French coach Hervé Renard, head of the Saudi national team, confirmed that he expected a tough match against the Palestine team, following the hard-fought victory that secured the Green Falcons' spot in the semifinals of the Arab Cup "Qatar 2025."

Renard explained that the nature of the match changed after scoring the first goal, noting that the team faced intense physical competition for the ball, but ultimately managed to reach the semifinals through a clear collective effort.

The French coach admitted that the minutes following the 65th were the most challenging, before Abdulrahman Al-Aboud's participation helped improve the performance. He emphasized that the players' spirit and commitment were decisive factors in securing the victory.

Reynard made it clear that he was aware in advance that the match would not be easy, especially after the elimination of the Tunisia and Qatar teams from the same group. He pointed out that he emphasized to his players before the match the necessity of fighting on the field for just one goal: qualification.

The coach did not hide his displeasure with some of the refereeing decisions, considering the referee's reversal of the penalty kick to be an unfortunate decision, although he emphasized that the primary role of officiating is to protect the players on the field.

Renard pointed out the difficulty of the first half and the need to control the ball and gradually create chances. He explained that the limited playing time of Saudi players in the Roshn League affects their readiness, calling for a review of this issue for the benefit of the national team.

Regarding the semifinal match, Renard emphasized the strength of Iraq, which he had faced previously in the qualifiers. He also expressed his respect for the Jordanian team and their coach, affirming that the upcoming opponent will be a tough challenge regardless of their identity, and that analysis and preparation will be the key to advancing to the final.