Saudi Arabia is the lowest-ranked nation in this World Cup and hasn't won a single match in this competition since 1994. As a result, this Middle-Eastern country's hopes of making it into the knockout stage aren't high.
They are in Group A and will thus face an Uruguayan side led by Suarez and Cavani, an Egyptian side hopefully led by Salah, and a Russian side with the advantage of playing on home soil. Regardless, the Green Falcons will give it their all and hope to leave with pride.
Saudi has named their final squad for the upcoming competition, cutting down their initial preliminary list. Here are the players that have been chosen and a profile of the Arab nation.
Coach's objective
Juan Antonio Pizzi is the man in charge, but the constant chance of managers may have deeply affected the national side. Their boss is remembered for winning the Copa America Centenario with Chile in 2016, beating Argentina in the final, and will hope to achieve something memorable for the underdog.
New faces
Mohammed Al Burayk is not a player with tons of experience on the international stage. The 25-year-old right-back, in fact, earned his first cap by ex-manager Van Marwijk and has now made the final roster.
Veterans
Osama Hawsawi has been a regular in Saudi Arabia's defense and will be tasked with stopping some of football's deadliest attackers.
Big absences
There was no room in the Green Falcons' squad for the 2014 Asian Player of the Year, Nasser Al Shamrani.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al Owais, Yasser Al Mosailem, Abdullah Al Mayouf.
Defenders: Mansour Al Harbi, Osama Hawsawi, Ali Al Bulayhi, Omar Othman, Mohammed Al Burayk, Yasir Al Shahrani, Motaz Hawsawi.
Midfielders: Salman Al Faraj, Yahia Al Shehri, Hatan Bahbir, Abdulmalek Al Khaibri, Mohamed Kanno, Abdullah Otayf, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Hussain Al Moqahwi, Taiseer Al Jassam, Salem Al Dawsari.
Forwards: Mohammed Al Sahlawi, Fahad Al Muwallad, Muhannad Asiri.
