Iraq faces Saudi Arabia to decide qualification.. and Oman holds on to its chance against Kuwait

A draw for the Iraqi national team against Saudi Arabia is enough to raise its score to five points and secure the second qualifying ticket for the semi-finals, after starting the journey with a draw against the Omani national team by one goal each, before achieving an exciting victory over the Kuwaiti national team by three goals to two, while a victory over Saudi Arabia guarantees qualification at the top of the group with seven points.

While the Saudi national team seeks to continue its positive results and end the group stage with a perfect record at the top of the standings, and confirm its pursuit of the long-awaited title, the Iraqi national team aspires to continue its good performances that it showed during the last two rounds, in order to achieve a result that grants it a qualifying ticket, in a match that brings together two teams that have shown good levels during the last two rounds.

Changes to the Saudi lineup

Meanwhile, the Saudi national team will make changes to its basic lineup, according to what the assistant to Greek coach Yorgos Donis said.

Serafim Angelinas said in a press conference yesterday, 'We will make some changes in the basic lineup, we have some new players and we will give them a chance to play.'

He added, 'We have some injury problems, and we must focus on the main players and give our best with the available options.'

Angelinas explained that the absence of his compatriot, coach Donis, from the press conference was due to his illness, confirming that he had not suffered any injury.

Despite securing a qualifying ticket, Angelinas explained that the Saudi national team aims for victory 'and we want to be at the top of the group'.

He added, 'We have no pressure to get this title and we must think that we will achieve this championship, we are working on the mental and physical aspects to achieve this championship.'

The Saudi 'Green' will meet in the semi-finals with the UAE or Qatar, which scored 6 points in Group B at the expense of Bahrain and Yemen.

For his part, Saudi player Muhammad Abu Al-Shamat said, 'After achieving the positive results we have presented, I address our fans with the message that this championship is our appointment to return the national team to the championships.'

He continued, 'We will give 100% and strive to keep the championship in Jeddah with their presence, and we will give everything we have and raise their heads and will not let them down.'

Oman's chance

In the second match, the Omani national team holds on to its last chance of qualifying when it faces Kuwait, as there is no alternative for it but to win to raise its score to four points, then wait for the Iraqi national team to lose to its Saudi counterpart, and for the goal difference to be in its favor in order to snatch the second ticket from the group.

The Omani national team had drawn with Iraq by one goal each in the first round, before losing to Saudi Arabia by three goals without a response, while the Kuwaiti national team suffered two losses against Saudi Arabia by one goal without a response and Iraq by three goals to two, officially exiting from the calculations of qualifying for the semi-finals.

The Omani national team will need a high offensive effectiveness to score as many goals as possible and wait for the Saudi national team to win, while the Kuwaiti national team aspires to achieve a moral victory and end its participation in the tournament positively.

The two matches will be held at the same time at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, and after their end, the group standings will be determined, where the first-place team will meet the second-place team of Group B, whose final standings have not yet been determined, while the first-place team will face the second-place team of Group B.