MOSCOW: Saudi Arabia may have returned to Riyadh before the World Cup group stage has wrapped up, but Omar Bakhashwain, the Green Falcons team manager, believes the benefits of their participation will be felt for years to come.
After four years of planning, the country’s push for a place in the knock-out rounds was practically over before it could start; their 5-0 defeat to Russia on opening night making progress all but impossible. Yet improved results in their following two games against Uruguay and Egypt meant the squad flew home on Monday night with their heads held high.
Bakhashwain, the former Saudi Arabia striker now charged with overseeing the administrative side of the national team, said the general mood in the camp was positive after defeating Egypt 2-1 in their final Group A match. Had his side not been involved in the pressure-cooker environment of the opening game, he believes the World Cup could have played out very differently.
Watched by an estimated 250 million people around the world, opening night was preluded by the customary ceremony of music and culture. It was the first time an Asian side had been involved in the first game at a World Cup and the disruptions in preparation and atmosphere proved difficult to deal with.
“Overall I think we can all agree that we wanted to do better,” Bakhashwain told Arab News. “The dream was to go through because every team wants to finish as the top side in their group. But for a team of players who have never played a World Cup before and to play the opening game, for sure, there is something different.
“When you look at the three games, you see that in the opening game there were a lot of emotions. Everything was new, even the warm-up — you warm up for less time because you have to go outside and wait 40 minutes for the opening ceremony. These things were all new for us and came into play in that first game, but it was also a great experience.”
After the embarrassment of the first match, Saudi Arabia improved notably, demonstrating belief in coach Juan Antonio Pizzi’s methods and a desire to show the world that opening night was an anomaly. Monday’s victory was a first World Cup win in 24 years and such was the change in sentiment from disappointment to delight, Pizzi was handed a seven-month contract extension on Tuesday. He will lead the squad at the Asian Cup in January.
“Look at the team and the level of the team and it was always getting better,” Bakhashwain added. “I wish there had been a fourth group game for us so we could have gone through. The curve was always going up. We woke up after that first game and we did a good job. All three games we had more possession than the opposition, but obviously we have areas we must improve and the coach will look at that going forward.
“I know that this is the best performance at a World Cup since 1994, but I think we could have done better if it was not for the opening game. You have to accept surprises though, and that is one of the things we faced in that first game. This is football —
every day we learn something new. We had never played an opening game at a World Cup, but now that we have we will be better for it with more experience for the future.”
A schedule of friendly matches are in the pipeline before the Asian Cup, to be held in the UAE from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1. Saudi Arabia have been drawn in a group with Qatar, Lebanon and North Korea and are looking to win it for the first time since 1996.
“For sure, they will take away experience from this World Cup and any positives we leave with we can use in the next competition,” Bakhashwain concluded. “The negative things we just have to try to forget.”
Saudi Arabia return home ruing opening World Cup defeat to Russia
Saudi Arabia return home ruing opening World Cup defeat to Russia
- 'The dream was to go through,' says team manager
- But 5-0 defeat to Russia cost them dearly
Patriots reach Super Bowl in blizzard-hit 10-7 win over Broncos
LOS ANGELES, US: Quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance since the glory days of predecessor Tom Brady with a blizzard-ravaged 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos Sunday.
In a low-scoring AFC Championship game played out in brutal conditions, Maye rushed for a first-half touchdown, and painstakingly drove the ball downfield after the break to set up a decisive field goal.
No further scoring was possible in the 21 degrees F storm, with the Patriots’ white uniforms barely visible as players slipped and slid across the snow.
“We battled the elements,” said Maye.
“These conditions, it’s not great throwing the football. But hey, we do what we need to do... We’re off to the Super Bowl. Let’s go!“
The Patriots will play either the Los Angeles Rams or the Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on February 8.
The win cements a remarkable resurgence for the Patriots.
After the dominant era of the Brady dynasty that yielded six Super Bowl titles, New England have endured a painful rebuild, going 3-14 in both the previous two seasons.
But under new head coach Mike Vrabel they were a revelation this season, winning 17 games so far and topping the tough AFC East for the first time since 2019.
‘Costly’
Prior to kickoff, all eyes were on the Broncos’ perennial backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who had not thrown a pass in competitive football for two years.
The 29-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when Broncos’ first-choice Bo Nix broke his ankle in the dying moments of last weekend’s victory over the Buffalo Bills.
An understandably nervy Stidham was swiftly and repeatedly blitzed by the Patriots, throwing a wild incomplete pass on an opening drive that ended with a punt.
Moments later his epic 54-yard hurl to Marvin Mims Jr paid off spectacularly, caught deep downfield. Stidham then found Courtland Sutton for the opening TD.
Stidham grew in confidence as the first half progressed, without adding to the lead. The Broncos declined a straightforward field goal attempt at 4th&1 on New England’s 14-yard line, and gave up a turnover on downs.
Then disaster struck, as Stidham fumbled on the Broncos’ 14-yard line for a turnover. Maye, who had been struggling badly, rushed for a touchdown and a 7-7 half-time score.
The fumble would prove “costly,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton admitted after the game.
‘Sick’
The dense snowstorm descended on Denver at the break, making passing difficult and forcing both teams to rely on their run games.
An attritional 18-play drive lasting nearly 10 minutes led to a field goal and slender lead for New England.
The conditions became almost comically treacherous, with multiple players slipping and sliding on nearly every barely-visible play.
Both sides missed multiple field goals in swirling cross-winds, including one blocked by Patriots tackle Leonard Taylor’s fingertips.
With the two-minute warning looming, Stidham attempted a hugely risky 30-yard pass and gave away an interception that proved vital in whiteout conditions.
“It was good at first, and then snow started coming down, wind blowing, I couldn’t see,” said defensive tackle Milton Williams.
“I’m coughing. I’m probably sick right now. But none of that matters. All that matters is that we won the game and we’re going to the Bowl.”
The Patriots, who already boasted the most Super Bowl appearances with 11, will now have their twelfth showing on American football’s biggest stage, and a chance to vie for a record seventh Lombardi trophy.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls playing alongside Brady for the Patriots, would be the first person to win the sport’s ultimate prize as a player and coach for the same franchise.
“I won’t win it — it’ll be the players that will win the game, I promise you,” said Vrabel.
