True, I have no stake in football, but I know full well that the number of players on the field is eleven, and I know that the coach was once only allowed to make two substitutions during a match, and over time the number increased until he was allowed to change half the team!

And it is true that I have never played a match in my life, neither as a starter nor as a substitute, yet I understand well the meaning of 'offside trap' and offensive and defensive tactics, and I also know what 'high press' means.

And I am surprised that with this 'high' football culture, someone calls me ignorant about football if I discuss a football matter?!

And so as not to anger you, my esteemed sir in sports analysis, and you who claim complete knowledge of the ins and outs of football, I say to all: I will not compete with you for your positions on the 'noise and clamor' shows that you bore us with every night..

But I am a Saudi belonging to this land; I love it and it loves me. I rejoice in my country's victories even if it's just football, and I live in a state of grievance and anger at what has become of our national team that was once a champion.. and 'was' is a past tense verb! So what about our present?

I will not propose solutions as you do, for that is not my role, nor will I point out the flaw that you discovered before me, because that is also not my role, but I will raise my voice against everyone involved with the national team; from players, administrators, coaches, and media figures, to say to you all:

The Japanese national team never dreamed of beating us, but they planned for a long time until their biggest dream came true by snatching the Asian Cup from us in the 1992 final. It seems that out of generosity we 'untied their knot' and paved the way for them, so they tasted championships and returned to snatch the cup three more times after that in 2000, 2004, and 2011!

And if you asked any casual follower: Will the brotherly Iraqi national team win the Asian Cup? They would consider your words a joke, but they snatched the cup from us in 2007.

As for the experiences of the brotherly Omani national team in the Gulf Cups, it was like digging in rock, but they persevered until they won the Gulf Cup in front of our players' eyes in the 19th Gulf Cup in 2009.

Finally, the brotherly Bahraini national team, which had no tournaments in its record, achieved from facing our team the 24th Gulf Cup in 2019.

What's the story, people? It seemed to me that the matter is 'a good joke' as if our players are swearing by divorce and the strongest oaths to the opposing team to take the cup!

And any final in which our team is a participant has become an occasion for the opposing team's fans to exchange congratulations on the cup in advance.. because we have accustomed them!

My colleagues in sports programs.. 'Get out of it' because the matter requires intervention greater than you and your fanaticism for your colors.

My dear readers.. I know the truth is heavy, so let's leave this concern, and let's bring back memories of the beautiful days - out of optimism - with the first Asian Cup we won in 1984 led by our national coach Khalil Al-Zayani, and let's repeat together the masterpiece of Talal Salama:

God, God, our team.. God willing, achieve our hope in the name of the nation.. Play with art, God, God, our team.. Make us proud..