The Saudi national team lost to the Croatian host by a goal in a friendly match Wednesday at Riyadh’s Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium as part of the teams’ build-up for the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Qatar on Sunday.
Although the host had chances to score in the two halves, Croatia scored late in the game through Andrei Kramaric (82).
Saudi striker Saleh Al-Shehri said in a televised statement after the game, which didn’t see a large crowd due to it taking place at midday: “It was nice to be close to the Croatian team, last summer of the World Cup .”
In turn, the head of the Saudi Federation, Yasser Al-Mishal, said: “We shouldn’t be overly optimistic, because Croatia didn’t want to reveal all its cards like we do.”
Despite their lead in the first half, the Saudi national team nearly conceded a goal were it not for the ingenuity of goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, who brilliantly saved Mario Pasalic’s ball, before the defense stepped in and ended his danger (9).
An opportunity presented itself for Al-Akhdar when Mohamed Kanno aimed a powerful ball, which hit the defense and turned into a corner (14). From a defensive error, the host almost opened the scoring when Saleh Al-Shehri turned the ball over and aimed it towards the goal, but the defense intercepted it and converted it for a corner (25).
Firas Al-Buraikan followed with a powerful shot, which was blocked by goalkeeper Dominik Levakovic, and the ball returned to find Saud Abdul Hamid, who crossed, but went off the field (28).
Al-Akhdar missed a real chance when Yasser Al-Shehri headed a cross from Saleh Al-Shehri, who shot just over the bar (38), then another chance when Saud Abdul Hameed made a cross that passed in front of Al-Shehri to lose his danger (42).
In the second half, substitute Haitham Asiri set up a ball for Salem Al-Dosari, who tackled the goal, but played it over the bar (63).
Then Zlatko Dalic, coach of Croatia, involved the captain of the national team Luka Modric, protagonist of the 2018 World Cup when he led his national team to second place, but this did not stop the “green” from undermining the Croatian goal when the goalkeeper Levakovic replaced and blocked Mohamed Kno (72).
And from a quick attack, the Croatian team managed to score when Hoffenheim’s German striker Kramaric received a ball that penetrated deep and shot hard to the right of Al Owais (82).
Al-Akhdar prepared for the World Cup through three stops, the first and second in Spain, during which he played 4 friendlies, while the third stop was in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, where he set up a field for 25 days, during which he played 5 friendlies, winning two and drawing three.
Saudi Arabia is participating in the World Cup for the sixth time, the best of which was the first in 1994 when they reached the round of 16.
He will play his first World Cup match next Tuesday against Argentina in Group C, which also includes Mexico and Poland.
As for Croatia, they play in Group F, which includes Belgium, Morocco and Canada.
