From Nick Side

HOUSTON, June 25 (Reuters) - Coach Giorgos Donis will complete a month of work with the Saudi Arabian national team players when they face Cape Verde in their Group H World Cup match in Houston on Saturday, and acknowledged that the team is still a work in progress.

Donis was appointed late to replace Herve Renard before the start of the tournament and had five games to work with the team, including a 1-1 draw with Uruguay in the World Cup opener and a 4-0 loss to Spain.

The Saudi national team enters its match against Cape Verde knowing that a win will be enough to qualify, either in second place in the group or as one of the best third-placed teams.

Donis told reporters on Thursday, "Last month was the toughest in my coaching career, as I tried to implement plans quickly. I've never had so many meetings."

"Tomorrow marks one month since (starting to work with the players). During this period, the players have received a lot of information and have worked hard in training. We have a good team."

"But you can't just go to training and press a button to make the team play the way the coach wants. It takes time."

Cape Verde, making their debut in the tournament, achieved two draws in their first two matches and were one of the most positive stories of the World Cup thanks to their exciting style of play and their unwavering attitude.

Donis said, "Cape Verde is one of the surprises of the tournament; they are a strong and fighting team. What impressed me in the matches against Spain and Uruguay was that their defense was very deep."

"They were strong in tackles and a dangerous team (in attack) when they had space. Tomorrow we will try to control the game, and we want to be able to take risks, but cautiously because we know the opponent we are facing."

The only time Saudi Arabia reached the knockout stages of the World Cup was in 1994, also in the United States.