Saudi Arabia Warn to Sink Ireland to Salvage Pride

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 11, 2002

Saudi Arabia Warn to Sink Ireland to Salvage Pride

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Having nothing to lose in their final Group E match in Yokohama on Tuesday, already eliminated Saudi Arabia have warned their Irish opponents that they will happily ruin their tournament to salvage some lost pride.

Ireland need a two-goal win ensuring their place in the second round of the World Cup finals, after drawing with Cameroon and Germany.

Ireland are clear favorites and manager Mick McCarthy is aware that complacency could be their biggest enemy. "They (the Saudis) are not going to lay down and let us win the game," he said.

McCarthy will stick with his usual 4-4-2 formation. Both forward Kevin Kilbane and midfielder Jason McAteer suffered from knee injuries, but McAteer had said on Monday he was fit.

After their 8-0 defeat to Germany in the tournament opener and a later 1-0 loss Croatia, Saudi coach Nasser Al-Johar knows they had to play a decent game if his team could boldly face fans back home. "My aim in this match is to prove we have the credibility to compete in such a championship," he said.

Al-Johar has complained about his side's lack of organisation in defence, which had been proved after the Germany defeat. "The players' potential is geared more towards attack, but we want to get more of a balance between attacking and defending first of all, " he said.

"But it would be good to score an early goal and win."

With his top two strikers missing through due to sickness and injury, Al-Johar will look to Al-Hassan and Nawaf Al-Temyat, who did well against Cameroon, to the rescue of their pride.

Probable teams:

Saudi Arabia (5-3-2): 1-Mohammed Al-Deayea; 2-Mohammed Al- Jahani, 3-Redha Tukar, 4-Abdullah Sulaiman, 6-Fouzi Al-Shehri, 13- Hussein Sulimani; 7-Ibrahim Al-Shahrani, 14-Abdulaziz Al-Khathran, 17-Abdallah Al-Waked; 18-Nawaf Al-Temyat, 20-Al-Hassan Al-Yami.

Ireland (4-4-2): 1-Shay Given; 18-Gary Kelly, 14-Gary Breen, 5- Steve Staunton, 3-Ian Harte; 2-Steve Finnan, 8-Matt Holland, 12- Mark Kinsella, 11-Kevin Kilbane; 9-Damien Duff, 10-Robbie Keane.

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