Ukraine outclassed the Saudi team, an aggressive midfield blanket nullifying any attempt by the "sons of the desert" to launch an attack, and in doing so firmly set their own stuttering World Cup campaign back on track.

Saudi Arabia failed to get a shot on the Ukraine goal.

Paqueta took the reins of the Saudi team after they had already qualified for the World Cup and following the departure of disgruntled Argentine Gabriel Calderon, becoming the 16th coach to be hired by the whimsical Saudi footballing authorities in 12 years.

He certainly brought a fine coaching pedigree with him, having led the Brazilian under-17 and under-20 teams to glory at their age-level world championships.

But Monday's loss to Ukraine left Saudi Arabia, whose squad play entirely for clubs in the desert kingdom, without a win in the World Cup since their first appearance in the 1994 World Cup when they reached the second round.

Saudi Arabia have a point from their 2-2 draw with Tunisia from their first match but with just a game against Group H leaders Spain remaining on Friday, they again look highly unlikely to qualify for the last 16.

Paqueta, who speaks to his players through a Portuguese-Arabic translator, was philosophical about his coaching tenure.

Coaching Saudi Arabia, he said, was "not a problem for me, it's a challenge.

"I'm a fighter. I look at life like a challenge. Problems are for men, challenges for warriors.

"I try to do the most I can and prepare myself for that."

Paqueta was eager to praise his team after the 4-0 Ukraine drubbing, saying they had gone some way to erasing the disastrous showing at the 2002 World Cup, where they scored no goals and lost all their games, including an 8-0 thrashing by Germany.

"We suffered the same fate Ukraine did against Spain, two goals in the first-half and another right at the start of the second-half that created havoc.

"But the team did not give up and fought until the end," the Brazilian said. "I'm at ease and have peace of mind because we did our utmost.

"We knew we had two difficult games against Ukraine and Spain, but in life you have to have hope in everything and be positive right to the end.

"The most important thing is that the players showed they were committed and eliminated the image of its last World Cup participation.

"We now have to concentrate on the Spain game. We have to focus all our efforts on that," he said.