matches at the 26th Gulf Championship, hosted in Kuwait. This matchup has historically been filled with excitement and memorable moments, with the most notable being Yemen's remarkable first victory over Saudi Arabia nearly 50 years ago.
Historical Context
The first encounter between these two nations occurred on December 21, 1975, during the Palestinian Cup, which was more of an experimental match. In that game, Yemen managed to secure their only victory against Saudi Arabia with a narrow 1-0 win, a match that took place in Tunisia. The first official win for Saudi Arabia over Yemen came later during the 6th Arab Games Championship in 1985, held in Morocco, where the Green Falcons triumphed with a score of 2-0, thanks to goals from Majed Abdullah and Hossam Abu Daoud.
As the Gulf Cup 26 tournament progresses, teams are competing fiercely for dominance on the field. Following an electrifying start to the competition, attention now turns to the upcoming match between the UAE and Kuwait, scheduled for 9:30 PM UAE time at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium. This match is deemed crucial, especially for the UAE, as they seek to build on their past successes.
Current Tournament Dynamics
The atmosphere surrounding the tournament has been charged with enthusiasm, particularly from the Kuwaiti squad, who are motivated to impress their home crowd. Bahrain's coach, Dragan Talajić, emphasized the need to maintain their winning momentum after their recent victory over Saudi Arabia, as reported by local media. Bahrain's confidence has surged following their win, and they are now focused on securing a place in the next rounds.
On Christmas Day 2024, Yemen will clash with Saudi Arabia, marking the second matchday for both teams in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. Both sides are eager to earn their first points in the tournament, with Yemen having lost 1-0 to Iraq and Saudi Arabia suffering a 3-2 defeat against Bahrain in their respective opening matches.
Team Form and Lineups
The Saudi team has struggled recently, going winless in their last five matches against Asian opponents, with their last victory occurring against China (2-1) in a World Cup qualifier back in September. Similarly, Yemen has not found success in their last five games, resulting in three draws and two losses.
Possible Starting Lineups:
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Yemen:
- Aman; Al-Wasmani, Al-Zubaidi, Ghaleb, Hubaishi; Al-Golan, Anbar; Al-Gahwashi, Al-Najjar, Al-Matari; Al-Dahi.
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Saudi Arabia:
- Alaqidi; Al-Ghannam, Lajami, Al-Bulaihi, Al-Shahrani; N. Al-Dawsari; Al-Qahtani, Kanno, Al-Juwayr, Al-Hamadan; Al-Shehri.
Match Viewing Details
The highly anticipated fixture between Yemen and Saudi Arabia will kick off on December 25, 2024, at 7:55 PM IST at Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium in Kuwait City. Unfortunately, the match will not be broadcast in India. However, international viewers can catch the action live on Triller TV+, while audiences in Yemen and Saudi Arabia can tune in via STARZPLAY, Shahid, and Dubai Sports 1.
Head-to-Head Statistics
In their historical encounters, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have faced off 18 times, with Saudi Arabia remaining unbeaten, recording 16 victories. Yemen has only managed to avoid defeat on two occasions—once in December 2002 (2-2 draw at the FIFA Arab Cup) and again in September 2019 (2-2 draw during World Cup qualifiers). Notably, Yemen has failed to score in 11 of their last 12 matches against Saudi Arabia, highlighting a significant challenge for the Yemeni side.
The last encounter in the Gulf Cup took place in January 2023, where Saudi Arabia emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline. Throughout 2024, Yemen has only secured one win out of eight official matches, a friendly victory against Sri Lanka.
Predictions and Expectations
As the upcoming match approaches, predictions lean heavily in favor of Saudi Arabia securing a victory. Analysts forecast a 2-0 win for the Green Falcons based on their strong historical performance against Yemen and the latter's recent struggles. The psychological barriers facing the Yemeni players, coupled with their difficulties in scoring against Saudi Arabia, suggest a tough battle ahead.
While team news and lineups remain tentative as of now, the momentum is crucial in such high-stakes encounters. Saudi Arabia’s coach, Hervé Renard, has faced criticism for securing only one win in his last four matches, raising questions about the impact on team morale. Nevertheless, given the historical context and current form, expectations favor a decisive victory for Saudi Arabia on December 25th.
Zainab Y.
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