Saudi Arabia, Messi’s rival, has announced its preliminary list for the World Cup

Hervé Renard, coach of Saudi Arabiaannounced this Wednesday its preliminary list (of 32 players) for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where Leo Messi’s Argentina will be measured. There are four goalkeepers here, three of whom are not starters for their respective teams: Mohamed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Fawaz Al-Qarni (Al-Shabab) and Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr). The fourth goalkeeper, Mohamed Al-Yami, is in action at Al-Ahly (Second).

Renard called up Ittihad midfielder Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, who he didn’t call up for September’s friendlies. The French coach called up the Abha Riyadh Sharahili midfielderwho made his national team debut last month.

Renard also called up Mohamed Kanno and Abdulelah Al-Malki from Al-Hilal, even though they have yet to play this season. Al-Malki came out from a serious injury. Saudi Arabia will play five friendlies in Abu Dhabi before the World Cup: against North Macedonia, Albania, Honduras, Iceland and Panama.

Saudi Arabia is included in group C of the first stage of the World Cup, with Argentina, Mexico and Poland.

Saudi Arabia’s preliminary list for the World Cup in Qatar 2022:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Fawaz Al-Qarni (Al-Shabab) Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Al-Yami (Al-Ahly)

Defenses: Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal) Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal) Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr) Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr) Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab) Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr) Ahmed Bamsaud (Ittihad) Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal) Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal)

Midfielders: Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal) Riyadh Sharahili (Abha) Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr) Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal) Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal) Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr) Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal) Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal) Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Ittihad) Ayman Yahya (Al-Nassr) Fahad Al-Muwallad (Al-Shabab) Nawaf Al-Abed (Al-Shabab) Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal) Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab)

Forward: Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahly) Abdullah Radif (Al-Taawoun) Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Al-Hilal) Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal) Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh) (Reporting by Ahmed Maher in Cairo , editing by Ed Osmond)