Road to redemption: Pizzi and Saudi look to next match after Moscow mauling

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation, unlike with Carlos Alberto Parreira who was fired mid-tournament in 1998, have no plans to dismiss Pizzi. In a video posted to social media, Turki Al-Sheikh, the country’s sports minister, absolved both the head coach and team manager Omar Bakhashwain of blame, instead saying the responsibility must fall at his door and that of the players. They watched the video before flying back to their training base in Saint Petersburg. It came as no surprise.

Indeed, when asked whether the team lacked sufficient preparation for the clash, Pizzi replied: “I believe that we were well prepared. We have been preparing for this, and my players have shown they are ready to play a World Cup.

“I can only say what I have said before. This game cannot be the reference. It’s true we have not done what we came here to do. We have not done what we have done in previous matches that gave us good results.”

The Saudi manager must now gather his charges and prepare for Uruguay and their clash in Rostov-on-Don on Wednesday.

“I have seen a development since we started working together,” Pizzi said. “Of course, this game is not the point of reference for me. We did not play as we had planned to. We can and will improve, but it takes time. We have to plan for next game, recover, be positive and try to get a better result.”

Having trained privately in the afternoon, the Saudi players were expected to attend a special Eid dinner in the evening.

Unsurprisingly, there is little celebratory mood in the camp.