There’s a superb likelihood the World Cup will go from unhealthy to worse for the Qatar crew if the gamers don’t conquer their nerves after they face African champion Senegal of their second group match.
“We often say that you just be taught from errors.” Qatar’s Spanish coach Felix Sanchez stated on Thursday. “Let’s hope that we’ve freed ourselves from all this strain or rigidity that was there on the primary day.”
The Qataris are already the primary hosts to lose the opening recreation of a World Cup after they had been overwhelmed by their nation’s largest sporting event in a 2-0 Group A defeat to Ecuador on Sunday.
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That places them in peril of additionally being solely the second host after South Africa in 2010 to be eradicated within the group stage.
However what about shedding each recreation? Or the dismal prospect of failing to attain a objective at their dwelling World Cup?
That will doubtless pile much more criticism on FIFA’s resolution to award the World Cup to the small however very rich Gulf emirate that had by no means certified for the sport’s largest match earlier than successful the correct to host it 12 years in the past.
Qatar’s subsequent likelihood to indicate it deserves a spot on a World Cup subject comes Friday in opposition to Senegal, a crew nonetheless boasting an array of gamers from the highest leagues in England, Spain, Italy, and France even whether it is lacking injured ahead Sadio Mane.
“Allow us to compete at our highest stage and present that we are able to compete rather more than we did the opposite day, whatever the outcome,” Sanchez stated.
Qatar is likely to be the 2019 Asian champion, however each squad member performs for an area membership at house is an indicator perhaps of the hole between them and the usual required at a World Cup.
Sanchez steered the World Cup was a part of a longer-term venture to develop soccer within the Gulf nation.
“We’re a small nation with a really small inhabitants. I don’t know if there may be another nation that has organized a World Cup like Qatar,” Sanchez stated. “I’m satisfied that after the World Cup, Qatar will proceed to work in order that the extent of its soccer continues to enhance inside the prospects and limitations we’ve.”
Qatar’s struggles additionally stand out after different groups from Arab international locations have made themselves extra at dwelling on the first World Cup within the Center East. Saudi Arabia’s colossal upset defeat of Argentina was adopted by spectacular performances from Tunisia and Morocco within the match’s first week.
Senegal additionally slipped to a gap loss on the World Cup however troubled a robust Netherlands crew earlier than second-half accidents to midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and defender Abdou Diallo interrupted the West Africans’ rhythm and the Dutch took benefit to attain two late targets.
“Senegal was not unhealthy. We stood as much as the most effective groups on the earth, with world-class gamers,” Senegal coach Aliou Cisse stated. “I’m very proud of my gamers, very happy with my gamers.”
Cisse stated Diallo resumed coaching Wednesday and “it went very properly, I hope he’ll be on the coaching subject at present and we’ll see the way it goes.” Kouyate stays uncertain to play in opposition to Qatar.
Cisse stated the main focus for his crew is up entrance, the place he has excessive expectations for a brand new ahead line mixture of Ismaila Sarr, Boulaye Dia and Krepin Diatta.
“Scoring is a frame of mind. You want a sure aggression to place the ball behind the online. Our forwards are able to scoring. They’ve proven this already up to now,” Cisse stated. “I’m sure they’ll present it once more tomorrow.”
They didn’t fairly get it proper of their first recreation collectively after Mane was dominated out, but when they do in opposition to Qatar as Cisse expects it may very well be one other lengthy day on the World Cup for the hosts.