Friday 26 / April / 2024
LUSAIL: Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard urged his players to "keep their feet on the ground" after a shock 2-1 victory over Argentina in their World Cup Group C match on Tuesday.
The result marked Saudi Arabia's first-ever victory over the South American team and only their fourth win in 17 World Cup matches.
"We made history and it will last forever but we also need to concentrate on our next two games," the 54-year-old Frenchman said in the post-match press conference.
"Our celebrations in the dressing room lasted only 20 minutes or less. We have two more games and we have to concentrate on those. The players have worked very hard and always maintained good team spirit, never complaining. Now they just need to keep their feet on the ground."
Saudi Arabia will meet Poland in their next match on Saturday before facing Mexico four days later.
Both opponents might have penciled in their duel with Renard's men as a victory but that might have changed after seeing how they dismantled the reigning South American champions.
Saudi Arabia can now entertain the prospect of reaching the knockout stage, a feat they have achieved only once before with a last-16 finish in the United States 28 years ago.
Renard added: "I didn't put any pressure on the players. Argentina are a strong team ... but this is football, crazy things can happen."
