Saudi Arabia crashed to a 5-0 defeat in their opening match against Russia, and Uruguay’s esteemed strike partnership of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez threatens to further damage their goal difference on Wednesday. Can they avoid being added to the nominations for the worst World Cup teams?
Saudi Arabia 2002 Points 0, goal difference -12
It was impossible for Nasser al-Johar’s side to recover from being demolished 8-0 by Germany in Sapporo. It was a defeat compounded by Oliver Bierhoff’s toe-poked daisy-cutter from distance, by which point Miroslav Klose had a hat-trick. That performance will live as one of international football’s worst. It was not supposed to matter anyway, for Johar had been assured his job was safe regardless of events. But raw and painful defeats to Cameroon (1-0) and Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland (3-0) put paid to such promises. Saudi Arabia were the first team sent packing and departed without scoring.