Saudi Arabia made a surprise debut at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a 2-1 win over Argentina. However, Lionel Messi’s team led at half-time, and the Saudi coach’s performance motivated his players enough to break the deadlock.

How Herve Renard motivated his players at half-time

Entering the booths at a disadvantage, selector Hervé Renard gave them a speech in raised tones, doubled by the expressiveness of the interpreter, which roused the Saudi players.

He motivated them by saying, among other things, that they had come to win, not just to take pictures with Lionel Messi. The effect was as expected: the Saudis converted in the first eight minutes of the restart through Al-Shehri and Al-Dawsari.

Herve Renard, the “crazy” coach

Midfielder Abduella Al-Malki revealed that Renard’s half-time speech was just what they needed to pull off one of the surprises of this World Cup.

“We have a crazy coach. He motivated us during the break, he said things that made us want to eat grass,” Al-Malki said, according to the Daily Mail.

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