Saudi Arabia, Roberto Mancini raises his voice and excludes three players
A furious Roberto Mancini explains three exclusions
It seems far from serene the climate in the environment of the Saudi Arabia national team in the immediate eve of the Asian Cup 2024: Roberto Mancini has in fact expressed all his discontent, twenty-four hours before the first match of the tournament against Oman, for the attitude of three players in particular, who have been excluded from the roster.
The three in question are Salman Al-Faraj, Sultan Al-Ghanam and Nawaf Al-Aqidi. Mancini, in front of reporters, explained in no uncertain terms the reasons for their exclusions: "Al-Faraj did not want to play friendlies,” said the former Azzurri coach. “With Al-Ghanam and Al-Aqidi, on the other hand, I spoke before I issued the lists, asking them if they were ready. One told me 'I either play or I’m not coming' the other informed the goalkeeping coach three days ago that he did not want to be in the national team".
" I only want players to take the field who want to fight, representing their country,” Mancini added. “I cannot understand how a player does not want to be part of his national team. It's not like we're a club. It's the first time I face such a situation: only the coach decides who plays or not".
Saudi Arabia è placed in Group F of the just-started review in Qatar, with Oman, Khirghizstan and Thailand. The Green Falcons have won the tournament three times, in 1984, 1988 and 1996, while finishing second in 1992, 2000 and 2007. In the last review, in the UAE, they è stopped in the round of 16, defeated 1-0 by Japan.
