Qatar World Cup 2022 kicks off with a glittering light show in Al Khor
The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off in style with a glittering opening ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. Stars such as the K Pop sensation BTS and hollywood actor Morgan Freeman headlined the opening act of the 29 day long event, which is the football World Cup in middle east.
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to a roaring crowd, and took their seats alongside other Arab leaders.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, were among the leaders present at the tent-shaped stadium ahead of the first match between the hosts and Ecuador.
Spectators were also treated to al-Ardha, a traditional sword dance followed by the tracks, ‘Please Don’t Take Me Home’ and ‘Ole Ole Ole’ playing in the background.
The World Cup mascot, La'eeb also made a gigantic appearance. In Arabic La'eeb means 'super-skilled player'. First impression, it looks like Casper, the friendly ghost. First published in comics in the late 1940s, it later was made into a movie.
Post-ceremony, Qatar and Ecuador will kick off the first game of the tournament. Apart from the two, Netherlands and Senegal also feature in Group A.
Here are some of essential reads for you from this World Cup so far:
Ecuador show that Qatar may be able hosts, but some way off from being competitive against top opposition. [Read more]
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Sandip G: Here in Doha, the eldest was Roberto Olmedo, a 53-year-old physical education teacher from Quito, who is watching his fourth World Cup. He is the head of a group of 100 from the capital city. It took his group four days, including multiple transits, to cover the nearly 14,000 km across Africa and Europe into the heart of the Middle East. “We knew the journey would be hectic, but our national team had taken lots of pain to reach the World Cup,” he said, breaking into an ever-ready chuckle.
Nearly 5,000 Ecuadorians have landed in Doha to support the national team, which is featuring in their fourth World Cup. Most of them have one name emblazoned on the back of their pleasant, yellow jerseys: 23 Caicedo, their talisman and with whom their hopes of progressing from the group hinge. “We call him El Nino Moi, which is a little boy ‘Moi (of Moises)’. He is our little boy with big hopes,” he says.
As they entered the train, they draped the steel bars inside it with the flags and spread one on the front window as well. The national anthem gave away to the football anthem, “Yo to Dare”, composed by hardline supporters of Liga Deportiva Universitaria, the country’s most successful club.
It was not just the Ecuadorians. The opening day was also being celebrated by a few Argentines and Mexicans, transporting the Middle Eastern city into a Latin American “bulevar” (boulevard) or “camino” (path). Many of them didn't have tickets for the first game, and headed to the fans park.
The plusher city centre had a more European vibe: packed cafes and the scent of frappe; bodies sprawled on the grass banks under the crisp afternoon sun; banter in the refined Castilian twang of Madrid; an Englishman engrossed in the Michael Connelly bestseller “Desert Star”.
Then there was the corniche, a stretch of street that has become a kaleidoscope of colourful flags and football kits over the past few weeks. On Sunday, a few wearing France’s jerseys were loitering in the pavement, weighing in on the injury-enforced absence of Karim Benzema.
All in all, it was clear that the fans had put their fears and doubts aside and plunged headlong into the intoxicating spectacle (though without the intoxicants) that is a World Cup. It was an unforgettable day -- with a forgettable ending for the hosts.
Sandip G: However, the video review adjudged that the goal was off-side, by the slimmest of margins. The stadium rediscovered its joy and bounce. Only that it lived for just 12 more minutes, when Ecuador was awarded a clear penalty. The ensuing moments were dull and laborious, but Qataris supporters found their voice again, and began to sing “Shoomila, Shoomila” -- a song written by Ayed bin Ghayda and composed by Abdullah Al Manai. The song was most popular when Qatar was boycotted by their neighbours in 2017.
The angst got deeper as Enner Valencia netted Ecuador’s second goal in the 31st minute. But for all the pain the host nation endured on the turf, Qatar was surreally calm, almost unflustered, outside -- even though the usually uncrowded metro stations and bus stops were packed to the rafters, the queues so long that they spilled into the streets.
Everything was precise. There were no long traffic snarls or choking or fans stranded for lack of transportation. The paramilitary forces sourced from Pakistan and Turkey were on the alert. Navy frigates patrolled the coastline and an army of 2,00,000 police and soldiers had been mobilised.
Qatar had promised it would put on a show, and it delivered – at least on the opening day.
But then, long before Al Bayt Stadium soaked in the unwavering glare of the world, the World Cup had begun in the heads and hearts of the multitudes that gushed onto the streets. Seven hours before kick-off, Ecuadorian fans had begun to load up in metro trains and buses, draped in La Tricolour, miniatures painted on faces too, to the stadium, the farthest from the city centre.
With an infectious verve, they began to whip up a passionate rendition of “Salve, Oh Patria (Hail, Oh Fatherland)”, the national anthem penned by one of their greatest poets, Juan Leon Mera, in the background of the liberation fight in the 1880s. As the tradition goes, the eldest would have to recite the first lines and the youngest would have to end it.
Sandip G: THE REAL moment when it sunk in that the World Cup was upon the world was not when the fireworks wobbled into the smoky skies like flying snakes, or when Morgan Freeman spoke, or when Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressed the crowd, a sentence in English and rest in Arabic, or when BTS star Jung Kook belted out his single “Dreamers”.
It came when the ball boys threw the first few balls onto the shiny turf after what was a minimalist opening ceremony, grand but not gaudy. So shiny was the surface that it resembled an animation turf brushed in a Disney studio. And when the hosts in maroon training kits jogged in, the Al Bayt Stadium shook and swayed in delirium. The World Cup that was haunted, harassed and harried by off-field themes, finally acquired a World Cup feel.
The 60,000-stadium that resembles a bloated Bedouin tent was filled to the full, making one wonder whether the spectators had sprung from the earth like some magic gnomes. There were those that had wondered whether the Qataris would turn up en masse; those that had assumed they would be detached. On Sunday, for their team's opening match against Ecuador to kick off the tournament, they not only made the numbers but made their presence felt in a rousing exhibition of passion and fervour. So much so, the rendition of the national anthem, “Al-Salam-Al-Amiri”, in the stands drowned out the recorded version.
Then, abruptly, a shiver silenced the stadium when Ecuador ruffled the nets as early as the third minute. Even the Ecuadorian fans were shocked, before they had even gathered their voices.
Ecuador win the opening game 2-0 against listless hosts but away from the stadium crowds exhibit passion and fervour.
Read more - FIFA World Cup Day 1: Hosts Qatar lose on field, win hearts outside
Just how good were the two Ecuador centre backs today!
Piero Hincapie and Felix Torres were near perfect and gave very little to the Qatar forwards to work with.
Courtesy: FIFA
With a 2-0 win, Ecuador have now gone 7 matches - or almost 11 hours - without conceding a goal. And they found their scoring touch at the right moment. Three points from this match mean they now can realistically hope of progressing to the Round of 16 from a group where the race for the second spot, behind the Netherlands, is wide open.
PEEP, PEEEEP, PEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
And that does it for Ecuador. The South American nation registers a 2-0 win in the Group A opener and takes three points. For the first time in the FIFA World Cup history of 92 years that a home team has lost their opening match.
The substitute Rodriguez misses a half chance, heading Estupinan’s corner well wide. I think he saw it late.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Accuracy has been a major difference between the two teams. A rare slip up from Ecuador deep inside their own half is dealt with a poor through ball that ends straight in the legs of Torres. The hosts have themselves to blame for this poor show in the Group A opener.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
12 minutes of stoppage time added!
Meanwhile substitution for Ecuador, Alan Franco and Kevin Rodriguez, replace Estrada and the ever excellent Caicedo.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Making a World Cup debut at 60, Ecuador coach Alfaro finally gets a chance to shine
Gustavo Alfaro is making his world cup debut as a coach at the age of 60. The Argentine is the coach of Ecuador and comes with the experience of managing Argentine clubs for nearly three decades. His last posting before taking charge of Ecuador was Boca Juniors.
In an interview to The Athletic, Alfaro talks about the challenges of managing Boca and rates the pressure to be equal to managing a World Cup team.
"For me managing Boca is on par to managing a national team. Boca is such a big club that I thought my next logical step should be a national team. The challenge of guiding Ecuador to a World Cup was level with what Boca had been to me," Alfaro said.
This is the first time Alfaro is managing a national team and when he took over, (in August 2020) he had just about two months to get the team ready for qualifying for the Fifa World Cup.
The former midfielder played for Atletico Rafaela in the late 80s and early 90s before turning to coaching.
The chemical engineer promised his father he would get back to studies but bought time to extend his football career when Atletico Rafaela was promoted to the second division.
However, by the age of 30, after completing his engineering degree he was a football coach.
Alfaro has been successful so far. Ecuador didn't qualify for the previous edition of the World Cup in Russia but qualified in fourth place in a tough South American group this time.
In one of his first talks with the team, Alfaro quoted former British prime minister Winston Churchill.
"I quoted Churchill to them saying that if you don't change your opinion you're not changing anything, so we had to change some things," the coach told The Athletic.
Alfaro has had to bide his time to get to a World Cup. He has seen the ups and down in his managerial career and though he had applied for the post national coach earlier, he was not picked.
"Things don't happen overnight. At 34, I was coaching in the second division and convinced that the top flight beckoned. But a year later I was down in the third tier. Sometimes reality knocks you for six and puts you in your place," he had told Fifa.com.
Alfaro is known to keep switching the playing formation of Ecuador and is quick to think on his feet. So far the man who claims he rarely loses his cool on the touchline seems to have things under control.
The host nation has never lost their opening game at the Men’s FIFA World Cup. Qatar however, are likely to fail to extend that run. While Qatar want to show this World Cup is unique, this record is perhaps not exactly the way they wanted to showcase it.
Some solace for them is the fact that the home team has not always contested the official opening match of the Men’s World Cup. FIFA restored the tradition of the host nation playing in the first game in 2006 after handing the honour to the defending champions between 1974-2002.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Corner for Ecuador. Plata whoops in a delivery but it is cleared at the first post. Throw in earned.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Better ball possession has barely helped Qatar. Ecuador have pressed relentlessly deep into the second half which has meant that the hosts haven't been able to look up and progress in the opposition territory as often as they would've wanted.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Mendez goes down after a slight touch in the face from Waad. Plata curls the free-kick straight out of play.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Sarmiento misses a great chance to make it 0-3, wafting over from 10 yards, though it wouldn’t have counted as Estupinan was offside in the build up.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Qatar risk becoming the first country in the host country era of the World Cups since 2006 - that is, the edition where the hosts started the tournament, unlike previous editions where defending champions had that honour - to not score a goal in the opening match. Germany scored 4 in 2006, South Africa had 1 in 2010, Brazil netted three in 2014 and Russia blanked Saudi Arabia 5-0 in 2018.
Meanwhile, just as we say this Akram Afif is booked for a poor tackle on Plata.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Enner Valencia taken off.
The Ecuador captain was struggling with that right knee since the first half and is now finally taken off. Jhon Cifuente replaces the sole goalscorer of the game so far.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
No way back!
The hosts have had a little more of the ball in the second half, but hardly seem to be able to do anything with it. They hardly have had any joy in the attacking third and were reduced to speculative long balls, easily cut off by the Ecuadorian defence. In contrast, the South Americans look dangerous almost every time they ventured forward. They are much more comfortable with the ball, and managing the game effectively as there seems to be no way back for Qatar. They are on their way to earning the dubious distinction of being the first host to lose the opening match of the World Cup.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
A disappointing miss that from Akram Afif.
The 26-year-old had a bit of time to line up a drive from 25 yards, but he swishes it high over the bar.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
FOUL: Sarmieno is brought down on the left edge of the area by Miguel. Estupinan curls the free-kick earned towards the near post, Hatem heads clear.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Dual substitution for the hosts!
Mohammed Waad and Mohammed Muntari replace the captain Hassan Alhaydos and Almoez Ali.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Qatar have been a better defensive unit in this second half. But while they have not given Ecuador clear chances to score, the latter have the advantage of just holding on to their lead with the hosts not worrying them with chances of their own.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
While we wait for something to happen in the ongoing match, here's a story developing ahead of England's opener against Iran on Monday.
Fifa have banned Harry Kane and England from wearing the 'OneLove' armband at World Cup.
First change coming up for Ecuador. 20-year-old Jeremy Sarmiento of Brighton & Hove Albion comes on for Romario Ibarra.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Qatar are unable to find an opening in the Ecuador half. The team in yellow have been highly disciplined in their formation whilst still looking to progress in the opposition territory.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Hassan drives an angled cross towards the far post, where Pedro Miguel gets in front of Estupinan and slams a good header back across goal that goes a few yards out.
Meanwhile, Preciado returns back on field after receiving medical attention.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Ecuador down to 10 men!
Preciado is off the field receiving treatment. He seemed to pull something when he booted the ball downfield. The South American team haven't conceded in their last six games. A one man advantage presents an opportunity for Qatar to score one.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Another yellow card!
Mendez is booked for scraping his studs down Afif’s shin. Reckless challenge that from the Ecuador central midfielder.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
The problem for Qatar has been they haven't been able to get the ball to their two most creative players, Akram Afif and Hassan Al Haydos, to make something happen. Their usual style of building from the back hasn't worked since they haven't been able to hold possession and worryingly for the hosts, they do not have many options on the bench either as coach Felix Sanchez has largely used a select group of 13-14 players in most of his matches.
Top top save from Qatar's goalkeeper, Alsheeb!
Ibarra whips a curler but the shot is saved with a dive on the left from the home team's number one.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Right-back Preciado shoots from 30 yards. The ball flies into the first tier behind. Qatar do look back under pressure now after the initial minutes in the first half.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Romario Ibarra from the left moves into the penalty box but then underhits a relatively simple pass to the edge of the area. The team in yellow lose the ball but they are knocking on the door once again.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Qatar are having more of the ball at the start of the second half, though so far it’s all been in front of the Ecuador defence. The hosts had ony enjoyed 46 percent of the ball possession in the first half, The half time talk would've been to change that.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
From selling milk as a kid to scoring a brace at the Qatar World Cup, here is the amazing story of Enner Valencia.
Read more: Once chased on the field by police, Enner Valencia finds redemption by scoring a brace in the World Cup opener vs Qatar
The two sets of players are back on field. No substitutions yet from either of the managers. Despite taking some blows in the first half, Enner Valencia and his knee look good to continue. The Italian referee blows his whistle, here we go!
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Don't be surprised with the quality of Ecuador in the opener. Jealous Chile and Colombia stomped about and sulked watching the unheralded South American neighbours - 9th out of top 10 in rankings at start of qualifying - make the Qatar cut ahead of them in top 4 behind Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. But coached by Argentine manager Gustavo Alfaro, they had snuck points from both Brazil and Argentina playing at their home fortress, swamped Colombia 6-1 and beaten Chile in Santiago. The battle at CAS over their player's nationality went deep into October, but Ecuador have been on the radar of no less than Arsenal whose scouts have been eyeing their centre backs for a while now.
Enner Valencia is so far the only goal scorer at the 2022 World Cup, one half into the competition.
After being ruled out as offside for an early header, Valencia have Ecuador a lead from the penalty spot as he went to the goalkeeper's right. He would eventually go on to score from a header later in the second half to make it 2-0.
Namit Kumar: The weight of this occasion, 12 years in the making, seems to be weighing too heavily on Qatar's players. The patterns of play were missing for the Asian champions, who could not keep a hold of the ball through their midfield. But there was a golden opportunity at the death of the first half - Hassan Alhaydos put in a brilliant cross from the right flank, meeting Almoez Ali's well-timed run in the box, who flicked his header wide from point-blank range. Costly miss.
Lots of work to be done in the second half. They cannot afford any more defensive lapses, particularly how they froze to let Enner Valencia creep into the box freely to head in the second.
HT: Ecuador 2-0 Qatar
Two goals from their captain Enner Valencia have been the difference between the two teams for now. Let's not forget there was a VAR check that ruled another one as offside. The hosts have been completely outplayed in the first half of the Group A opener at the Al Bayt Stadium. Changes expected? Very likely.
JEEZ, that was some chance missed by Qatar!
Almoez Ali almost pulls one back with the final touch of the first half as the referee blows half time whistle. Hassan Alhaydos curled a brilliant first-time cross from the right towards the unmarked Ali, who flicked a header wide from six yards.
HALF TIME: Ecuador 2-0 QatarFive minutes of added time, that first VAR check has surely played its part here. Qatar would love to get one back just before half time. Ecuador on the other hand taking it slow here, keeping possession of the ball deep inside their own half.
The fourth official has signalled five extra minutes of stoppage time ! This was on the cards given all the challenges and the break we had thus far.
Five minutes of added time, that first VAR check has surely played its part here. Qatar would love to get one back just before half time. Ecuador on the other hand taking it slow here, keeping possession of the ball deep inside their own half. All four at the back, passing in unison.
Enner Valencia has been at the receiving end of the fouls for some time now. And he goes down again. The medical team is out in the middle with the stretcher. Things aren't looking good as the Ecuador captain limps off the playing area to get medical attention. Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Qatar fans setting up the Viking claps at the venue to pump up their side. Still 2-0, Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium. Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Karim Boudiaf booked! Gets a yellow for a foul on the Ecuador captain and the sole goal scorer of the tournament so far, Enner Valencia. Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Enner Valencia scores again and he makes it 2-0! GOAL STANDS post VAR check: Caicedo provided the ball to Preciado, who swung a first-time cross towards the far post. Some neck muscles from Valencia coming into play for the header. Qatar goalkeeper Alsheeb had no chance. Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Qatar are struggling to keep the ball in possession. Estrada heads over from Estupinan’s cross but that would not have counted. Moments later, Almoez brings down an advancing Valencia and gets a yellow. Remember- No host team has ever lost the opening game of the tournament. Qatar 0-1 Ecuador
Three years ago, during their maiden Continental title triumph, Al Sheeb, the goalkeeper, was Qatar’s hero. He won the AFC Asian Cup best goalkeeper award too, as Qatar reached the final without conceding a goal in six games. Qatar became the first team in the competition’s 63-year history to reach the final without giving away a goal. Today, at the world cup, he has had a nightmarish start. The first goal, that was cancelled after the offside, was the start of his errors. He flailed around, failing to clear the ball, allowing the cross to come through to Valencia. He was lucky survive that but would bag a yellow card and give away a penalty for his attempt to stop the striker. This time, Valencia netted rather cool-ly that would made Roberto Baggio wince.
Enner Valencia slots it home in the bottom-right corner. Ecuador didn't score in almost 450 minutes heading into the World Cup. It takes them less than 3 minutes to find the back of the net in the tournament opener. After that goal was disallowed, they have their first goal of the World Cup in the 16th minute, with Valencia converting a penalty. Qatar 0-1 Ecuador
The goal was disallowed because Enner Valencia was slightly behind the last defender. As per rules, in case the goalkeeper has stepped forward, the striker has to be level with at least two outfield players and the second-last opponent is to be treated as the offside line. Valencia was behind the second-last defender, and hence offside.
Ecuador almost had a dream start with Enner Valencia scoring the first goal of the 2022 world cup. But VAR rules it off-side! With the keeper so far off his line, Valencia was offside when the original free-kick was headed up in the air. Qatar will breathe a sigh of relief. Qatar 0-0 Ecuador