CORNERFLICK
Saudi Arabia were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, with head coach Georgios Donis saying the team’s biggest problem was creating chances.
The Greekspeaking coach said Saudi Arabia needed a win to reach the last 16, but finished bottom of the group with one point. He said his side struggled to control the game and that the second half began without the response they wanted.
Donis also defended his decision to use Sultan Mandash out wide, saying the winger was selected for his strength in one-on-one duels. But he said the attack did not produce the level expected and that made the match harder to manage.
After the final whistle, Donis told his players the previous month had been difficult and thanked them for their effort, while admitting they fell short of their target. He said the team had shown ambition, but could not dictate the tempo or turn that into clear openings.