Donnis Praises Lamine Yamal and Defends Salem Al-Dawsari

The Greek coach Georgios Donis, who leads the Saudi national team, affirmed that the Green Falcons' players are aware of the magnitude of the responsibility before the strong match against Spain in the 2026 World Cup.

The Saudi national team is preparing to play an important match against its Spanish counterpart in the second round of the group stage, in a game that could impact the qualification standings.

Donis spoke about the criticism directed at the Green Falcons' captain, Salem Al-Dawsari, after the match against Uruguay, affirming that this is a natural occurrence for experienced players.

The coach of the Saudi national team explained that stars are always under scrutiny, and dealing with criticism is part of the nature of football.

He emphasized that the current focus is on teamwork and team spirit, away from any external pressures before major matches.

Regarding the possibility of repeating the historic victory over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, Donis emphasized the need to focus solely on the match against Spain.

He pointed out that the Spanish team relies on possession and control, which requires the Green team to have great organization and focus throughout the match.

The Greek coach praised the young Spanish star Lamine Yamal, considering him one of the world's top talents despite his young age.

He added that Yamal possesses football maturity and the ability to make a difference, which makes him an influential element in the ranks of Spain.

The Saudi national team enters the match after drawing with Uruguay, with each team scoring one goal, while Spain drew with Cape Verde with no goals.

Both parties are striving to achieve their first victory in the tournament and enhance their chances of advancing to the next round of the 2026 World Cup competition.