Saudi Arabia pays the price for an express coach change

Published on June 29, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

The Saudi national team was eliminated from the World Cup after a risky move: replacing Hervé Renard with Georgios Donis two months before the tournament. The result was zero wins, with two draws and a 4-0 thrashing by Spain. The federation now faces criticism, and Donis's future hangs by a thread.

empty stadium with a giant digital scoreboard showing 4-0, red card hologram floating over a shattered clipboard on the grass, two empty coaching chairs facing away from each other, torn tactical diagrams scattered on the bench, a single football deflating slowly near the center circle, cinematic wide-angle shot, harsh floodlight shadows, photorealistic sports documentary style, desaturated green field, abandoned technical equipment, dramatic emptiness after defeat

Technical instability as a barrier to sports development 🏟️

Long-term planning is key in any sports project. Changing the coach during preparation breaks tactical cohesion and understanding among players. Saudi Arabia bet on a quick change without time to assimilate new schemes, resulting in a directionless performance. The federation should review its technical selection processes and avoid reactive decisions.

Donis, the parachutist who didn't land on time ⏳

Hiring a coach two months before the World Cup is like changing a car's engine mid-race. Donis arrived, said hello, and the team left without winning a single match. Fans are now calling for his head, but the real culprit is whoever thought an express change could be the solution. Good thing Spain only scored four.