SEOUL, June 2: Saudi Arabia’s 8-0 World Cup walloping at the hands of Germany was a minor ‘disaster’ for Asian football, top official Peter Velappan said Sunday.

Velappan, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), said he was dismayed to see the Saudis collapse so spectacularly in Sapporo, Japan on Saturday, describing the game as a total mismatch.

“I watched Germany’s 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia and, quite honestly, it was a big embarrassment,” Velappan told the AFC’s official website footballasia.com, in the wake of the Group E game.

“It was terrible, terrible and a bit of a disaster (for Asian football) coming so early in the tournament,” he added.

Velappan said the Saudis had made the mistake of playing cautiously, accusing them of being defence-minded and lacking discipline.

“The teams were totally mismatched and I was very disappointed at the Saudis approach to the game. They were negative, defensively minded and lacklustre. There was no spirit and no discipline.

“The Saudis are technically skilful and they should have played aggressive, attacking football not sit back and defend against a team like Germany.”

Although Velappan described the result as a “serious setback for Asian football”, he said it would not deter the AFC’s drive to have their number of World Cup berths increased to five.

“It is only one game and while really unfortunate it should not harm the Asian Football Confederation’s push for five automatic places at the next World Cup in Germany in 2006,” he said.

“One game is not a disaster for our claim (for five places).”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabian fans reflected ruefully on their country’s 8-0 thrashing by Germany at the World Cup on Saturday.