Saudi Arabia World Cup 2018 squad and team guide

Saudi Arabia 
Saudi Arabia will play in their first World Cup since 2006  Credit: Getty Images 

Here we take a look at Saudi Arabia's World Cup squad and the other things it will be handy to know about the Group A challengers.

Saudi Arabia's World Cup preliminary squad - the 26 names

Goalkeepers: Assaf Al-Karny, Mohamed Al-Owais, Yasser Al-Musailem.

Defenders: Abdullah Al-Mayuf, Mansour Al-Harby, Yasser Al-Shahrany, Mohamed Al-Breik, Said Al-Muwalad, Motaz Hawsawi, Ossam Hawsawi, Omar Hawsawi, Mohamed Jahfali.

Midfielders: Ali Al-Buhaili, Abdallah Al-Khaibari, Abdelmarek Al-Khaibari, Abdallah Otayf, Taiseer Al-Jassem, Hussein Al-Mafhawy, Soliman Al-Faraj, Nawaf Al-Abd, Mohamed Kano, Hattan Bahbary, Mohamed Al-Kowaikaby.

Strikers: Salem Al-Dawsari, Yehia Al-Shahry, Fahd Al-Muwalad, Mohamed Al-Sahlawy, Muhannad Asiri. 

What odds are Saudi Arabia to win the World Cup?

1000/1

Who's the coach?

Juan Antonio Pizzi.

Former Spain striker who played for Bobby Robson at Barcelona, Pizzi resigned as Chile manager and last November became the third Saudi manager in three months.

Who's the star?

They’re not the lowest ranked team here for nothing - but Mohammad Al-Sahlawi scored eight in qualification against East Timor.

Mohammad Al-Sahlawi trained with Manchester United earlier this year  Credit: Getty Images 

Best thing about them

Technically adept players with plenty of swazz, a lovely kit and in ‘the Green Falcons’, the best nickname.

Worst thing about them

Ponderous tempo and lack of physical stature make them as vulnerable as tethered goats for Uruguay’s ruthless predators.

You may recognise…

Yaya Al-Shehri is a nippy, Bercow-sized left winger who could nutmeg opponents with his body as well as the ball.

Cameramen will be picking out…

As is the intrusive way these days, ostentatiously pious goal celebrations - in the remote possibility they score, of course.

Fans' favourite chant

Oh oh, oh oh, oh ya Saudi!

Saudi Arabia lost to Italy in a pre-World Cup friendly in May  Credit: Getty Images 

On-field prediction

Haven’t won a match in three World Cups since 1994 and that won’t change here.

Off-field prediction

Paeans of praise for the Crown Prince and an epidemic of tinnitus from insufferable inflatable cheering sticks.