VOLVOGRAD: The joy was obvious, but Saudi Arabia’s last-gasp victory over Egypt could have meant so much more were it not for what happened 11 long days ago. After six months of physical training and tactical tweaks, it took only 12 minutes for their entire World Cup campaign to unravel. Yuri Gazinsky’s opening goal on the opening night for Russia not only acted as a release valve for the hosts, but forced the Green Falcons to deviate from their original plans for the tournament. Ultimately, that goal was the moment that changed everything. The four Russian goals that followed without response meant the narrative surrounding Saudi Arabia quickly and unfairly switched. Instead of being spoken of as an automatic qualifier from a group that included Japan and Australia, a single poor performance was suddenly considered a fair representation of the substandard level of Asian football. Lost amid the humiliation, however, was the fact Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side had actually started the game as planned: Confident in possession and working the ball well in midfield. They lacked a certain incisiveness, sure, but Gazinsky’s goal came not from abysmal defending — that would arrive soon after — but rather a slip by Taiseer Al-Jassem at the back post. From that slip, their World Cup dream would never recover. The pressure and expectation and realization all proved too much. The result was capitulation and everything from that match onwards was a contingency plan to save face. Green Falcons fans asked for mercy from Uruguay before a ball had been kicked in their second match. No more than four please, they said. Yet inside the camp, the result was dismissed as no longer relevant. Only the performance would matter. A basic goalkeeping error handed the South Americans the three points, but the Gulf side showed much improvement. Again, dominant with the ball, this time they did not crumble. Sorely lacking a goalscorer, the Green Falcons were never going to trouble their opponents, yet the style in which they retained possession and did not drop their heads demonstrated progress. That progress continued against Egypt. Pizzi’s side showed their mettle, upping the tempo and taking the game to their Middle East neighbors even after conceding. When Fahad Al-Muwallad and Salman Al-Faraj fought over the first penalty, the desire to score was exactly what had been lacking. It was a stark contrast to the players who had hidden from media after the Russia defeat, apparently scared to take responsibility. To win it in injury time was not only well-deserved after a dominant display that featured 22 Saudi Arabia shots at goal, but also switched up the narrative once more. The benefits of this campaign — as disappointing as it may have been at times — will be felt. Al-Muwallad and Mohammed Kanno, both just 23, have gained experience, while Abdullah Al-Khaibari, 21, will have learnt what he must do if he is to ever return to this stage. With Pizzi at the helm and a squad of experienced players with knowledge of his philosophy, there can be confidence. The dark clouds that gathered overhead 11 long days ago have cleared. And with the Asian Cup starting in just seven months, the reasons to be positive are not hard to find.