Al-Hilal Dominates Saudi U21, Top Scorer Left Out: Di Biagio's Tactical Puzzle

When the 23-man squad of Saudi Arabia's U21 team for the 2026 Asian Games was announced, experts were surprised that Mohammed Al-Issa, the top scorer in the JOI League with 5 goals in 2 matches, was not included. Instead, coach Luigi Di Biagio prioritized four players from Al-Hilal, the club dominating Saudi football at all levels. This choice raises many questions about tactics and squad building for a continental tournament. Context: The 2026 Asian Games will take place in Nagoya, Japan, from September 14 to October 3. Saudi Arabia's U21 team is in Group 4 with Qatar and South Korea, two strong opponents. Italian coach Di Biagio has selected a squad mixing experience and youth. Al-Hilal contributes the most with 4 players: Mishal Al-Daoud, Saad Al-Mutairi, Sabri Dahl, and Turki Al-Ghamil. Al-Nassr has 3, Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah each have 2, while Al-Ahli has only 1. Notably, Al-Issa, the player in the best form in the domestic U21 league, is absent. Al-Hilal's dominance is not accidental. Their academy is famous for producing players with excellent individual technique, sharp tactical thinking, and adaptability to various formations. Al-Hilal's young players regularly compete in continental tournaments, gaining valuable experience. Di Biagio, an Italian coach, always emphasizes discipline and organization. He needs players who understand their roles in a high-pressing system, and Al-Hilal players are accustomed to this from their club. So why was Mohammed Al-Issa, the JOI League top scorer, left out? Possibly because his position overlaps with other players, or his playing style does not fit the tactical scheme. Al-Issa is a pure striker, scoring many goals but may not participate well in pressing. The coach may prefer forwards who can move wide and support defense. Additionally, there could be fitness or discipline issues. In modern football, a striker not only needs to score but also be the first link in defensive pressing. Di Biagio may have judged that Al-Issa does not meet this requirement. Comparing with the selected forwards: Ziyad Malla of Al-Ahli, who has 4 goals, was selected. He is a winger with speed and dribbling ability. He can play in multiple attacking positions, more flexible than Al-Issa. Jefferson Ramos of Al-Fateh also has 4 goals but was not selected, possibly because he is a foreign player (Cape Verde) and may not be eligible? In fact, he might have been naturalized, but it's unclear. However, omitting a striker who scored 5 goals in 2 matches is a risky decision that could affect the team's scoring ability. Di Biagio's likely tactics could be 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. With 4 Al-Hilal players, he can build a spine from goalkeeper to striker. Mishal Al-Daoud could be the number one goalkeeper, Saad Al-Mutairi and Sabri Dahl could play center-back or defensive midfielder, Turki Al-Ghamil could be an attacking midfielder. The understanding between players from the same club is a big advantage. They know each other, know how to move and combine. This helps the team integrate quickly in a short preparation time. However, there is a contrarian view: Di Biagio may have valid reasons. Al-Issa might not fit the high-pressing style, or he might have fitness issues. Additionally, selecting many Al-Hilal players could be because they have international experience in Asian youth tournaments. But omitting the top scorer is a risky decision that could affect the team's scoring ability. In tense matches, a striker who can score at the right moment is invaluable. Al-Issa has proven that in the domestic league. Conclusion: Nevertheless, the team still has many quality players. Coach Di Biagio needs to prove his decision is right. The match against Qatar on September 18 will be the first test. If the team scores regularly, everything will be fine. If not, questions about Al-Issa's absence will resurface. Football is a sport of results, and Di Biagio will be responsible for his choices. The Asian Games is a big stage where every decision is scrutinized. Let's wait and see.