Georgios Donis and the long shadow of Hervé Renard

As Saudi Arabia prepares to face Spain, the team's bench will be occupied by Georgios Donis, yet the shadow of his predecessor, Hervé Renard, looms large. Donis began his tenure with a respectable 1-1 draw against Uruguay, but he inherited a squad still shaped by the French coach. Renard was unexpectedly let go just weeks before the World Cup, a decision that surprised many given his significant impact over the years. His departure left a void, especially after he had guided Saudi Arabia to a memorable 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina in the 2022 World Cup group stage, a result that captured global attention. Renard's recent history with Saudi football also includes a stint coaching the French women's national team, where he reached the World Cup quarterfinals before returning to Saudi Arabia to rebuild a project that had lost momentum under Roberto Mancini. He successfully led the team back to World Cup qualification, but a string of recent friendly losses against Egypt and Serbia led to his abrupt dismissal just weeks before the tournament. Donis, who has prior experience in Saudi football with clubs like Al-Wehda and Al-Fateh, faces the challenge of a rapid transition. He acknowledged the difficulties, stating after the Uruguay match that he needed more time to understand his team and ensure their strength in all circumstances, citing the limited preparation time.

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At this moment I cannot think only about the results, I have to get to know my team better, for it to be strong in all circumstances. I understood that due to the lack of time we could not be...