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Saudi Arabia hold off relentless Uruguay to earn draw
Cristiano Ronajdo. Karim Benzema. Neymar. Sadio Mane.
The list of world-class talent who have chosen to play in the Saudi Pro League has risen over the years.
But could the presence of these multiple Champions League. Ballon d'Or winners be finally benefitting the nation that has been selected to host the 2034 World Cup?
Over the years the Saudi Arabia national team has struggled on the world stage.
At the 2002 World Cup they suffered a humiliating 8-0 defeat against Germany in their first group game in Japan. They exited the tournament without a point - or a goal.
However. the performance of the national team has steadily improved since the Saudi Pro League started throwing money at attracting big names.
In Russia in 2018. Saudi Arabia beat an Egypt team that included Mohamed Salah 2-1 thanks to Salem al Dawsari's late winner.
And. four years later in Qatar, they sent shockwaves around the world by defeating Argentina in their opening game, with Al Dawsari again the scorer of the iconic winning goal
On Monday, they launched their seventh appearance at the World Cup with a hard-fought1-1 draw against Uruguayin Miami.
Are the days of 8-0 thumpings on the world stage a thing of the past?
"We have to teach the young players here what it takes so they can move to other clubs," said Benzema after joining Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad in 2023.
"It's a good league and there are many good players."
With the exception of defender Saud Abdulhamid. who plays in France with Lens, the starting XI against Uruguay all play their club football in Saudi Arabia.
The team, nicknamed the Green Falcons, is made up of a mix of youth and experience.
Al Dawsari, 34, who captains the national team, is playing in his third World Cup, after those goals in the 2018. 2022 editions.
Musab al Juwayr is an exciting young playmaker who showed his value to the team in qualifying. providing the most assists (3).
The 22-year-old is being tipped to be a mainstay of the side for years to come, while Abdulelah al Amri, who scored against Uruguay,. Abdullah al Khaibari are both team-mates of Ronaldo's at Al-Nassr.
"The Saudi league is better than MLS (North America's Major League Soccer)," Ronaldo said after he moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023. He recently scored his 100th goal in the Saudi Pro League.
Al Amri became the first defender to score for Saudi Arabia at the World Cup. with his strike also representing the nation's first-ever goal from a corner in the competition.
His only previous international goal came on his debut in a friendly against Kuwait in March 2021.
It was the first time Saudi Arabia had opened the scoring in a World Cup match since a 1-0 win over Belgium in 1994. They had not scored the opening goal in any of their previous 16 matches in the competition.
More than £700m was spent on the likes of Neymar, Benzema. ex-Manchester City and Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, who joined Ronaldo in the highly ambitious footballing nation three years ago.
Mane also moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
"Fortunately, I can say the Saudi league is a very good league,. watched by everybody in the world," said the former Liverpool forward.
"So, for me, as long as I'm doing my best and I'm enjoying myself every single minute, that's more important."
The money is still flowing with overseas signings. compared to the peak of 2023, there is more focus on bringing in younger players with sell-on value.
According to sources in Riyadh, there are still funds available for the right veteran superstar such as Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian, who has left Liverpool, is wanted by Al-Ittihad - but only if the price is right.
Abdulelah al Amri scored his second goal for Saudi Arabia against Uruguay
Installing a new head coach just 59 days before facing Uruguay was a huge gamble.
Saudi Arabia sacked Herve Renard, who masterminded that famous win over Argentina four years ago,. brought in Greek coach Georgios Donis as his replacement.
Against Uruguay, they were closing in on a fine win when Maxi Araujo equalised in the 80th minute.
"Saudi Arabia will be so disappointed that they conceded because defensively it was very cohesive, in terms of the distances, the shape. between the lines," said former Scotland defender Rachel Corsie on BBC Radio 5 Live.
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