against quality teams.