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8 June 2023
Saudi Arabia 0-0 (0-3 pen) Venezuela: Post-game reactions
Venezuela clinched the win after the penalty shoot-out (3-0) against Saudi Arabia on the second matchday of Group A. Here are the post-match reactions from players and coaches of both teams.
Saad AL-Sheri (Saudi Arabia head oach):
"It was a very intense match; we tried to play our game in terms of building up. We were good except for the final 30 meters. The heat was also a factor, but this tournament is a great experience.
I am satisfied with the team's performance. In the case of a defeat, I am not sad, and in the case of a victory, I am not euphoric. The goal of this kind of tournament is to give opportunities to as many players as possible. That's why we made 5 changes for this match.
My objective remains the same for the next match, which is to provide chances for all my players to shine. We have observed Costa Rica and realized they are a great team. It is our aim in this tournament to play against high-level teams."
Naïf Khalid Masoud (Saudi Arabia Player):
"The heat affected us a bit, and it particularly affected me. The pace of the game took a toll on me physically. That's why we couldn't make the most of our abilities. And automatically, if we lack efficiency, it turns against us."
Ricardo Valino (Venezuela head coach):
"During the first half, we lacked coordination in the attack. In the second half, we managed to correct those mistakes. We were much more offensive and created more goal-scoring opportunities. But there are still aspects to improve. We missed chances to score goals. Saudi Arabia was a good opponent. They caused us many problems in the beginning, but we were superior in the second half.
We were very aggressive upfront. Our defense needs to push forward often to execute this type of tactic. It was intense. I can't say I'm immediately happy because there were things that didn't go well. We need to rectify them, but overall, I'm quite satisfied.
We are ready for our next match against France. It's not the same French team as last year; it's a different category. But it's still a strong selection. They are an attacking team. We know it will be an exciting match with a lot of intensity."
Santiago Rodriguez (Venezuela Player):
"We knew Saudi Arabia would be a technical and fast team. We studied their functioning before the match, so I didn't feel too bothered. We knew what to expect, and it showed in the victory.
Firstly, we identified Saudi Arabia's mistakes. On our side, we trained with a lot of intensity and physicality. Before starting the second half, the coach told us to apply more pressure up top because they were making many mistakes when coming out of their defensive zone. We executed the instructions. We just lacked the finishing touch."
