Group A: Saudi Arabia looking for a first win in 24 years

Saudi Arabia (1000-1)

Who are they?

Most likely the worst team in the competition, Saudi Arabia are far from the least interesting. They managed to squeeze through automatically from their qualifying group with Bert van Marwijk at the helm. However, he has since departed after a disagreement with the Saudi FA, replaced by Edgardo Bauza. After just five friendlies in charge he also got the boot just a few days before the World Cup draw with Argentinean Juan Antonio Pizzi coming in. It's Saudi Arabia's first World Cup since 2006 but few would hold out much hope of anything to celebrate.

World Cup moment

Despite what you might expect, Saudi Arabia’s finest moment at a World Cup is not, in fact, conceding a goal to Gary Breen in 2002. No, they actually had some success of their own at USA 1994 when a golden generation of Saudi players racked up wins over Belgium and Morocco to qualify from their group and reach the knockout stages. Since then they have failed to win another game in nine attempts at the finals.

How did they get here?

Saudi Arabia play in the most mixed of qualifying systems with the likes of Japan and Australia thrown in to balance things up among the likes of Thailand and Qatar. Although the Saudis pulled both of the heavyweights in their qualifying group, they picked up sufficient points against the lesser teams to take second place and an automatic qualifying spot after they beat Japan 1-0 in their final game.

The gaffer

This position looks to be the most poisoned of chalices in this tournament with current incumbent Pizzi the third man to hold the seat since the side qualified for the finals. The former Barcelona player has picked up four friendly wins since he started the job last November but, given the recent history, few would be backing him to remain in the position after this tournament.

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The main man

Nawaf Al Abed was instrumental in Saudi Arabia qualifying for the finals, scoring five goals during the campaign. At 28 he is in the prime of his career and considered by many to be the best player in Asia having recently captured a second Saudi league title in a row with Al-Hilal.

The one to watch

Fahad Al-Muwallad is one of the few Saudi players playing outside of their domestic league as he is currently on loan at La Liga side Levante. The 23-year-old winger scored the winner against Japan in the final qualifying game to send his country to the World Cup and this tournament could act as a springboard for him to launch a career on a more international stage - something very few players from the Gulf state have managed to do.

The verdict

The team with the longest odds in the tournament have little or no hope of qualifying from their group despite the fact that they managed not to draw any real heavyweights. Even a point and a few goals would be an achievement for the Saudis.

The squad 

Goalkeepers: Yasser al-Mosaileem (Al-Ahli), Abdullah al-Mayouf (Al-Hilal), Mohammed al-Owais (Al-Ahli)

Defenders: Mansour al-Harbi (Al-Ahli), Yasser al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Osama Hawsawi (Al-Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al-Nassr), Motaz Hawsawi (Al-Ahli), Ali al-Bulayhi (Al-Hilal), Mohammed al-Burayk (Al-Hilal)

Midfielders: Abdulla Otayf (Al-Hilal), Salman al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Mohammed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdullah al-Khaibari (Al-Shabab), Hussein al-Moqahwi (Al-Ahli), Abdulmalik al-Khaibari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al Shabab), Salem al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Taisir al-Jassim (Al-Ahli), Yahya al-Shehri (Al-Nassr), Fahad al-Muwallad (Al-Ittihad)

Forwards: Mohannad Assiri (Al-Ahli), Mohammed al-Sahlawi (Al-Nassr)