| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport web site and app. Day-by-day TV listings – Full coverage details |
“Focus on soccer” was Fifa’s message to competing nations earlier than the beginning of the World Cup.
After the end result from the competitors’s opening sport, anybody related to Qatar will need to neglect their final 90 minutes of soccer for the subsequent week not less than.
Felix Sanchez’s aspect have been easily beaten 2-0 by Ecuador, failing to muster a shot on the right track in all the contest.
And they turn out to be the primary host aspect within the match’s historical past to lose their opening sport.
A day that began with real optimism with the realisation of their World Cup dream coming true, it quickly turned into a nightmare for gamers and followers alike.
Glitzy opening ceremony earlier than kick-off
Reams of column inches and web site copy has been printed about Qatar’s proper to host the World Cup, when Sepp Blatter unveiled their identify from an envelope 12 years in the past.
Questions in regards to the nation’s human rights file and therapy of LGBT individuals overshadowed the build-up, however there was pleasure exterior the stadium hours earlier than the sport on Sunday.
Security employees lined the ramp as much as the doorway on camels and horses, whereas conventional Arab dancing with tablahs (drums) was carried out close to the turnstiles.
Though locals have been extra subdued, the Ecuador supporters that had travelled over have been in tremendous voice, singing and chanting for his or her aspect.
Before kick-off at Al Bayt, a stadium formed within the type of a Bedouin tent, a glitzy opening ceremony was led by actor Morgan Freeman and verses of the Quran being learn by Ghanim Al Muftah, who was born with the uncommon Caudal Regression Syndrome.
There was additionally a brand new single launched by world famous person Jung Kook of BTS, performing alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al Qubaisi.
At the Fan Festival in Doha, spectators had gathered to look at the match on a giant display screen as their day had lastly arrived. So many hundreds turned out that followers have been turned away an hour earlier than kick-off.
Still they flowed out of the Metro stations, solely to be diverted to a different massive display screen away from the Fan Festival.
Little had been written beforehand about how Qatar are the Asian champions and have an skilled squad with 5 gamers incomes 100 caps or extra.
And simply as properly as a result of they’d a shocker.
“Obviously this isn’t what we have been hoping,” mentioned Sanchez afterwards. “Now it’s our flip to analyse this match, focus and attempt to neglect about immediately.
“There aren’t any excuses. Congratulations to Ecuador who deserved to win. There is a whole lot of room for enchancment. We didn’t play at our greatest degree. Maybe the accountability or nerves took the most effective of us.
“A horrible begin, this determines the remainder of the match. We must neglect in regards to the strain.”
Qatar followers depart early in numbers
Qatar may have conceded their first World Cup aim when Enner Valencia headed in from shut vary, however they got a reprieve by an offside name noticed by the video assistant referee.
Things did not enhance although as ex-West Ham ahead Valencia scored from the penalty spot and added a header for a 2-0 half-time lead.
While the Ecuadorians have been having fun with their day trip, the house supporters dressed of their conventional thobes and abayas have been largely sitting in silence, however for a pocket of followers wearing maroon shirts behind the aim.
Many of those that left their seats at half-time didn’t return, leaving the stadium half empty for many of the second interval.
It contributed to a flat environment which produced only one shot on the right track within the second half.
Asked in regards to the huge variety of empty seats, Sanchez mentioned: “Truth be advised, I had sufficient work on this sport to take a look at this.
“Yes, we felt again and supported by our followers and I hope they will really feel prouder subsequent time. This nationwide group can carry out higher and I’m positive they may hold supporting us till the top of the match.
“It is much from our greatest efficiency. This competitors is brief so we’ve to get better for the subsequent sport and hopefully will probably be higher for us.”
But doesn’t get any simpler.
Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal are subsequent on Friday, rounding off Group A in opposition to the Netherlands on 29 November,
Qatar might want to get their act collectively – and shortly – to keep away from the ignominy of being simply the second host nation after South Africa in 2010 to fail to make it out of the group stage.
Off the pitch, the build-up to their house World Cup was derided, on it the nationwide group do not need to endure the identical ordeal.
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