Arabie saoudite: Hervé Renard viré à deux mois de la Coupe du monde 2026? Le coach n'est au courant de rien
After losing his second friendly match of this international break against Serbia in Belgrade (2-1), following a heavy defeat (4-0) against Egypt, he returns to Saudi Arabia this Tuesday evening. The coming hours will reveal whether this rumor circulating in the country becomes a reality for the French coach, who last October led the Green Falcons to their third consecutive World Cup finals appearance. For now, no official announcement has been made.
After a first stint between 2019 and 2023, the coach returned to the national team following an unsuccessful spell with the French women's team (quarter-final eliminations at both the World Cup and the Olympics). The timing of this rumor is surprising, as Saudi Arabia is preparing to play in its seventh World Cup in less than three months this summer, four years after making a strong impression in Qatar, notably defeating Argentina in the group stage (2-1). During that match, the coach delivered a powerful and legendary halftime speech in the locker room. But the defeat against Egypt (4-0) in a friendly match reportedly sealed the fate of the former Zambia and Ivory Coast coach, according to local media.
Is Regragui on the shortlist?
During his career, Hervé Renard made a name for himself by becoming the first coach to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries: Zambia in 2012 and then Ivory Coast in 2015. This achievement made him one of the most sought-after foreign coaches on the continent. Riyadiya TV reports that Walid Regragui is on the shortlist to potentially take over as national team coach.
After finishing second in their group in the second round of Asian qualifying, Saudi Arabia found themselves in the same group as Japan and Australia in the following round. These two countries secured the two direct qualification spots, and the Saudis had to participate in the fourth round to try and clinch one of the two remaining places. After defeating Indonesia (3-2), the Green Falcons settled for a draw (0-0) against Iraq, which allowed them to finish top of the group thanks to a superior goal difference to the Mesopotamian Lions. At the World Cup, the team was placed in Group H. The Green Falcons will face Uruguay (June 16), Spain (June 21), and Cape Verde (June 27).
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