Donis Pleased with Players' Performance

Greek coach Giorgos Donis expressed his satisfaction with the performance and spirit shown by the Saudi national team, “Al-Akhdar,” against Iraq, and their 2-0 victory, which secured a perfect record in the group stage. At the same time, he voiced concern over the rising number of injuries among the squad during the tournament.

Donis said at a press conference: “We have lost several players; Hassan Kadesh earlier, then Ala Al-Hajji and Nawaf Al-Aqidi, and now Zakaria. I am urging the players to be more careful.” He added: “We want the players to be in the best physical condition, and what has happened during these matches is not normal.”

The Saudi coach praised his players’ contributions, saying: “I am happy with the players’ performance tonight. We created several chances and faced a difficult opponent. I congratulate my teammates on the spirit they showed, and I also congratulate the fans for their exceptional support.”

Donis clarified that the work he does with the players is not limited to technical aspects on the pitch, adding: “From day one, we have spoken with the players about the importance of focus, understanding our tactical approach, and respecting the rules. Focus is not limited to the field alone; it must remain at its highest level at all times.”

He continued: “One of our priorities is to maintain the same level in every match. It is important for the players to understand how we play and to continue working on it.”

Donis also addressed the team’s tactical development, saying: “Our work is not limited to defense or attack alone. For example, at the World Cup, we relied more on defense and encountered some problems. Here, we delivered a good performance when we focused on the attacking side.”

Regarding set pieces, he said: “We had a problem with them, but we improved our handling of them in the second half and succeeded in capitalizing on them. We also succeeded with set pieces during the last two matches.”