“Stupid and loser”… Saudi Arabia fans burn Donis with Spanish fire

Saudi Arabia’s brutal 4-0 defeat by Spain in the 2nd round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage sparked anger among Saudi fans, who blamed Greek coach Georgios Donis for the massive slump, given that Al-Akhdar appeared to be a far cry from his performance against Uruguay in the first round.

Sharp criticism haunts the Greek coach

After the match, social media platforms were filled with harsh criticism of Donis, as many fans felt that the coach had misread the match from the start and was unable to overcome the strength of the Spanish team.

The intensity of the criticism reached harsh characterizations, with some fans describing him as “stupid” while others saw him enter the game with a “loser” mentality, focusing too much on the defensive side and abandoning the attacking team persona he had become accustomed to in recent years.

Composition under the microscope

The starting line-up that Dennis introduced was one of the points that caused the most controversy among fans, especially after the Saudi sports street trusted some elements recently.

A large number of observers felt that the manager’s options failed to achieve the desired goal, neither defensively nor offensively, as the team conceded three early goals when they were unable to create any real threat to Spain’s goal.

Also read… Analysis… How Spain ripped Donis’ cards in front of the world.

The coach was also criticized for relying on five backs, as many saw this plan as giving Spain more of an advantage instead of reducing the danger, especially due to the large spaces between the team’s lines.

Anger grows over Uruguay’s performances

The comparison to the Uruguay match raised the level of criticism leveled at Donis, after the Saudi Arabian side appeared more balanced and disciplined in the first leg and managed to earn a valuable point after a 1-1 draw.

Fans saw Al-Akhdar lose everything he had in Uruguay’s clash with Spain in terms of defensive organization, ability to get the ball out, or even fighting spirit on the pitch, leading many to believe that the coach has retreated from the ideas that gave the team relative success in the opening game.

The Cape Verde match puts pressure on Donis

Attention now turns to the next match against Cape Verde, which will largely determine Saudi Arabia’s fate in the tournament amid pressure on the Greek coach.

A wide section of the fan base believes that Dennis is required to quickly right the wrongs and restore the character of the team, especially as any further slip-up could double the criticism and put him in a more difficult position for Saudi fans after the most furious nights since the start of Al-Akhdar’s 2026 World Cup campaign.