Numbers often took center stage in the buildup. The rumored $220 billion cost, the disputed tallies of migrant worker deaths and the multiple persecuted identities of Gianni Infantino.
Though they may not have told quite as harrowing a tale, Qatar’s numbers on the pitch were at least clear; two touches in the Ecuador box, 1 corner, 0 shots on target, 0 points, 2-0. Qatar were outclassed in the new, but rapidly-emptying, Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday, as they became the first home team to lose the opening match of a World Cup.
“We hoped we could give a better account of ourselves,” said Qatari defender Homam Ahmed, while coach Felix Sanchez admitted that “Ecuador were superior to us everywhere throughout the game.”
Asian Cup champions humbled
After an early review by Video Assistant Referee had given Saad Al Sheeb a second chance, the Qatar keeper afforded the same generosity to Enner Valencia, allowing Ecuador’s record goal scorer to stroke home a 16th-minute penalty after his disallowed header. A legitimate header followed 15 minutes later from the forward, to leave a jittery Qatar two down at the break.
Valencia’s reaction to both goals was calm and restrained. Unlike any member of the Qatari squad, he’s been here before, scoring three goals in 2014.
Since being awarded the tournament in 2010, Qatar have placed their footballing faith in the expensive Aspire Academy, built several years before. With links to clubs in Europe, the training facility casts a wide net for players and offers locals, newcomers and players hoping to change nationality the best chance of success.
National team coach Sanchez worked with many of his current crop through the age groups at Aspire. Their victory under him in the 2019 Asian Cup was a vindication of the country deciding to run their national side as close to a modern club setup as possible, in order to punch above the weight of their 300,000 population. With the established advantages of the hosts on their side, there was enough to suggest Qatar could make a mark on the tournament as, no doubt, the country’s rulers desire.
Ecuador revel, Qatar falter
However, from the opening seconds, when a simple pass out from the back went carelessly astray, they looked nervous, lost, toothless and off the pace. It is perhaps little surprise; Qatar have not played a competitive match this year and were beaten 3-0 by Croatia’s under-23s in September.
For Ecuador, this was an excellent start. The South American side were direct, decisive and considerably better in possession. In contrast to their opponents, who all play in the Qatari league, Gustavo Alfaro’s squad are drawn from 11 leagues in three continents. But they looked the more cohesive unit throughout.
“I dreamt so many times about winning this opening match. This was a dream that I managed to score and help my team get the three points,” Valencia said. “We managed to score a couple of quick goals which helped us to get control of the game and win the three points … We think we can go very far and perform well.”
While Qatar looked a touch more comfortable in the second half than the first, Ecuador were never troubled. Indeed, they perhaps even sought to conserve themselves for a tougher assignment against the Netherlands on Friday. In hot conditions, and in the middle of most players’ domestic seasons, such small gains may prove important as the tournament progresses.
Qatar have no such luxury and will have no such excuse. Their league season finished two months ago, and the players have prepared together for much longer than any other squad. After 12 years of waiting, it’s plausible this Qatari team’s World Cup could be all but over within a week.
In some ways, it’s reassuring that some things can’t yet be bought. In others, it’s not really about them anyway.
Edited by: Michael da Silva
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