Qatar collapsed as the worst host in World Cup history, writes Janne Palomäki from Doha.
Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (center) acknowledged the color in Friday’s losing match. PDO
Qatar is the first tournament host in football history to drop out of its own World Cup tournament after just two matches played.
Even the mathematical possibilities disappeared because Ecuador didn’t beat the Netherlands.
Of course, at that point, it was already clear that the Catalan was out Félix Sánchez’s combination had failed once more both his domestic fans and the al-Thani family, which holds power in the peninsula.
In the previous Asian Championship tournament, Qatar progressed from the first group with a clean game to the next stage, and then beat Iraq, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates in the playoffs without conceding a goal.
In the final, Japan, which showed its claws in these World Championships, fell 3–1.
So how could the reigning Asian champion dive so badly in the most important display place for it?
Of course, you can ask Sánchez for the answer, but it is certain that he will not tell you the right answer.
The truth is that the 46-year-old Catalan scout had never coached an adult team in his career before he got the World Cup project in Qatar to manage. Sánchez is only at the helm because he understands that orders come from higher up.
Naturally, the Qataris were excited to make their debut at the World Cup level. But both in the opening match and also in Friday’s loss to Senegal, the players’ grips showed a lack of match feeling.
The reason is clear. Sánchez gathered his forces already in June for the camp. In other words, none of Qatar’s players have any league experience at all this season.
Of course, they have practiced special situations and certainly raised the collective spirit as well. But the feel of the game is missing – and that’s a lot.
The decision to take national team stars out of their club teams is so absurd that it certainly did not originate in Sánchez’s own head. His nats just aren’t enough if one of the alliance’s al-Thani gets a flash of intelligence.
Such is life in a totalitarian state.
Qatar is playing for its glory in its last match. That’s not on the cards either, because the rock-hard Holland will be up against them.
In the 2010 World Cup, the host South Korea collected a respectable four points in the first group and dropped out of the second round based on goal difference.
Qatar will go down in history. It is the worst host of the World Cup.
Also on the field.