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A difficult task awaits the Greek coach
Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis of Greece is facing one of his toughest training sessions since taking charge of the Green Club as he approaches the start of the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that could go a long way in determining his future at the helm.
Since the announcement of the national team’s roster for the World Cup, Dennis has found himself in direct confrontation with a large section of Saudi fans who have expressed their reservations about a number of technical choices regarding the names excluded or the players who made it to the final list.
Controversial exclusions
The most prominent criticism of the Greek coach came from the exclusion of a number of players who had performed well last season, led by Abu Al-Shamat, Hatan Bahbari, Zakaria Hawsawi and Rayan Hamed, names who had been backed by the public and media for the World Cup.
A section of the fans believed that some of these elements deserved a chance to appear in the World Cup, especially considering that the team needed additional solutions in some positions, while Dennis chose to continue his artistic convictions and rely on other names that he felt were more suitable to implement his ideas on the pitch.
Accepting a challenge in a difficult time
The roster was not the only source of pressure on the coach, as Dennis accepted the assignment at a sensitive time when the Saudi national team was undergoing a technical restructuring amid high aspirations from the sports street to restore its individuality and competitive identity on the international stage.
The limited amount of time the coach has been working with the current squad has made his task even more difficult, especially with the difficulty of achieving full harmony ahead of a World Cup-sized competition.
Certificates for the future
Donis realizes that participating in the World Championship is not just an international tournament for him, but a real opportunity to prove the correctness of his technical decisions and win back the trust of the fans.
A respectable showing and convincing performances can give a coach the necessary credentials to continue in his role after the tournament, while failure can lead to increased pressure and calls for new changes at the technical management level.
Recover lost identity
Beyond the results, the biggest bet remains on Donis’ ability to restore the identity that the Saudi national team has lost in recent years, be it in terms of personality on the field or clarity of artistic ideas.
Read also… The former star of “Al-Ahly” told Denis.
The World Cup will be a real test for the Greek coach, not only to measure his ability to achieve results, but also to prove that his controversial bets were right.
Between criticism from fans and sticking to his artistic beliefs, Dennis enters the tournament knowing that any decision he makes will be judged on the pitch, as the World Cup can become a lifeline that gives him continuity, or a station that opens the door to questions about the team’s future in the next round.
