Top Saudi offical attacks team for display against Russia

Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-15 21:56:37|Editor: ZX
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MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chairman of the Saudi General Sports Authority Turki al-Sheikh has launched a scathing criticism of the players in the Saudi national team in the wake of the 5-0 defeat they suffered against Russia in the opening game of the 2018 World Cup.

Al Sheikh posted a video on his social media account saying that he would "take full responsibility for this score in front of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and sports fans," he said, before lambasting the team for their performance.

"We paid all the players' wages and they went into to the game without even making five percent of the effort needed," al-Sheikh said.

Three members of the Saudi squad, Fahad al Muwallad, Salem Al Dawsari and Yahya Al-Shehri spent the second half of last season on loan in Spain, but only played a handful of minutes in their five months there, with Al Shehri failing to make a single appearance, perhaps leaving them short of match fitness going into the World Cup.

Saudi Arabia's next game is against Uruguay on June 20.

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