DUBAI: Football managers having to make tough decisions is nothing new. Such is the pressure that comes with the job it is a shock so many of them stay sane.
But perhaps the biggest, most studied and commented-on decision an international coach has to make is who makes it into their World Cup squad.
Players’ dreams can be made or crushed by the boss’s judgment. A coach can stick with tried and tested players or roll the dice and take a promising young gun in the hope he will fire at the big event. An unheard-of player can make his name and secure a big-money move or an omitted player can suddenly
become a world-beater if performances are bad in the tournament.
We are sure Juan Antonio Pizzi will have sweaty palms and half-bitten fingernails at the moment as he bids to name the final 23-man squad to represent Saudi Arabia in Russia.
In a bid to make his job that little bit easier, we give him our one riyal’s worth of advice, letting him know who we we think he should pick on June 4 to play in the Green Falcons’ first World Cup for 12 years.

GOALKEEPERS

By the time the first round of the World Cup qualifiers concluded in March 2016, former Al-Hilal goalkeeper Khaled Sharahili had played every minute of Saudi Arabia’s campaign and was unchallenged for the No. 1 spot. Fast forward to today and Sharahili has been deposed by Abdullah Al-Mayouf at both club and country. Al-Mayouf battles it out with Al-Ahli duo Mohammed Al-Owais and Yasser Al-Mosaileem for a starting spot between the sticks in Russia. The latter took the mantle from Sharahili and started seven of the Green Falcons’ 10 matches in the final decisive phase of the qualifiers as well as two of the friendly matches played under coach Juan Antonio Pizzi so far. The trio are joined by Assaf Al-Qarni in the 28-man provisional squad, but the Al-Ittihad stopper looks the least likely to make it to Russia, having only started at the Gulf Cup in December when Saudi Arabia sent a reserve side to Kuwait.

DEFINITELY ON THE PLANE: Yasser Al-Mosaileem, Abdullah Al-Mayouf

STILL AT THE CHECK-IN DESK: Mohammed Al-Owais

SHOULD START PLANNING HIS SUMMER HOLIDAY: Assaf Al-Qarni
 

DEFENDERS

Saudi Arabia have switched from a three-at-the-back system to a four-man defense since Pizzi was appointed to replace Edgardo Bauza at the start of the year, meaning there is one less spot available for central defenders. The two starting spots look set to be occupied by two men with the last name Hawsawi. Skipper Osama Hawsawi is assured of a spot at the heart of the backline, and barring any injuries, will be joined by Omar Hawsawi. The third of the Hawsawis, Motaz, will be called upon should Pizzi need to shore things up further at any point. It is with the full-back positions where things are less certain. Former coach Bert van Marwijk was reliant on the combination of Mansour Al-Harbi on the left and Yasser Al-Shahrani on the right, and Pizzi continued the same way in his early games, before experimenting with Al-Shahrani on the left in recent games, thanks to the Al-Hilal player’s ambidexterity. This switch allowed opportunities for Saeed Al-Muwallad and Mohammed Al-Burayk to be tested at right back.

DEFINITELY ON THE PLANE: Osama Hawsawi, Motaz Hawsawi, Omar Hawsawi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Mansour Al-Harbi

STILL AT THE CHECK-IN DESK: Saeed Al-Muwallad, Mohammed Al-Burayk, Mohammed Jahfali

SHOULD START PLANNING THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAYS: Ali Al-Bulayhi

MIDFIELDERS

Here is where the battle for places is at its most fierce; with 13 midfielders included in the 28-man squad, at least three will have to be left behind and have their World Cup dreams dealt a knee-high tackle. Defensive midfielder Abdulmalik Al-Khaibari was the biggest loser from the departure of van Marwijk, losing his starting spot to Abdullah Otayf. Meanwhile, his namesake Abdullah Al-Khaibari has been drafted into every squad under Pizzi, but only started once, when a second-string side was fielded against Iraq in February. Mohammed Kanno, Mohammed Al-Kuwaikbi and Hattab Bahebri all made their international debuts under Pizzi, but the task of booking seats on the plane to Russia ahead of their more experienced teammates is a daunting one. Since his return from injury in April, Salman Al-Faraj has made a strong claim for the third midfield spot alongside Otayf and Taisir Al-Jassim, starting the last two friendlies against Algeria and Greece, while at least two of the three Spain-based players; Fahad Al-Muwallad, Salem Al-Dawsari and Yahya Al-Shehri, will be part of the starting XI.

DEFINITELY ON THE PLANE:  Abdullah Otayf, Taisir Al-Jassim, Hussein Al-Moqahwi, Salman Al-Faraj, Salem Al-Dawsari, Fahad Al-Muwallad, Yahya Al-Shehri

STILL AT THE CHECK-IN DESK: Nawaf Al-Abid, Abdulmalik Al-Khaibari, Mohammed Kanno

SHOULD START PLANNING THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAY: Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohammed Al-Kuwaikbi, Hattan Bahebri
 

STRIKERS

If there is one problem for Pizzi, it is the lack of firepower he has to call on. That is both a pain and a positive in that he already knows who he will take. Abdulfattah Adam, Mujahid Al-Mania and Harun Kamara have all been tested, but Pizzi does not seem to have been convinced he should replace established duo Mohammed Al-Sahlawi and Mohannad Assiri. The only question he needs to answer between now and June 14 is which one of the pair should lead the line?
 
DEFINITELY ON THE PLANE: Mohammed Al-Sahlawi and Mohannad Assiri