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Saudi Arabia coach Yorgos Donis calls for 'unpretentious respect' ahead of Spain match
Saudi Arabia national team coach Yorgos Donis stated that 'unpretentious respect' should be shown to their opponents ahead of their 2026 World Cup match against Spain. Donis said his team is prepared for every scenario and their playing philosophy is to believe in themselves.
Saudi Arabia national team coach Yorgos Donis held a press conference ahead of their critical group stage match against Spain in the 2026 World Cup.
Responding to a question about whether they can surprise Spain after their 1-1 draw with Uruguay in the first match, Donis said, "It's nice to see surprises, but we don't view things from a miracle perspective."
Respect for opponent and playing philosophy
The Greek coach stated, "We should show unpretentious respect to our opponent. Our philosophy is to believe in ourselves and play the ball dynamically between the lines with passing, whoever our opponent is."
Donis indicated he did not want to talk about team captain Salem Al-Dawsari, who was criticized for his performance in the first match, saying, "I don't like speaking individually about players. Salem is a very experienced player and it's normal for him to face criticism. Football is like that. We focus on team spirit and everyone supporting each other in these difficult moments."
Preparation for Spain's star Lamine Yamal
Despite Spain coach Luis de la Fuente not having clarified whether young star Lamine Yamal is in full form, Donis said his team is ready for every scenario.
"Yamal is a very mature player for his age and makes a big difference in decisive moments. Frankly, the Spanish national team isn't the same team when Yamal and Nico Williams are on the bench. They had ball possession against Cape Verde, but what was missing then was one-on-one battles. Tomorrow we have to find a way to cope with this," he said.
Donis, who replaced Hervé Renard, expressed that he doesn't feel extra pressure. "I feel the same emotions as before the Uruguay match. My playing philosophy is to enjoy the game. It's possible to lose against a great team like Spain, but our focus is to display the necessary performance."
Donis, whose squad contains no players from outside the local league except right-back Suad Abdul Hamid who plays for French club Lens, stated, "We have many talented players who could have these experiences abroad."
Donis praised his player with the words: "Suad is an ideal case to examine. He is a perfect example for a Saudi player with the talent to play abroad, like his experience in Rome and his shining performance in the Champions League."
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