Qatar invested trillions in preparations but were beaten
Qatar have spent billions on their hosting of the World Cup finals, but Felix Sanchez’s side shocked the gulf states people who were waiting when they lost their opener at the spectacular Al Bayt Stadium 2-0 against Ecuador on Sunday evening.
The Qataris became the first hosts ever to suffer defeat in the opening game of the World Cup finals and after a nervous and disjointed showing it is hard to see how the Asian Cup holders can bounce back to make a positive on-field impression in their finals debut.
Enner Valencia’s first half double – the opener from the penalty spot, the second a downward header – stunned the home fans among the 67,373 crowd, many of whom drifted away in significant numbers long before Italian referee Daniele Orsato called an end to this demoralising defeat.
The result was the worst possible for the hosts, who have already had to deal with constant scrutiny of Fifa’s decision in 2010 to play the finals in the Gulf state, and the country’s record on the rights of the workers who built the eight venues and associated infrastructure being used for the competition.
They were to be given little relief by Gustavo Alfaros’ vibrant Ecuador side, who made a rapid start to rattle the Qataris.
Leading a team with no previous World Cup experience, Sanchez took his side into the game acknowledging their status as outsiders in a tournament the nation has spent billions over the past 12 years to organise
Unsurprisingly, no expense was spared on a lavish opening ceremony led by Oscar-nominated actor Morgan Freeman and featuring a grandiose show that turned the Al Bayt Stadium into a spectacular arena filled with lights, lasers and five-storey high rotating inflatable trophies.
Qatar’s good fortune was almost as impressive in the opening three minutes of the game, when a marginal offside call by VAR officials denied Valencia the opening goal, although the breakthrough eventually came and it was the Fenerbahce forward who caused the damage.
