Saudi Arabia captain on the 'honor' of leading his team out in World Cup opener with Russia

Osama Hawsawi got a taste of what the World Cup would be like when he came up against top forward Mario Balotelli on Monday. (Getty Images)

• Sauid's most experienced player set to lead the team out in Russia
• 'We are all together,' says Al-Hilal defender

LONDON: Osama Hawsawi said it is an “honor” to be leading Saudi Arabia at the World Cup and believes the players are acutely aware that “the entire world” will be watching them in the opening game against hosts Russia.
Juan Antonio Pizzi, the Saudi coach, still has five names to cut from his squad by June 4 and one or two positions in the team to decide on, but one thing for sure is that Hawsawi will captain the side. The 34-year-old has a wealth of experience, winning more than 100 caps and he comes into the tournament on the back of winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal. He will skipper the side from the heart of the defense.
“It is an honor for me to be the captain of the team, the team of a great country like Saudi Arabia,” he said in an video interview with the federation’s Twitter account. “It is a big responsibility, along with my teammates; we are all together in this but there has to be a captain representing the team. This means a lot to me, especially that we are participating in a big event like the World Cup.”
The Green Falcons will kick off the tournament against Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium on June 14. Around 290 million people watched the opening game of the last World Cup between Brazil and Croatia so Pizzi’s squad can expect a level of scrutiny they have not encountered before.
“The entire world will be watching and we will be playing the inauguration game, which is the most watched,” said Hawsawi. “This is a very beautiful feeling and hopefully we will not deceive our Saudi fans and the management.”
Ali Al-Bulayhi, a defensive teammate of Hawsawi at Al-Hilal, is less sure of his place in the final squad as he faces a battle with Saeed Al-Muwallad, Mohammed Al-Burayk and Mohammed Jahfali to secure his spot on the plane to Russia. Al-Bulayhi, though, is already allowing himself to dream of being involved.
“My message is that we will hopefully play good games and succeed,” he said. “We have always dreamt about reaching the World Cup. We should leave a footprint. We hope to see Saudi people rallying around us in the World Cup. I ask them to pray for us, and we will give everything we have.”
Al-Bulayhi will hope to get his chance to impress in Sunday’s friendly against Peru in St.Gallen as the final squad is named the next day.