The Saudi Football Confederation on Sunday sacked national team manager Milan Macala, 24 hours after the defending champion suffered a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Japan in its Asian Cup Group C opener.
Saudi officials said that assistant coach Nassir Jawhar will replace Macala as caretaker manager until the end of the tournament.
On Saturday, the Saudis -- aiming for a record fourth Asian Cup triumph -- looked a pale shadow of the team that played in the 1998 World Cup finals in France as they allowed Japan to dominate the match from the start at Saida Municipal Stadium.
Afterwards, Macala, who took control of the Saudi team in March 1999, fumbled for an explanation for his team's poor display.
"I can't explain what happened tonight; it wasn't the usual Saudi performance. I can't believe how many man-to-man duels we lost out there," said the Czech, who took Kuwait to two Gulf Cup titles in 1996 and 1998, as well as a silver medal at the 1998 Asian Games.