When Marzouk Al Otaibi was alleged into the Saudi Arabia band in the summer of 1999, the adolescent antagonist had no clue that he would go on to accomplish history. With six goals that put him on a par with Brazilian ablaze Ronaldinho and Mexican fable Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Al Otaibi accursed his country to the semi-final of the FIFA Confederations Cup Mexico 1999.
The 22-year old had almost taken his aboriginal accomplish in the able bold with Al Shabab if Czech drillmaster Milan Macala called him for (Click mmo4pal to Buy Fifa Coins) the Saudi squad. Al Otaibi becoming his aboriginal all-embracing cap just two weeks afore Mexico 1999 kicked off, and again went on to ablaze in the clash proper.
After an aperture 5-1 accident to hosts Mexico, followed by a aimless draw adjoin Bolivia, Al Otaibi hit anatomy in Saudi Arabia's final accumulation bold adjoin Egypt, registering four goals in a assault 5-1 win that able the 1996 AFC Asian Cup-winners for the semi-final.
"Participation in the Confederations Cup was a axis point in my life," Al Otaibi alone told FIFA.com. "It adapted me from an accustomed footballer to an all-embracing who helped advance Saudi football advanced through two above achievements. I yield a lot of pride from that."
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Al Otaibi went on: "I capital to go as far as I could and to accomplish something big. My appetite was to angle out at my club, and afterwards to flash for the civic team. That motivated me to do my best in Mexico."
Those four goals adjoin the Pharaohs becoming Al Otaibi and his teammates a last-four appointment adjoin boss Brazil. A Sele??o had won the Copa America just a few weeks beforehand and boasted the cast of superstar Ronaldinho, who denticulate three goals in three group-stage games, in their ranks.
Al Otaibi vividly remembers the semi-final, which was staged at Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara and concluded in a 8-2 win for the South Americans. "We concluded up accepting heavily beaten, but I denticulate afterwards the aboriginal two Brazilian goals," he said. "When I equalised to accomplish it 2-2, I cannot call how I felt. To acquisition the net adjoin a abundant aggregation like Brazil was unthinkable. I was so blessed with my additional appetite I did not apperceive what I was doing. I capital to run against the substitutes' bank and do some acrobatics but all I bethink is accepting on the ground, with all my teammates over me arrant from joy."
The Saudis did not accomplish it assimilate the belvedere then, but Al Otaibi took abundance from acceptable the adidas Bronze Shoe as the third top goalscorer afterwards Ronaldinho and Blanco and adidas Bronze Brawl as the third best amateur in the tournament, abaft the aforementioned two men.
Al Otaibi did not go on to accomplish the cut for the Saudi Arabia band at 2002 FIFA buyers Apple Cup Korea Japan or Germany 2006 but said: "Every player's dream is to participate at the Apple Cup, but God fabricated it up to me by allowance me with two above achievements at the Confederations Cup: third best amateur and third best scorer. I became an international, and I am appreciative of this anniversary in Saudi football."
Saudi Arabia's run to the endure four at Mexico 1999 apparent the nation's endure actualization at the Confederations Cup, while Germany 2006 apparent the side's endure accomplishment for the all-around showcase, but Al Otaibi hopes the new bearing of Saudi players will change all that, abnormally as the Green Falcons now top Accumulation B of AFC condoning for Russia 2018.
"The civic aggregation has a acceptable befalling to get there," said Al Otaibi, who has angry out for for Al Shabab, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, Al Wehda, and Al Watani as able-bodied as Qatar's Al Markhiya in a continued career. "Everything is set for the aggregation to accomplish it to Russia. With alone three amateur left, we accept abundant hopes and aplomb that we will acknowledgment to the all-around stage."
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