The longest anticipate a males’s World Cup for the reason that Nineteen Fifties is lastly over. 1,586 days after Hugo Lloris hoisted aloft the golden statue, Qatar and Ecuador will open the twenty second version of the worldwide soccer jamboree.
The match has been mired in controversy from the day Sepp Blatter slowly pulled Qatar’s title out of an envelope in 2010. Regardless of the growing scrutiny of quite a few human rights teams and the broader media, the quadrennial celebration of the world’s favorite sport will kick off in Al Kohr on Sunday afternoon.
Qatar, reigning Asian Cup champions, have been pitted in opposition to an Ecuador facet that needed to navigate the courts after securing qualification following accusations that an ineligible participant was used.
This is the whole lot it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the opening match of the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar vs Ecuador H2H Outcomes (All Time)
Qatar: 1 Win
Ecuador: 1 Win
Attracts: 1
Present Kind (Final 5 Video games)
Qatar: WWWWW
Ecuador: DWDDD
Qatar workforce information
The Qatari Stars League has successfully been suspended since September to supply Felix Sanchez’s squad with ample preparation time for the nation’s maiden look within the World Cup finals.
In Qatar’s remaining pleasant earlier than the curtain-raiser, Akram Afif began on the bench in opposition to Albania. The 25-year-old is half of Qatar’s principal attacking duo alongside Almoez Ali (who scored the sport’s solely aim). It could be a big shock if Afif didn’t line up on the Al Bayt this Sunday.
Qatar Beginning 11 (3-5-2): Sheeb; Khoukhi, Rawi, A Hassan; Ro-Ro, Hatem, Haydos, Boudiaf, Amin; Afif, Ali.
Bench: Y Hassan, Barsham, Waad, Salman, Kheder, Mohammad, Assadalla, Hajri, Madibo, Hadhrami, Gaber, Meshaal, Alaaeldin, Muntari, Muneer.
Ecuador workforce information
Robert Arboleda performed his first match since June in Ecuador’s remaining pre-World Cup pleasant in opposition to Iraq final weekend after recovering from a fractured ankle.
Brighton‘s Jeremy Sarmiento wasn’t concerned whereas he nurses a muscular drawback sustained shortly earlier than the Premier League‘s pause this month. Carlos Gruezo can also be a doubt after limping out of Augsburg’s defeat to Bochum inside the opening half-hour final Saturday.
Ecuador Beginning 11 (4-2-3-1): Dominguez; Arboleda, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Mendez, Caicedo; Plata, Cifuentes, Ibarra; Valencia.
Bench: Galindez, Ramirez, Pacho, Arreaga, An Preciado, Palacios, Porozo, Gruezo, Ay Preciado, Mena, Sarmiento, Franco, Estrada, Reasco, Rodriguez.
Ecuador function politicly pliant opposition for Qatar’s opening match of this hotly controversial World Cup. There hasn’t been a whiff of opposition to the myriad of human rights abuses surrounding the competitors and Enner Valencia won’t be carrying a rainbow-coloured armband.
Nevertheless, Gustavo Alfaro’s facet are unlikely to be fairly as accommodating on the pitch. Since holding Argentina to a 1-1 attract March, Ecuador have stored six consecutive clear sheets (in opposition to various opposition) and boast a potent risk at attacking set items.
Qatar have been constructing in the direction of this match for greater than a decade and despatched the nationwide workforce right into a coaching camp in September. No World Cup host has ever misplaced their opening match, a document Qatar might uphold with the eyes of the world on them this weekend.
Prediction: Qatar 0-0 Ecuador
