One of the biggest upsets at the World Cup ever happened yesterday, when Saudi Arabia came from behind and defeated the tournament’s favorite Argentine, led by Messi, Di Maria, Lautaro and co. Riyadh is preparing for an all-night party as congratulations poured in from high-ranking Saudi officials. King Salman ordered that Wednesday be a national holiday for students and public and private sector employees. The move comes in the middle of final exams in the Gulf nation, indicating that they will have to be rescheduled. Hervé Renard knows his half-time talks. The players are extremely commited to him and clearly believe they can hold their own against anyone. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/gtvv4J2nmd— Benjamin Hajji (@BenjaHajji) November 22, 2022 But even thou it looks like it, this win was not a matter of luck. The Saudis deserved it not only because of two excellent goals, but also because of a brave and much disciplined tactics, which consisted of high defensive line and high press against Argentina. And while most pundits were surprised, for one man it was something normal – Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard. Former French defender and France national coach Didier Dechamps’ teammate in the youth selection swears on this tactics, but he also does everything else needed to implement it: his teams are always fit and follow strict diets ordered by Renard.The shock of all shocks! Saudi Arabia soar high and inflict the most humiliating defeat upon Messi’s ArgentinaThe Frenchman is a bit of a journeyman. Before taking over Saudi Arabia in 2019 and orchestrating a victory over Argentina, Renard was the coach of no less than 11 clubs and national selections, and at the beginning even work part time as a cleaner. Looking at the most popular clubs he managed, it was Sochaux and Lille (he won only 13 points in 13 games), but there were some interesting ones, like third-tier Cambridge United in England. Former Cambridge full-back Warren Goodhind remembers an “unbelievable” manager, while his old team-mate Shane Tudor regards him as “the perfect head coach”.”He is probably a football club’s dream, to be honest, because he is a workaholic. He would run for hours every day and spend three hours in the gym. It would put the players to shame. In pre-season we were up at 5.30 in the morning and did three sessions a day so he got us fit and organised. He certainly got me properly fit and I learned a lot from him” recalls Tudor. 🇿🇲 2012: Zambia 🏆🇨🇮 2015: Côte d’Ivoire 🏆The only coach to win the #TotalEnergiesAFCON with two different nations! 🌟Mention an unforgettable game for @Herve_Renard_HR👇 pic.twitter.com/rvFnRLxHJU— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 2, 2022 Renard earned his reputation in Africa. He was the national team coach of Angola, Zambia (twice), Ivory Coast and Morocco. He is the only coach to have won the African Cup of Nations with two countries – with Zambia in 2012 and three years later with Ivory Coast. In 2016, Renard became Africa’s highest-paid manager when he became the coach of Morocco, whom he guided to a first World Cup appearance since 1998 in 2018.Hervé Renard once won Zambia an AFCON – he knows miracles at big international tournaments 👑 pic.twitter.com/BfrQxO1Zhp— Ta Sayda (@Sayda_2203) November 22, 2022 His first stint with Zambia ended with the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations (for the first time in 14 years), but he left the team and signed for Angola, before returning to Zambia in 2011. This time he finished the job, and won the countries first even AFCON title. Renard then took Ivory Coast in 2014 and made them AFCON champions a year later. Morocco was his last African adventure (so far), where he qualified for the World Cup in 2018, the first time after 1998, but failed to advance to the knockout stage in 2019 AFCON, after which he resigned and took over Saudi Arabia. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6834140##
