"The Blue" needs a strong heart
The 0-1 defeat suffered by the Blue Falcons against their Saudi counterparts in the match held the day before yesterday, which marked the opening of Group A matches at the “Gulf Cup 27” tournament, has placed them in a difficult position if they wish to compete for one of the two qualification spots for the semi-finals. The Blue Falcons are now required to secure positive results against Iraq (tomorrow) and Oman (next Tuesday), but achieving this demands a swift pause and a thorough review of their performance by Portuguese coach Hélio Sousa regarding the errors made against Saudi Arabia.
There was a noticeable disparity in the Blue Falcons’ performance across the two halves. In the first half, they delivered a reasonably convincing display, managing to keep pace with their opponents and periodically threatening Nawaf Al-Aqidi’s goal through the movements of Mohammed Daham and Eid Al-Rashidi, along with the forward pushes from midfielders Khalid Al-Marshad, Nasser Falah, and Jassim Al-Mutar. Credit is also due to the Blue Falcons for their tactical discipline in dealing with the opponent, their efforts to counter their play in the middle third, and the defensive proficiency of Abdulaziz Naji and Yousef Al-Haqan in limiting the danger from both set pieces and crosses, while goalkeeper Saud Al-Houshan also made several key saves.
However, the events of the second half revealed multiple flaws, particularly an excessive retreat to the back line, to the point where Al-Marshad and Al-Mutar were found huddled near Al-Haqan and Naji. This granted the opponents vast spaces in our midfield, allowing them to circulate the ball freely. Nawaf Al-Boushal, Mutab Al-Harbi, and Hamad Al-Hamami pressed the full-backs Moaz Al-Zafiri and Rashid Al-Dosari, who failed to make any forward runs. This was a natural consequence given that the midfielders were unable to progress the ball upfield or initiate attacking play. Even when Sousa intervened to rectify the situation, his decision to substitute Eid Al-Rashidi for Yousef Majed was puzzling, as Al-Rashidi was at least attempting to make forward runs, preventing Al-Harbi from advancing and supporting Al-Dosari when possession was lost.
It would have been more appropriate to energize the midfield by instructing players to gradually advance upon gaining possession. However, their lack of focus and preoccupation with defensive support complicated matters. Even the introduction of Ahmed Al-Zafiri, known for his ability to build play from the back, failed to inject the necessary vitality, as the opponents controlled the tempo and ball possession, while the Blue Falcons’ physical and fitness reserves were depleted. This allowed the opponents to dominate significantly in an area where their players excel, in contrast to the Blue Falcons, who appeared to have lost this edge and exhausted their energy due to their defensive approach and constant pressure.
This fatigue even affected the substitutes, who were unable to make a difference, as they too struggled to catch their breath. Physical exhaustion was one of the primary factors contributing to the defeat. This advantage allowed the opponents to maintain possession throughout the second half, whereas technically, they were not strong enough to justify our complete retreat and surrender of the pitch.
Therefore, the upcoming matches against Iraq and Oman require both adventure and intelligence, whether from Sousa or the players. Initiative must be present; we cannot wait for mistakes to occur before thinking about solutions or searching for a savior. Substitutions should not be viewed as a mere necessity without considering their technical benefit. Instead, the technical staff must select a lineup that aligns with the importance of the match and is capable of achieving the desired objective.
Sousa may not be entirely blamed for leaning towards a defensive style, given the presence of several young players lacking experience. However, this does not mean the team should “fold” in a manner that makes the opponents’ task easier rather than benefiting the Blue Falcons.
