FIFA World Cup Group A: Saudi Arabia

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Saudi Arabia will take on Uruguay, Russia and Egypt in Group A of the FIFA World Cup.

Nicknamed Green Falcons, Saudi Arabia eyes first win in the World Cup since 1994, when they beat Belgium in group stage.

The team qualified for the tournament four consecutive times between 1994 and 2006, however they have never achieved their best result of 1994. Later they advanced from the group stage.

The team played six international friendlies prior to the competition, in which they suffered two heavy losses by Iraq with 1-4 and Belgium with 0-4.

Confirmed 23-men squad of Saudi Arabia:

Goalkeepers: Mohammed al-Owais (Al-Ahli Jeddah), Yasser al-Mosailem (Al-Ahli Jeddah), Abdullah al-Mayouf (Al-Hilal)

Defenders: Mansoor al-Harbi (Al-Ahli Jeddah), Yasser al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal) Mohammed al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Motaz Hawsawi (Al-Ahli Jeddah), Osama Hawsawi (Al-Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al-Nassr), Ali al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal)

Midfielders: Abdullah al-Khaibari (Al-Shabab), Abdulmalek al-Khaibri (Al-Hilal), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Taiseer al-Jassim (Al-Ahli Jeddah), Houssain al-Mogahwi (Al-Ahli Jeddah), Salman al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab), Salem al-Dawsari (Villarreal), Yahya al-Shehri (Leganes), Fahad al-Muwallad (Levante)

Forwards: Muhammad al-Sahlawi (Al-Nassr), Muhannad Assiri (Al-Ahli Jeddah)

Manager: Juan Antonio Pizzi