WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : ANALYSIS : Saudis Just Missed Pulling It Off

Saudi Arabia had a 10-page special supplement published in the Washington Post Monday morning touting the country’s many assets.

It missed at least five.

Their names are Faud Amin, Majed Mohammed, Saeed Al Owairan, Abdullah Al Dossari and Mohammed Al Deayea.

Never mind that Saudi Arabia lost to the Netherlands, 2-1, in front of a less-than-sellout crowd of 52,535 at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium here Monday evening.

Never mind that Saudi Arabia came within 40 minutes of scoring one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

Never mind that Saudi youth and inexperience eventually bowed to superior Dutch teamwork and relentless Dutch pressure.

None of that really matters.

For what the Saudis accomplished even in defeat was to lift their nation--in soccer terms--from the ranks of the insignificant and the also-rans and onto the international stage.

In future World Cup tournaments, when Saudi teams suddenly start winning and actually are expected to do well, it will be this Saudi team that will have provided the foundation and the impetus for that future glory.

And Amin, Mohammed, Owairan, Dossari and Deayea will be names that will be remembered the longest. Between them, they almost did the impossible.

The Netherlands came into the game with a proud World Cup history, having taken part in five previous tournaments and having finished as runner-up in 1974 and 1978. In 34 World Cup games, the Dutch had compiled an overall record of 20 wins, six losses and eight ties.

In short, Coach Dick Advocaat’s talent-laden team was--and probably still is--considered one of the tournament favorites, only slightly behind Brazil and Germany.

And the Saudis?

Well, they came in as 500-to-1 underdogs, sporting the longest odds of all 24 teams. They came in as virtual unknowns, with only Mohammed having established a reputation beyond Saudi Arabia’s borders. Dubbed “The Desert Pele,” Mohammed is his country’s first true soccer star, but he is also 35 and showing it. Too old to be a forward, surely.

As for the rest, well, there was Owairan, a forward of considerable skill and promise but lacking big-match experience. Beyond that, the Saudis had precious little except for an unyielding faith in themselves and ample financial backing from the seemingly bottomless coffers of the Saudi royal family.

The Saudis were the first team to arrive in the United States, coming in a full month before the tournament kicked off.

As a result, by the time Monday’s game arrived, they were ready.

The match was less than a minute old when Saudi Arabia signaled that it would not be easily brushed aside by the Dutch. A cross by overlapping defender Dosarri found Mohammed unmarked at the far post and his header flew just wide to the left.

It was a sign of things to come.

Before long, the Dutch had been thrown completely off their rhythm and there were anxious faces among the gaudily clad Holland faithful in the stands.

The Dutch played their typical game, attacking and defending in numbers. They came at the Saudis in wave after wave, but invariably their finishing let them down. Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars and Ronald Koeman all shot high or wide.

And when the Dutch were on target, Deayea was there to save the day.

Pretty soon, it was the Saudis who were attacking.

With the Dutch in disarray, it was a surprise, but not a huge one, when the Saudis took the lead on Amin’s excellent header.

In fact, fouls and rugged tackles were how the Dutch responded from then on. They continued to play attractive soccer, but there was more of a bite in their challenges, more of a snarl than a smile on their lips.

The Dutch assault did not abate in the second half, even though they had tied the score courtesy of Wim Jonk’s tremendous shot. Before long, Owairan, too, had limped off the field.

The teeth had been pulled from the Saudi lion and it was only a matter of time before the Dutch delivered the killer blow.

Deayea kept the Netherlands at bay for as long as he could with some brave goalkeeping, but in the end the Dutch prevailed.

Having been given a scare by the Saudis, the Dutch will be more respectful of their future opponents, including Morocco.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, can remember the words of its Argentine coach, Jorge Solari, who after the game was over said the difference between the two teams was only a matter of experience.

Not skill. Not heart. Only experience.

Saudi Arabia will be back.