Donis: Will I be dismissed for playing with this plan, and we still believe in our chances

Georgios Donis, the coach of the Saudi national team, appeared in a press statement following the 4-0 loss against the Spanish national team in the second round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

He said: "The truth is we faced an excellent team. We decided to play with a low defensive block and a five-man defense line. But when Spain approached, we had to close the spaces well. There is no single answer to what is right or wrong. We did not defend well within our area. The fast pace greatly affected our morale. The analysis is that we were not solid and made many mistakes with the ball."

He added: "When the match does not go in your favor and you concede three goals quickly, doubts begin. You try to calm the team, and it is clear that it affects us. In football, when things go wrong, it happens. We are human, and it's not fear but a state of uncertainty. When things do not go well, you try to support and motivate."

He continued: "We started with a 5-4-1 plan, aiming to stop the advance through the flanks better than 4-4-2. You have to be very solid, and the problem was the same as in the second half against Uruguay: we could not stop the ball rotation."

He added: "Would it have been better to change the plan? We have to think the opposite. Against Uruguay, we played 4-4-2, and if we applied it against Spain, it would have been very difficult. They have many players on the flanks, which would have allowed their wings to reach more. The analysis should not only be about the system but also about the places where the ball reaches."

On the performance of Lamine Yamal: "What I said yesterday, everyone sees it. When you have a player with his characteristics, he can make a difference. He is a player capable of causing disruption."

He stressed: "Do you think I will be dismissed for playing 5-4-1 against Spain?"

On the non-participation of Kanno: "I will not answer such questions."

He added: "Is the level of the Saudi league positive for the national team? The players gain more experience and become more professional. The more competitive the league, the more the players develop. Today's result is bad and difficult, but I am realistic about what I see. We have a good team, and we will return to the required level."

He concluded about the upcoming match: "We will now think about the Cape Verde match, we still believe in our chances, and it is a final match for us, we will fight to the end to achieve a positive result that keeps us in the tournament."