He al Hilal gave the surprise this Tuesday, February 7 at Club World Cup after the beating Flamengo 3-2, with two goals from Salem Al Dausari and one from Luciano Vietto, while Pedro temporarily equalized for the Brazilians and then conceded. In this way the Saudis we await the winner of the other semi-final in the grand finalbetween Real Madrid and Egyptian Al Ahly.

At The Sporting News we look at some figures from the Saudi Arabian club.

Asian champion last season

#AlHilal is the 2021 Asian Champions League CHAMPION 💙🏆

It is the 8th Asian title 🏆
& 4th Champions League 💪🏻
& the 63rd in history 🔝
CONGRATULATIONS
Leaders 💙#AlHilal8Asia 🔝

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/ct8DPNI5qn

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) November 23, 2021

He Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia, the only four-time champion team in the Asian Champions League and last champion at the end of 2021, is again the representative of his continent. As the AFC Champions League 2022-2023 will be completed only in May 2023it was determined that the Saudis represent the continent.

Ramón Díaz against Brazilian teams

🗣 DIAZ at the press conference before the match: “We will play an important match. to reach the Club World Cup final” #AlHilal 💙#AlHilal_inWorldCup 💫 pic.twitter.com/kfB8BC00MF

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) February 6, 2023

The Argentine coach, on his way River has managed 28 matches against Brazilian clubs, with a record of 8 wins, 7 draws and 13 losses; while in front of San Lorenzo adds a draw and a loss. But perhaps the most special fact is this As the coach of the Paraguayan national team, he never lost to the green yellowafter scoring two draws (in 2015 he prevailed with Guarani on penalties in the Copa América).

12 players from his squad were at the Qatar 2022 World Cup

In total 12 players were called up to the Saudi National Team in the last World Cup. The names that stand out the most are Salem Al Dawsari, scorer of two goals against Flamengo, and who scored for Agentina on their debut in Qatar in 2022. The other? Mohamed Al Owais, the goalkeeper who shone against Albiceleste but was on the bench against Mengao.

Famous Brazilians at Al Hilal

Mario Zagallothe only man to win four World Cups, 2 as a player: Sweden 1958 and Chile 1962, one as a coach in Mexico in 1970 and one as a technical assistant in the United States in 1994; arrived in Saudi Arabia in the late 1970s to manage the Riyadh team after leaving the Botafogo bench, but with a previous stint in the Middle East as technical director of the Kuwait national team (they reached the final of the 1976 Asian Cup and lost to Iran 1-0).

During his stay at the club he met star Roberto Rivellino, perhaps one of the best players in Brazil, who came to Al Hilal to finish his career. With the club he won the league and the cup, between 1979 and 1980 and in a total of 57 matches, where he scored 23 goals.

Al Hilal in the Club World Cup

✈️ Let’s make history and conquer the glory..
Let’s go to the final of the World Cup🔝

Congratulations 💙🇸🇦 #AlHilal 🫶🏻#AlHilal_inWorldCup 🌎#ClubWC 💫 pic.twitter.com/HWsxXNgjdt

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) February 7, 2023

The Saudi Arabian team reached their first final at the 2023 Club World Cup, their third appearance at a global tournament. Previous appearances were recent, in Qatar 2019 and UAE 2021, where they fell in the semi-finals, just against Flamengo and Chelsea, respectively. In both competitions they finished in fourth place after losing to Mexican side Monterrey and Egyptian side Al Ahly.

The contribution of the Argentine Luciano Vieto

📸 Well done Locho 👏🏻#AlHilal 💙#AlHilal_Flamengo #ClubWC 💫 pic.twitter.com/DaT6ALGxO5

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) February 7, 2023

The footballer who was born in Balnearia in the province of Córdoba on December 5, 1993, arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2020 to play for Al Hilal, where he initially did not play and went to Al Shabaab on loan. Emerging from Racing, he left Argentina as one of the country’s great promises and, according to party media, was on River’s radar and right at the Academy, to strengthen their squads in January 2023.