As Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in one of the biggest
upsets in FIFA World Cup history, the team manager Herve Renard’s while shirt
began to make the news. Observers said, Renard’s shirt could well become the most
iconic shirt in world football. The white shirt, worn unbuttoned at the top, is
a sort of superstition for Renard.

“We (Zambia) were playing the second game of the 2010
Africa Cup of Nations against Cameroon,” Renard told Esquire. “I wore a light
blue shirt, but we lost 3-2 so in the following game, I wore a white shirt. We
won and finished first in the group, in front of Cameroon,” he said.

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Renard, who has had a splendid career as a manager, was the man behind Zambia’s victory in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The same Renard led Ivory Coast to victory in 2015. And now, with Saudi Arabia defeating Argentina, Renard is being widely hailed as a tactical genius. 

Renard is one of those football managers who don’t focus on superstars. “I’m not really one for focusing on superstars…but you can only respect a fantastic player, his great career, what he represents,” Renard had said of Messi. “Argentina have the capacity to win this World Cup and as Messi has never done that, it’s a fierce desire for him,” he had said. 

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While Renard resists too much focus on individual superstars, but he was the one who made way for the legend Zinedine Zidane, a Cannes prodigy while Renard was reaching senior level. 

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina 2-1. For Argentina, it was only Lionel Messi who could score a goal. Saudi Arabia’s Al Sheshri scored at the 48th minute while Salem Aldswari scored at the 53rd minute.