When FIFA designated Qatar as the host country for the 2022 World Cup In 2010, the Qatari government launched an ambitious project that went far beyond building the best stadiums on the planet. The plan was to dazzle the world with its sports venues and soccer team.
They were not looking to win the World Cup, but to project an image of progress that had also reached sports. The most spectacular soccer academy in the world, Aspire, was created, with the best pitches and professionals at the service of the country. Millions and millions were spent to build a competitive team.
But in elite soccer, without talent it is almost impossible to succeed. And if there was any doubt, the World Cup, the most demanding and spectacular sporting competition on the planet, took three minutes to remind them of that.
Qatar succumbed without a fight to Ecuador and Enner Valencia. Three minutes into the match, they fell behind, or thought they did only to be saved by VAR. It didn’t matter, because after half an hour they were already two goals down. They didn’t even land a punch.
Valencia, the first star of the World Cup
The Ecuadorian delivered the first great performance of this World Cup in Qatar. He was in a rush to make his mark and after only three minutes he scored the first goal. It was disallowed.
But he continued to do his thing and after half an hour he had already scored two and was awarded the first MVP award of the tournament. The second goal was a spectacular header. The first was from a penalty.
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Qatar goalkeeper Al Sheeb’s ‘I didn’t do it’ didn’t cut it
Qatar‘s goalkeeper had an unlucky afternoon. He made a mess of it Valencia goal disallowed by the VAR, conceded the penalty and failed to stop the second goal. But the worst thing was not his mistakes, rather the scolding he gave to his teammates after each of the goals when he had been the most guilty. A bad day at the office.
First loss by a host in a World Cup opener
Qatar has the worst record for a host in the opening match. No home team had ever lost in their opening game, but Qataralso a debutant, was outclassed by Ecuador. Of the most recent World Cups, South Africa in 2010 appeared as the weakest and drew against Mexico in a match they deserved to win.
They did it: It’s cold in Qatar
In a country where it is difficult to go outside even in November because of the heat, it is cold in the open-air stadiums. The cooling cannons cause shivering and the appearance of sweaters and fleeces in the stands. It is understood that the players are comfortable on the pitch, but in the stands it is more than just cool.
Soccer gets closer to the Super Bowl
The opening ceremony at the World Cup in Qatar has even reached half time, when the stadium also went dark to play music at full volume and play with lights and a fire show. The same happened just before the players took the field. Between technology and spectacle, soccer is getting closer and closer to the American style of business.
What did they expect in Qatar?
As many as 15,000 fans went home at half time, probably disenchanted with their team’s poor showing. But what did they expect? Surely they had been sold something else, but to go home with a 2-0 score? More incredible comebacks have been seen, although it is true that Qatar did not show anything at all on the pitch.
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