Saudi Arabia vs Spain, 2006 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup

Saudi Arabia

FT
0 - 1

Spain

36': Juanito

About

Saudi Arabia are hosting Spain at Fritz-Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany, starting on . The match is a part of the FIFA World Cup.

Match Timeline

0': Hi there, welcome to our coverage of Spain v Saudi Arabia.
0': Saudi Arabia kick off.
1': It is another dry, warm afternoon in Germany, and Fritz-Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern is full to the rafters.
2': Spain have got a much-changed side out today; they are guaranteed to progress from the group, and have chosen to rest all of their regular starters.
3': Saudi Arabia win an early free-kick, but Marchena heads clear.
4': Spain have looked very good in their first two games, but this is an entirely new starting eleven, and might take some time to gell.
5': The strengths of Spain's squad has been much lauded; today will give those players a chance to prove that theory correct.
6': Raul heads well wide from a cross from the left; Spain's first attempt on goal is a poor one.
7': Lopez is brought down by Aziz on the left touchline; free-kick to Spain.
7': This is Saudi Arabia's fourth successive World Cup; they are becoming regulars at this tournament.
8': Spain have started quite well; they are having a lot of the ball, but have been unable to really threaten the Saudi goal.
9': Noor tackles Iniesta well, 30 yards out from the Saudi goal, but his quick pass up field to Al Jaber is mis-placed.
10': Saudi Arabia have a slim chance of progressing from this group, but they need a big victory over the much-fancied Spain in this game - and that, frankly, is unlikely.
11': Aziz is down on the turf, clutching his hamstring; he seems in quite some pain as the physio sprints over to administer some treatment.
12': Spain are on track for a potential quarter-final against Brazil in the quarter-final stage; what a match-up that would be.
13': Raul shows some good close control in the penalty , but he can't quite get around the bulky Tukar.
14': SAUDI SUB: Al Temyat comes on to replace the injured Aziz.
15': Spain win their first corner of the game. It is swung in to the middle from the right, but Zaid collects comfortably.
16': Saudi Arabia look to be strong and organised at the back; it certainly isn't going to be easy for this second-string Spain side to break them down.
17': Al Jaber kicks out a little wildly at Lopez as the two tussled down near the corner flag; he is perhaps lucky not to receive a yellow card there.
18': GOOD EFFORT! Reyes robs a defender, feeds Joaquim, but the Real Betis winger fires a shot just over the crossbar.
19': Spain have advanced to the second round in five of the last six World Cups, but they are always considered underachievers; they certainly have a very talented squad this year.
20': Fabregas is Spain's youngest-ever player at a World Cupl he has enjoyed a wonderful season for Arsenal, but has had a quiet start this afternoon.
21': ALMOST! Reyes fires in a good first-time ball in between the Saudi defence, but it has just two much pace on it for Raul to reach.
22': DANCING FEET! Reyes shuffles his way past a couple of defenders, but his left-foot shot from distance is dragged wide.
23': Spain are having a lot of the ball, but haven't really hit their straps going forward as yet.
24': Spain are showing good patience as they try and build from the back, but it is hardly a good spectacle for the fans.
25': Spain win a corner as Jaoquim's cross is deflected behind; Reyes sends it in to the middle, but Zaid punches clear.
26': GOOD DEFENDING! Joaquim and Reyes combine well, but Noor shows good defensive awareness to track the run and shoulder Joaquim off the ball.
27': Al Jaber becomes the first man booked in this game; it is a very harsh decision from the refere - the offence was only a trip.
28': Dokhi shows good strength to muscle Iniesta off the ball inside the penalty area.
29': GOOD SAVE! Fabregas finds Albeda on the edge of the penalty area, but his fierce drive is touched around the post by the Saudi keeper.
30': GREAT RUN! Juaquim drifts in from the right, beats two players before firing in a left-foot shot, but again Zaid is up to the task and tips his drive over for a corner.
31': Albeda is booked for a challenge in midfield; again, it looks to be a very harsh decision by the referee.
32': Spain finally look like they are starting to click in to gear; they have started to look a lot more direct and dynamic in the last five minutes or so.
33': Raul goes to ground inside the penalty area as he tries to burst through two defenders; no penalty.
34': CHEEKY! Raul finds a little pocket of space on the edge of the box; he has a runner in Reyes, but opts to try and chip the keeper; the ball drifts a foot or so over the crossbar.
35': Raul is coming off a poor, injury-hit season for his club side, Real Madrid; but he is Spain's all-time top-scorer with 44 international goals, and has looked quite sharp so far this afternoon.
36': GREAT DEFENDING! Reyes' low corner skips across the face of goal; as Albeda is set to prod home, Sulimani flicks clear.
36': Reyes is booked for a trip on Dokhi as the defender looked to start a counter-attack down the right wing.
37': It has been a low-key half so far; Saudi clearly don't have the belief that they can win this game, and Spain's reserves have only clicked occasionally.
37': GOAL! Reyes sends a free-kick from the left wing; Juanito meets the set-piece with a thumping header, planting his effort in to the top corner.
38': Spain certainly deserve to be in the lead; they have absolutely dominated the possession, even if they haven't created a bunch of chances.
39': Any chance Saudi Arabia had of progressing has now gone out of the window; they don't look remotely capable of threatening an equaliser.
40': RUBBISH! Al Jaber breaks down the left wing; he cuts inside, but his right-foot shot is very weak and straight at Canizares.
41': Spain are taking the pace out of the game now; they are knocking the ball around in midfield, in full control and with real confidence.
42': Al Jaber screams in agony as he is slightly caught by a trailing boot from Salgado; moments later, he is back on his feet and in the thick of the action. What a hero.
43': GOOD SAVE! Brilliant play by Joaquim down the right; he beats his man with a step-over before clipping a cross to Reyes at the back post; he side-foots a volley goalwards, but Zaid makes a good low save.
44': Jaoquin has been wonderful so far; again he beats his man, gets to the by-line and pulls back a cross, but this time Saudi Arabia clear.
45': HALF-TIME: Spain's second-string have been far too strong for Saudi Arabia; it has been a very one-sided half, in which Joaquin has been the star-man.
45': SPAIN SUB: Villa comes on to replace Raul.
46': Spain kick off the second half.
47': Spain had a lot of possession in that first half; I don't anticpate that changing too much after the break.
48': If Spain top their group, it is likely that they will face France in the second round; that is a potential classic-in-the-making.
49': Joaquin, who was excellent in the first half, is brought down; he seems to have started the second half on the left wing.
50': ALMOST! Villa gets free down the left; he holds the ball up before feeding Lopez, but his low drive is turned around the post by Zaid.
51': Spain win another corner, thanks to good play down the left from Villa. Reyes curls the ball in to hte middle, but Zaid claims Juanito's header.
52': Zaid needs some treatment on a slight knock he took as he came through a crowd to claim Juanito's header from Reyes' corner.
53': A lot of pundits are tipping Spain to do very well this tournament; the trouble is, they always look good in the early stages - it is in the knockout rounds where Spain traditionally stumble.
53': Zaid has received some lengthy treatment on the calf injury he sustained at that corner, but play has now continued.
54': GREAT BREAK! Khariri breaks well down the Saudi left, linking well with Noor, but Spain eventually snuff out the threat inside their own penalty area.
55': Saudi Arabia have started better after the break, and Spain have become a little lazy with their passing.
56': GOOD STRIKE! Sulimani fires in a shot from distance; he strikes it really well, but Canizares claims comfortably.
57': Joaquin gets down the left and fires a low cross across the face of goal, but it is a yard in front of Villa and the ball runs out.
58': GETTING BETTER! Saudi Arabia are starting to look a litle more threatening as they go forward; this time Lopez needs to be alert to see off the threat of Al Jaber inside the area.
59': It seems like the Saudi's have been told to get more players forward in this second half; they are starting to commit more men to their - albeit infrequent - attacks.
60': ANOTHER GREAT RUN! Joaquin is so dangerous with the ball at his feet; again he cuts in from the left before firing in a low shot; Zaid saves.
61': Saudi Arabia have a good spell where they send a couple of decent crosses in to the Spanish penalty area, although the European side deal well with the threat.
62': AGAINST THE WALL! Joaquin blasts a free-kick against the Saudi defensive wall.
63': Spain are attempting to take the sting out of the game as they slow things down in midfield.
64': Joaquin has been the stand-out player in this low-key match; he looks a threat every time he gets the ball in to his feet.
65': The pace of the second half is certainly slower than the first; perhaps that is the heat, perhaps not.
66': There is a real air of complacency about Spain at the moment; they know that Saudi Arabia are unlikely to trouble them, and have started to get lazy at the back.
67': SPAIN SUB: Xavi replaces Fabregas; the Arsenal youngster has been very quiet in the second half; Xavi sprints on and looks eager to impress his coach.
68': SAUDI SUB: Mouath comes on to replace Al Jaber; a change up front for Saudi Arabia as they look for an unlikely equaliser.
69': CLOSE! A swift counter-attack through the middle sees the ball moved to Sulimani, but his left-foot shot is turned around the post by Canizarez.
70': SPAIN SUB: Torres on for Reyes; Torres receives a rousing applause as he comes on to replace Reyes.
71': Still, Spain are looking sloppy in defence; more slack play sees Saudi Arabia win another corner...
71': ...The corner is senrt in to the near post, but Mouath's goal-bound header is deflected over for another corner...
72': ...This time Spain deal with the corner a little better, and clear their lines.
73': Luis Arragones doesn't look very impressed with the second-half performance of his Spanish side; they have completely lost their momentum.
74': Al Harthi tumbles to the ground as he tries to break between Salgado and Juanito on the edge of the penalty area. No foul, says the referee.
75': Spain certainly haven't looked like World-beaters in this second-half; in fact, they have really struggled against a lively Saudi display.
76': Marchena is booked for a clumsy challenge on Noor; again, it looked a harsh decision from the referee.
77': Spain have been so sloppy in the second half; the difference after the half-time break has been amazing. Again they give the ball away in midfield, allowing Saudi Arabia to launch another attack.
78': Al Temyat goes to ground in the penalty area under a challenge from Lopez; everyone looks to the referee...
78': ...who doesn't see the foul and rules 'play on'.
79': Zaid plucks a Salgado cross out of the air and launches a counter-attack with a quick throw out to the right wing.
80': Marchena is penalised for a foul on Mouath on the edge of the penalty area; free-kick in a dangerous spot...
80': ...Canizarez organises his defensive wall...
80': OOOH! Sulimani curls the free-kick high and wide; poor effort.
81': SAUDI SUB: Massad comes on to replace Sulimani; Sulimani looked like Saudi Arabia's best attacking player, but he is hauled off.
82': Massad's first contribution is to throw himself to the ground, scream in agony and then get to his feet when he realises the free-kick has been given his way.
83': ALMOST! Mouath surprisingly goes for goal from a tight angle and almost catches Canizarez off-guard, though the Valencia keeper makes a good save at his near post.
84': SLOPPY! Salgado gives the ball away, 30 yards from his own goal, but Saudi Arabia can't capitalise.
85': At the risk of sounding repetitive, Spain have been truly woeful since the break; they have looked lazy, sloppy and complacent - against a better side than Saudi Arabia, they would have conceded three or four goals.
87': Let's give some credit to the Saudis; since the break they have worked really hard to press Spain higher up the pitch and force some mistakes - and it has worked; they have been the better side in the break.
89': WOEFUL FINISH! Al Harthi shoots over the bar from six yards out after being picked out by a low cross from Noor. A truly dreadful finish.
90': Torres goes on a threatening run as he cuts in from the left flank and forces a late corner for the Spainish.
91': CLOSE! Al Temyat flashes a shot narrowly wide of the far post; Canizarez goes mental at his defence.
93': FULL-TIME: Spain looked far from potential champions in a second-half performance of the lowest quality. They progress to a probable second-round tie with France.

Statistics

ESP		KSA
21	Fouls	21
3	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
0	Offsides	5
10	Corner Kicks	4
6	Saves	17
63	Possession	37
22	SHOTS	8
14	ON GOAL	3
0.6	On Target %	0.4
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
0	Accurate Passes	0
0	Passes	0
0.0	Pass Completion %	0.0
0	Accurate Crosses	0
15	Crosses	7
0.0	Cross %	0.0
0	Long Balls	0
0	Accurate Long Balls	0
0.0	Long Balls %	0.0
1	Blocked Shots	3
0	Effective Tackles	0
0	Tackles	0
0.0	Tackle %	0.0
0	Interceptions	0
0	Effective Clearances	0
4	Clearances	6

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup

Venue: Fritz-Walter Stadion
Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany
Attendance: 46,000

FIFA World Cup Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	Spain	0	0	0
2	Cape Verde	0	0	0
3	Saudi Arabia	0	0	0
4	Uruguay	0	0	0

Full Table

Line-Ups

Saudi Arabia

No.	Name
21	Mabrouk Zaid (GK)
2	Ahmed Dokhi
3	Redha Fallatah Tukar
4	Hamad Al Montashari
12	Abdulaziz Khathran
13	Hussein Sulimani
8	Mohammed Noor
14	Saud Ali Khariri
16	Khaled Al-Thaker
9	Sami Al Jaber
11	Saad Al Harthi

Saudi Arabia Substitutes:

Mohammed Al Daeyea, Mohammad Khoja, Mohammed Al Anbar, Naif Al Qadi, Ahmed Al Bahri, Nawaf Al Temyat, Mohammed Ameen, Mohammed Massad, Malek Mouath.

Spain

No.	Name
19	Santiago Cañizares (GK)
2	Míchel Salgado
4	Carlos Marchena
12	Antonio López
20	Juanito
6	David Albelda
10	José Antonio Reyes
13	Andrés Iniesta
17	Joaquín
18	Cesc Fàbregas
7	Raúl

Spain Substitutes:

Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, Mariano Pernía, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Pablo Ibáñez, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Marcos Senna, Fernando Torres, Luis García, David Villa.

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