Al Johar out to prove his worth

Al Johar replaced Helio Dos Anjos in June when the Brazilian was sacked in the midst of the previous round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Although Al Johar led the Saudis to the 2002 World Cup in one of his many previous spells in charge of the national team, there has been media pressure on the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to sign a better known name to take charge of the team.

However, Al Johar has stood firm and pledged to get a result this weekend in their opening match of the final round in the Asian qualifiers.

“I am not afraid of the game against Iran,” said Al Johar, who saw his side defeat Qatar 2-1 in a friendly in Riyadh last week.

“All I want to do is to win the game and to prove that I am not an emergency coach,” he added.

His job has not been made any easier with the Saudi squad blighted by injuries that have sidelined striker Malek Maaz and defenders Abdullah Al Dousary and Osama Al Harbi and also threatened the participation of Majed Al Amri.

Young Al Shabab striker Faisal Al-Sultan, who scored the winner against Qatar, is expected to replace Maaz while defender Hussain Sulimani who joined Swiss team Neuchatel Xamax this summer is expected to start despite missing all of Saudi Arabia’s warm-up matches.

Iran arrived on Thursday in Riyadh with a full-strength squad including Mehdi Mahdavikia and Vahid Hashemian, both of whom missed the previous round of the World Cup qualifiers.

"Right now, my focus is on our match with Saudi Arabia as it is out first step towards World Cup qualification," said Iran coach Ali Daei.

"Saudi Arabia are our traditional opponents and they have good players and a good team.

“But we have prepared ourselves well for this encounter. I have studied the team during their friendly matches and my players will work to stop the Saudi strikers and their supply line.

"Our current group of players is the best in Iranian football. They are highly motivated, ambitious, and their only aim is the success of the national team,” Daei added.