Photo by Mohammed Morsi Saudi Arabia skipper vies for the ball with Iraqi player during the finale Group B match in Kuwait.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 29: The "KhaleejiZain 26" has reached its thrilling final stages with the completion of the golden square lineup. Saudi Arabia secured its spot in the semi-finals with a decisive 3-1 victory over Iraq on Saturday in the third and final round of Group B. The round also saw a historic win for Yemen, who defeated Bahrain despite the latter having already qualified for the semi-finals.

The semi-finals are set for Tuesday at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. Saudi Arabia will face Oman at 5:30 pm, while Kuwait will take on Bahrain at 8:45 pm at Jaber International Stadium.

French coach Hervé Renard expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance despite their victory over Iraq. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Renard acknowledged the Saudi fans who showed up to support their team and admitted:

“We were not good in the first half, but our performance improved in the second, allowing us to secure the win.”

Renard emphasized that the team’s ambition extends beyond the semi-finals:

“Our goal is to win the title. Reaching the semi-finals is not enough for us or the Saudi fans. We are focused on reaching the final and achieving the championship.”

Renard highlighted the challenges of maintaining mental resilience in football, noting:

“It’s not easy to shift players’ mindsets during tough periods. However, our team showed strength throughout the tournament.”

He revealed that his halftime talk focused on improving the team's effectiveness and winning two-way battles on the field. Renard also praised striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan, whose two goals were pivotal in securing Saudi Arabia’s victory.

As the "Khaleeji Zain 26" progresses, all eyes are on the semi-finals as teams battle for a place in the coveted final match.