DOHA — The five Saudi national team members – goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, defenders Saud Abdul Hamid, and Ali Al-Bulayhi, forward Salem Al-Dawsari and winger Nawaf A-Abed – managed to avoid getting a second yellow card in the match against Poland. The Saudi quintet is considered one of the most influential players in the Saudi squad in leading the national team to grab victory and qualify for the round of 16 in the Qatar World Cup. Their role is more significant amid injury of some star players, including Captain Salman Al-Faraj and defender Yasser Al-Shahrani. Another defender Abdulelah Al-Maliki is also not in a position to play in the match against Mexico as he got a second yellow card in the match against Poland on Saturday. Al-Faraj's World Cup participation has come to an end after sustaining injuries, the team officially declared on Sunday. Coach Herve Renard gave Al-Faraj the permission to leave the team's training camp in Qatar. The squad announced that Al-Faraj had sustained an injury in his shinbone. He was also carrying a recent shoulder injury. Yasser Al-Shahrani, who underwent surgery after airlifting to Riyadh following a severe facial and abdomen injury in the match against Argentina.
