Saudi Arabia make bold selection call for South Korea friendly

Saudi Arabia manager Georgios Donis has left Lens defender Saud Abdulhamid on the bench for Friday’s friendly against South Korea in Doha, handing Abdullah Al-Hamdan the captain’s attacking responsibility.

The match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium is Saudi Arabia’s first friendly during the current international break as they prepare for their forthcoming commitments. Donis’ decision means Al-Qadsiah’s Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat starts at right-back, having previously been used as a winger in some matches.

Al-Hilal’s Moteb Al-Harbi occupies the left-back position, with Al-Ittihad defender Hassan Tambakti and Al-Hilal’s Abdulilah Al-Amri forming the centre-back pairing.

Donis has selected three players in midfield, with Al-Nassr’s Abdullah Al-Khaibari joined by Al-Hilal duo Mohammed Kanno and Nasser Al-Dawsari.

Saudi Arabia have also had to reshape their attack because of injuries to Salem Al-Dawsari and Hammam Al-Hamami. Al-Hamdan leads the line, supported by Mohammed Al-Qahtani and Marwan Al-Sahafi.

Saudi Arabia’s starting XI is:

Goalkeeper: Mohammed Al-Owais

Defenders: Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Hassan Tambakti, Abdulilah Al-Amri, Moteb Al-Harbi

Midfielders: Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mohammed Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari

Forwards: Marwan Al-Sahafi, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Mohammed Al-Qahtani

Friday’s meeting will be the 19th between the two countries in official and friendly competition, with their first encounter having taken place in 1980.

Saudi Arabia have won five of the previous 18 matches, while South Korea have recorded six victories. The other seven games ended in draws.

Saudi Arabia’s last victory came 21 years ago, when they defeated South Korea home and away in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. They won the first match 2-0 and the second 1-0.

Since then, the teams have met six times without a Saudi victory. South Korea have won twice, while the other four matches were drawn.

This will be the seventh friendly between the sides. South Korea have won two of the previous six, Saudi Arabia have won once and three matches have ended level.

Saudi Arabia’s most notable victory over South Korea came in the semi-final of the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, where Talal Al-Meshal scored both goals in a 2-1 win.

Their most recent meeting was in the last 16 of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, before South Korea progressed to the quarter-finals on penalties.

Saudi Arabia will remain in Doha for another friendly after the South Korea game, facing Uzbekistan on Tuesday.