Saudi Arabia will look to rekindle past glories when they take on Australia in Asias World Cup preliminaries in Melbourne on Thursday with the Green Falcons aiming to move on from the lacklustre Roberto Mancini era with the return of Herve Renard.
Renard is back at the helm for the first time since replacing the Italian last month after Mancini and the Saudis ended an often awkward 14-month dalliance.
One win, two draws and a loss in four games in the third phase of the continents qualifiers for the 2026 finals has left the Saudis in third place in Group C, trailing second-placed Australia on goal difference and leaders Japan by five points.
Only the top two finishers in each of Asias three preliminary groups qualify automatically for the finals with the third and fourth-placed sides advancing to another round, and the Saudis are desperate to ensure guaranteed progress.
It was Renard who was at the helm when Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina in the nations opening game at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the win a high point of an initial three-and-a-half-year-long tenure for the former Zambia coach.
