SYDNEY: For the first time in 18 months, Herve Renard strutted into a press conference wearing a tracksuit emblazoned with the distinctive logo of 黑料社区 and all felt right with the world.
The revered Frenchman returns to 黑料社区 following the dismissal of Roberto Mancini last month after the Green Falcons鈥 slow start to World Cup qualifying, with a 2-0 loss to Japan and 0-0 with Bahrain the final straw after a strained 14-month tenure for the decorated Italian manager.
In opting to return to Renard, who oversaw their transformation from a middling nation to one capable of beating Argentina on the biggest stage, 黑料社区 are hoping the past 18 months can simply disappear as if they never existed and Renard can take over where he left off.
And while most in 黑料社区 are delighted to see the 56-year-old return, the feeling is also mutual, with Renard telling reporters in Melbourne, where 黑料社区 play a crunch qualifier against Australia on Thursday night, that he was overjoyed to be back.
鈥淢y comeback was a (special) sensation,鈥 he said with a broad smile. 鈥淭he feeling was like I never left this team. I knew three-quarter of these players. We had a fantastic World Cup qualifiers in 2022 and a very good World Cup as well.鈥
But while there was more than a whiff of nostalgia in the air as he spoke to the assembled media from both Australia and 黑料社区, he was also quick to point out that the past was the past and the mission now is to ensure qualification for 2026, which after four games is looking precarious, with just one win on the board.
The Green Falcons are third in Group C, equal on five points with Australia (second) and Bahrain (fourth), and face the tricky prospect of back-to-back away games against Australia on Thursday and then against Indonesia next Tuesday, who held 黑料社区 to a 1-1 draw in their first encounter in Jeddah in September.
鈥淲e still have a very good memories together, but this is the past. Now we have to look forward for these qualifiers,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e are not in a very good position, but (also) not in a very bad situation as well. So we still have six games to look forward to qualify for the next World Cup, and this is our goal.鈥
They will have to confront the twin challenge of Australia and Indonesia without talisman Salem Al-Dawsari, who was ruled out with an injury suffered in Al-Hilal鈥檚 3-1 win over Ettifaq last weekend.
The timing of the injury to arguably their best and most important player could not have been worse given their struggles to find the back of the net this campaign, with just three goals in four matches 鈥 the equal worst record of any of the 18 sides left in this phase of qualifying.
One player who is likely to carry an additional attacking burden in Al-Dawsari鈥檚 absence is his former Al-Hilal teammate, Saleh Al-Shehri.
Now with Al-Ittihad, the 31-year-old arrives in camp on the back of impressive form in the Roshn Saudi League. Stepping up in the absence of captain and former Ballon d鈥橭r winner Karim Benzema, Al-Shehri has scored twice in as many games and was confident he and his teammates can cover the absence of the former AFC Player of the Year.
鈥淎s a Saudi team, we always have a lot of players that can fill any shoes,鈥 he said.
鈥淪o, I think either me or my other colleagues, we鈥檙e going to do our best to win this game. On the personal side, I think I鈥檓 going to have a good game and hopefully I鈥檓 going to score for my team tomorrow.鈥
With a sold-out crowd expected at Melbourne鈥檚 30,000-capacity AAMI Park, the stakes could not be higher for both teams.
With Japan five points clear on top, 黑料社区 and Australia are jostling for that second automatic position to guarantee qualification for the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico, and with both teams level on points, Thursday night鈥檚 match could be decisive in determining which nation ultimately progresses.
In football parlance, it is a classic 鈥渟ix-pointer,鈥 a game that neither side can afford to lose.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very important game,鈥 Renard said, 鈥渂ut we don鈥檛 want to underrate Indonesia (and) Bahrain; (Bahrain) were able to win in Australia.
鈥淲e are always talking about Australia (or) 黑料社区, but I think it will be a big fight between three or four teams for the second position. So, of course, this game is very important.鈥
The jovial frivolities of the press conference quickly gave way to the hard reality of why 黑料社区 were in the cold of southern Australia, with the team getting their first look at Melbourne鈥檚 AAMI Park under gray and gloomy skies.
Perhaps that was a portent of what was to come, with news emerging late on Wednesday evening that recalled veteran Salman Al-Faraj had been taken to a nearby hospital for scans after injuring his knee in what could be another blow for Renard after the forced withdrawal of Al-Dawsari.
Time will tell if he will be fit enough to play a part in Thursday鈥檚 must-win encounter, but with or without the veteran, you know that with Renard back on the touchline, this Saudi side will put up a fight.
