How the Saudi ‘Green Falcons’ pulled off the most unlikely of victories
If you’re a football (or soccer) fan, chances are you’ll have heard about Argentina’s shock 1–2 loss to Saudi Arabia. In scenes worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, Saudi Arabia produced one of the greatest World Cup shocks in history. And it’s an outcome no one could’ve predicted.
In a display of true grit and courage, the ‘Green Falcons’, powered by a pair of classy 2nd half-goals and late heroics by relatively unknown goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais, managed to overturn a 1–0 deficit to stun the footballing world. And much like a Hollywood blockbuster, the match was not without its drama.
Despite a dubious penalty allowing Lionel Messi to give Argentina the early lead, the real controversy was not until late in the match.
Following over 30 minutes of relentless attacking from ‘La Albiceleste’, and amidst the ‘Falcons’ frantic scramble to maintain their slender lead, defender Yasser Al-Shahrani was concussed in a sickening clash with hero Alowais’ knee. Play continued for a further 15 seconds, with Al-Shahrani lifeless on the turf, before the referee halted play. This decision to continue to play, whilst controversial demonstrates the tough job referees face in determining injuries in a sport where players so often, ‘fake it’ or ‘juice it’. Further capturing the limelight for all the wrong reasons, and as a result of this concussion, referees over-extended play beyond the originally allotted 8 minutes of stoppage time to nearly 14 minutes, much to the ire of passionate Saudi fans.
But despite all odds against them, including the near impossible prospect of beating a team ranked 48 spots above them in the FIFA World Rankings, a team also unbeaten in 36 matches (a streak lasting since 2019 after a Copa America loss to Brazil) and eager to send their champion Lionel Messi, perhaps the greatest player of all-time off in style, the ‘Green Falcons’ got it done.
Aside from making the most of their limited opportunities, (scoring twice from just 3 shots as opposed to the Argentines' inefficient 1 goal from 15 shots) and staying disciplined defensively throughout the match (although the flurry of late yellow cards may tell a different story), the key behind their victory lies in their commitment to and understanding of one another.
All 26 players in their 26-man squad play in the country’s Saudi Professional (or Pro) League. Ranking outside the top 20 leagues in the world, the league is a mile away from the riches and fanfare of the English PL, Spanish La Liga, and German Bundesliga. But whilst the league lacks international star power, it provides a great pathway for the country’s national team.
Consisting of 16 Saudi Arabian teams, the league is dominated by Al-Hilal, based in the country’s capital Riyadh. The most decorated team in Asia, winning a combined 65 competitive trophies, the team is currently the holder of the domestic league, domestic cup, and continental cup. A team used to winning, 12 members of the Saudi National Team, 9 of which featured in the recent victory, play for Al-Hilal (that’s a lot of green links in FIFA). Coincidence, I think not.
Whilst the Falcons managed to pull off a miraculous upset, their chances of making a deep run still appear low. But if the last few years have taught us anything, they might be here to stay. With a footballing-mad population and growing involvement in the game through the Kingdom’s ownership of Premier League side Newcastle United, in the midst of their own fairy-tale season, they could yet become a sporting powerhouse.
And even if they lose to both Poland and Mexico, failing to exit their Group, they can hold their heads high that they captured the hearts and minds of the sporting world. Possibly even the hosting rights of the 2030 World Cup.
And snagging a public holiday is pretty cool too!
Photo by Mohd Azli Abdul Malek, King Fahd National Stadium, Saudi Arabia. Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
