Group H | World ranking: 34
Qualification: Won Asian Group A
Coach: Marcos Paqueta
Key Players: Yasser Al Qahtani (forward), Sami Al Jaber (forward)
Past Record: Last 16 1994; group stage 1998, 2002
Group H Matches: June 14: Tunisia (Munich)
June 19: Ukraine (Hamburg)
June 23: Spain (Kaiserslautern)
Saudi Arabia sailed through their qualifying group, remaining unbeaten and conceding just one goal to secure a fourth successive place in the finals. However, such is the nature of Saudi football and its internal politics, that coach Gabriel Calderon's reward for qualification was the sack after media criticism about his training and tactics. Brazilian Paqueta takes charge of a squad that will be more organised than the shambolic team four years ago that lost 8-0 to Germany. Veteran forward Al Jaber will be playing in his fourth finals while his strike partner Al Qahtani is the golden boy of Saudi football following his $10m move to top club side Al Hilal.
Squad
Goalkeepers:
1. Mohammed Al Deayea (Al Hilal)
21. Mabrouk Zaid (Al Ittihad)
22. Mohammad Khojah (Al Shabab)
Defenders:
2. Ahmed Dokhi (Al Ittihad)
3. Redha Tukar (Al Ittihad)
4. Hamad Al Montashari (Al Ittihad)
5. Naif Al Qadi (Al Ahli)
12. Abdulaziz Khathran (Al Hilal)
13. Hussein Sulimani (Al Ahli)
15. Ahmed Al Bahri (Al Ittifaq)
Midfielders:
6. Omar Al Ghamdi (Al Hilal)
7. Mohammed Ameen (Al Ittihad)
8. Mohammed Noor (Al Ittihad)
10. Mohammad Al Shlhoub (Al Hilal)
14. Saud Khariri (Al Ittihad)
16. Khaled Aziz (Al Hilal)
18. Nawaf Al Temyat (Al Hilal)
19. Mohammed Massad (Al Ahli)
Forwards:
9. Sami Al Jaber (Al Hilal)
11. Saad Al Harthi (Al Nasr)
17. Mohammed Al Anbar (Al Hilal)
20. Yaser Al Kahtani (Al Hilal)
23. Malek Mouath (Al Ahli)
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