World Cup

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World Cup | Group Stage

Nov 30, 2022 at 7pm UK

Saudi Arabia
1 - 2
Mexico

Al-Dawsari (90+5')
Al-Shehri (28'), Al Hassan (34'), Tambakti (52'), Madu (81'), Al Amri (90+1'), Babhir (90+7')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Martin (47'), Chavez (52')
Alvarez (16')

Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico: How do both squads compare ahead of World Cup clash?

By Joshua Ojele

Published: November 30 2022 | 04:52

Last updated: November 30 2022 | 21:43

Sports Mole looks at how the squads of Saudi Arabia and Mexico compare ahead of Monday's World Cup clash between the two sides.

With a place in the knockout stages still up for grabs, Saudi Arabia and Mexico go head to head at the Lusail Stadium in the final round of Group C fixtures on Wednesday.

Having picked up a shock 2-1 victory over Argentina in last Tuesday's group opener, Saudi Arabia were sent crashing down to earth four days later as they fell to a 2-0 defeat versus Poland.

While the Falcons head into Wednesday with their fate in their own hands, Mexico find themselves on the brink of a first group-stage exit since 1978 after picking up one point from their opening two matches.

Gerardo Martino's men kicked off their campaign with an uneventful goalless draw against Poland on November 22, before Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez netted second-half goals to hand Argentina a 2-0 victory when the sides met last Saturday.

With a place in the last 16 still attainable for all Group C sides, Sports Mole looks at how the squad of Saudi Arabia and Mexico stack up against each other ahead of Wednesday's crunch matchup.

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia players pose for a team group photo before the match in March 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Sultan Al-Ghannam (£2.2m)

Overall squad value:
£21.8m

Most capped player:
Yasser Al-Shahrani (73)

Leading goalscorer:
Salem Al-Dawsari (18)

Total caps:
790

Total goals:
66

Oldest player:
Salman Al-Faraj (33)

Youngest player:
Haitham Asiri (21)

Average age:
27.4

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Al-Yami (Al-Ahly)

Defenders: Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal)

Midfielders: Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Ittihad), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab)

Forwards: Fahad Al-Muwallad (Al-Shabab), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahly), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal) Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh)

MEXICO

Mexico players pose for a team group photo before the match on November 9, 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Edson Alvarez (£30.1m)

Overall squad value:
£151.5m

Most capped player:
Andres Guardado (179)

Leading goalscorer:
Raul Jimenez (29)

Total caps:
1346

Total goals:
137

Oldest player:
Alfredo Talavera (40)

Youngest player:
Kevin Alvarez (23)

Average age:
28.5

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Club America), Rodolfo Cota (Leon), Alfredo Talavera (Juarez)

Defenders: Nestor Araujo (Club America), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Gerardo Artega (Genk), Hector Moreno (Monterrey), Jorge Sanchez (Ajax), Johan Vazquez (Cremonese), Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca)

Midfielders: Erick Gutierrez (PSV), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Luis Chavez (Pachuca), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Monterrey)

Forwards: Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey), Henry Martin (Club America), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Alexis Vega (Chivas)