In the realm of Australian Football, few figures have established themselves as familiar adversaries like Hervé Renard. The charismatic Saudi Arabia coach is engaged in an ongoing rivalry with the Socceroos, and now he is keen to tip the scales in his favour.
Renard, known for his vivacious attitude and signature white tight-collared shirts, has competed against both the men’s Socceroos and the women’s Matildas over the past three years. His tenure as Saudi Arabia’s head coach was highlighted by a striking moment at the 2022 World Cup, where a captivating half-time speech inspired his team to achieve a remarkable 2-1 victory in the group stage against eventual champions Argentina, attracting the attention of the football world.
In the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle, Renard came up against the Socceroos, orchestrating a 1-0 home win, followed by a 0-0 away draw, securing a place for his team in Qatar.
After the Matildas triumphed over Renard’s France in a penalty shootout at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the Frenchman humorously vowed to extract revenge at the upcoming Paris Olympics, a match return which has not yet taken place.
Instead, he prepares to face another contingent of Australians at AAMI Park this Thursday evening. “Yes, we can say the score is 1-1,” Renard said with a smile. “Because we finished ahead of you, we qualified for the 2022 World Cup. You and France beat us in the penalty shootout.
“It’s football. It was a difficult game; we scored, but the goal was ruled out, and we found ourselves on the defensive. But it was a fantastic World Cup. Congratulations to you because we We were eliminated quickly after the match, but the overall experience was amazing.
“Tomorrow presents a new context, especially for the World Cup qualifiers. So, it is very significant for our careers.”
Additionally, Renard has been mentioned as a potential successor to Graham Arnold. He clarified that although he was on the radar, he was under contract with Saudi Arabia when Football Australia was conducting its search.
Renard was officially named as Roberto Mancini’s replacement late last month, tasked with revitalizing Saudi Arabia’s campaign.
Socceroos manager Tony Popovic is ready for his first meeting with Renard and is fully prepared. “It’s a transitional phase. He obviously has a lot of experience with the team — he’s been in charge for four years and did a great job at the World Cup, as we all know,” said Popovic.
“He has managed both the French Olympic team and the women’s team. We have closely followed his successes in these roles, and we expect his team to bring that energy and enthusiasm, which is inherent in playing for a country of this size.
“So we expect a dynamic, determined team tomorrow night, maybe even desperate to get a favorable result.”
