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Saudi Arabia
Asian Cup 2011 Teams: Saudi Arabia
Road to Qatar
The 2007 Asian Cup runners up were one of the four teams that qualified automatically for the 2011 version of the tournament alongside hosts Qatar, defending champions Iraq and South Korea.
This will be Saudi Arabia's eighth appearance in the competition in which no team has more continental titles to their name.
Fixtures
Group B
Saudi Arabia v Syria; 9 January 2011, Al-Rayyan, Doha
Saudi Arabia v Jordan; 13 January 2011, Al-Rayyan, Doha
Saudi Arabia v Japan; 17 January 2011, Al-Rayyan, Doha
Analysis
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Saudi Arabia Kit 1
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Saudi Arabia Kit 2
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Saudi Arabia have reached the final in six of their eight Asian Cup outings - including four years ago when they were beaten by underdogs Iraq - but the consensus is that they will find it hard to extend that record to seven in nine appearances.
Their recent Gulf Cup final loss to Kuwait - albeit with a second string side - illustrated the nation's alarming dip in form.
The 1984, 1988 and 1996 Asian Cup winners are now ranked fifth in the AFC behind Australia, Japan, South Korea and Iran with their lowest global position since Fifa introduced its ranking system almost two decades ago.
Although Saudi ran out 1-0 winners over fellow qualifiers Bahrain in their final warm-up game in Manama last week, a squad of solely domestic-based players will need to pick up points in their opening two group B games against minnows Syria and Jordan before facing powerhouse Japan in the final round.
Key player: Yasser Al Qahtani
Captain Yasser Al Qahtani is a player who rarely shirks his responsibility for club or country. Just as club side Al-Hilal tend to, Saudi Arabia will again turn to their talismanic 28-year-old striker for goals and inspiration in equal measure. Al Qahtani was the joint Asian Cup top scorer in 2007, the year he was also named AFC Footballer of the Year, and is a key component of the Al-Hilal side that has been such a continental force in recent seasons, including reaching the 2010 AFC Champions League semi-finals.
One to watch: Naif Hazazi
Towering striker Naif Hazazi has so many facets to his game it's surprising to discover that he only turns 22 during the Asian Cup. Boasting close to a goal per game in the Saudi domestic league, however, means it unsurprising that he's been tipped as the most likely Saudi export to a European club side.
Coach: Jose Peseiro
Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro has a sparkling resume but his two-year tenure in charge of the Saudi national side might not survive an early Asian Cup exit, especially after the Kingdom failed to reach the 2010 World Cup finals under his tutelage.
The former assistant to Carlos Queiroz during his Real Madrid tenure, Peseiro has also managed Sporting Lisbon, Greek side Panathinaikos and Rapid Bucharest in Romania and he counts a UEFA Cup final appearance with Sporting among his achievements. But without the calibre of players of the recent past, his job is most certainly on the line over the next three weeks.
Record
2000; Runners up, 2004; Group stage, 2007; Runners up
Soccerphile says
Lacking confidence and with their manager under heavy public scrutiny, Saudi Arabia will have to be at their best to make it past the quarter-finals.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Waleed Abdullah (Al-Shabab), Mabrouk Zayed (Al-Ittihad), Hussain Shae'an (Al-Shabab)
Defenders: Abdullah Shuhail (Al-Shabab), Osama Hawsawi (Al-Hilal), Hamed Al-Montashari (Al-Ittihad), Osama Al-Muwallad (Al-Ittihad), Kamel Al-Mousa (Al-Ahli), Mishal Al-Said (Al-Ittihad),
Midfielders: Ahmed Otaif (Al-Shabab), Manaf Abushgeer (Al-Ittaihad), Mohammad Al-Shalhoub (Al-Hilal), Moataz Al-Said (Al-Ittihad), Saud Khariri (Al-Ittihad), Abdoh Otaif (Al-Shabab), Abdullaziz Al-Dosari (Al-Hilal), Taisir Al-Jassim (Al-Ahli), Hawaf Al Abed (Al-Hilal), Mohammed Massad (Al-Ahli)
Forwards: Naif Hazazi (Al-Ittihad), Nasser Al-Shamrani (Al-Shabab), Yasser Al-Qahtani (Al Hilal), Mohannad Asseri (Al-Wahda)
The winner of the Asian Cup takes part in the Confederations Cup.
Our partner site QatarVisitor.com based in Doha carries all the necessary details on attending the event including travel, visa and hotel information.
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