Arab News Japan

SAITAMA, Japan: Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard was pleased with the 0-0 draw against Japan on Tuesday but said his team needs to do more to qualify for the World Cup.

“We got a good result this evening,” he said in the post-match press conference at Saitama Stadium. “It was not beautiful, I know, so sorry for the show, but we kept our organization. We were not able to create good opportunities, but the team spirit was good. However, technically we were not good enough.”

Saudi Arabia trails Australia by three points in Group C after the Aussies beat China 2-0, but Renard said he’s not thinking about any other outcome than qualifying.

“There are still two games remaining and everything can happen,” he said. “We have to go to Bahrain and Australia will receive Japan, and we will receive Australia in the last game. We look forward to being better offensively in the last two games. We still have a chance to fight for the second position, so I only have this plan in my mind now.”

He said he was disappointed with his team’s offensive output, but the team had to be cautious against Japan.

“When you come to Japan you can’t be open. You need to be careful because they are a good team. I think the plan was good defensively. We wanted to get into space but didn’t do that part of the game well, but if you’d told me yesterday, we would draw 0-0 against Japan, I would sign immediately.”

“I have a lot of respect for the work of the Japanese coach over five years; he’s been doing a great job. They had a fantastic World Cup in Qatar and I’m sure they can get to the quarterfinals or even better because they are strong, skillful, and disciplined. They have everything for the high level, and I wish them all the best because they represent the Asian continent very well.”

Renard wanted more fight from his players and says the second half was better.

“I said (at halftime) we were not winning duels in the middle and on our right side, so I made a substitution and asked them to fight more in duels and for the second ball, and to play as quickly as possible. It was better in the second half except we didn’t play enough forward or quicker to make a problem for the Japanese team.”

“I wanted to win the match, but I was disappointed that we couldn’t. I want to thank everyone who supported us today.”