Saudi coach Mancini wants his players getting more time in a Ronaldo-dominated league

While likes of Cristia Ronaldo and Neymar thrill supporters of Saudi clubs, Roberto Mancini is concerned that his national team players aren’t getting eugh time in league to prepare for World Cup qualifying.

Saudi Arabia was among high-profile Asian teams that struggled in third-round openers last week in continental World Cup qualifying. Saudis were 1-1 by Indonesia, lowest-ranked of six-teams in Group C. Tuesday is a crucial match against China at Dalian for coach Mancini’s team.

“We have h problems capitalizing on opportunities, which have been evident in last few games,” Mancini said.

With most clubs in Saudi Pro League using ir full quota of 10 foreign imports, Mancini, who left his job as he coach of Italy a year ago to join Saudi Arabia's national team, has complained that local players are t getting eugh action.

“Saudi Arabia’s national team players must participate as core players with ir clubs," Mancini said. “I have 20 players sitting on bench in local matches.”

He said re needed to be greater cooperation between national team and clubs.

Australia’s attempt to qualify for a sixth successive World Cup tournament were damd by a shocking 1–0 loss to Bahrain at home.

“It’s a learning curve for players. It wasn’t our night,” Socceroos coach Graham Arld said. “You could see physically y were rey for us. se s of things happen in football, it’s how you get over it.”

Australia faces a relatively short trip to Jakarta to face a much-improved Indonesia squ that will be supported by 60,000 fans. “We are t afraid of anyone and we are looking forward to challenge,” Indonesia coach Shin Tae-yong said.

early pacesetters in Group C meet when Bahrain hosts Japan, which opened with a thumping 7-0 win over China.

18 teams in third round of qualification have been divided into three groups of six. top two from each automatically qualify for World Cup. teams that place third and fourth will vance to a fourth round to compete for two more places.

In Group B, South Korea also started with a disappointing result, a 0-0 draw with Palestinian team in Seoul. Led by English Premier League stars Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as well as Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in, South Korea travels to Muscat to face Oman, which lost 1-0 to Iraq.

Son suggested poor pitch condition in Seoul was a reason for result.

“We weren’t able to play at a high tempo and I am sure fans were disappointed with that,” Son said. “ fact that pitch conditions are better for away matches is a shame, but I also think it’s fortunate for us at same time.”

Palestinians will play Jordan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as team is unable to host games at home. Jordan h a 1-1 draw with Kuwait in its opening game a nd w faces Iraq, only team in group to win.

In Group A, United Arab Emirates won 3-1 at Qatar and hosts this week Iran, also with three points alrey on board after beating Kyrgyzstan 1-0. Qatar, 2022 World Cup host has never qualified for tournament, will take on rth Korea.