Saudi Green Falcons to play Italy in final preparation match before World Cup

The Saudi Green Falcons prepare for World Cup 2018 at a training camp in Switzerland. (SPA)

• Players met crown prince in Saudi Arabia before they left for Switzerland
• He told squad 'how to represent your country as a Saudi'

The Saudi Arabia players will begin the World Cup countdown against Italy on Monday night with the inspirational and motivational words of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman still ringing in their ears.
The Green Falcons squad met the crown prince before they left for a training camp in Switzerland last week and he stressed how the whole Kingdom is fully behind them and willing them to do well in Russia. Saudi Arabia are seeking to reach the last 16 for only the second time.
“I am very proud, grateful, and happy for having met the crown prince and listened to his directives and speech," Nawaf Al-Temyat, vice president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said in a video published on the federation's Twitter account.
"He spoke directly to the players about important points: How to represent your country as a Saudi, how to direct your efforts toward making your country proud, and how to be ready in every means. He urged us to commit to Islamic and Saudi ethics and values at all times and everywhere. He also motivated us and spoke naturally to the players while smiling warmly at them."
SAFF President Adel Ezzat has worked closely with the crown prince when it came to settling all external debts owed by Saudi Pro League clubs. According to reports, the crown prince will provide SR1.27 billion (around $340 million) that will not only clear monies owed but also enable clubs to invest ahead of the 2018-19 season.
"He has set a road map for the final phase of preparation for the Saudi national team," said Ezzat. "Our players are all ready and hopefully we will be victorious and achieve the aspiration of our leadership. We thank the King and Crown Prince for all they have done to us and for the football: They worked on many cases, supported many clubs and competitions, whether the national championship or the Crown Prince League; they paid the players’ salaries, they renewed the contracts of the national team, etc."