World Cup opening game decided early: Ecuador too strong for hosts Qatar

Double pack from Valencia

Qatar opened the 2022 World Cup with a glittering light show and a sobering defeat. The selection of the highly controversial hosts lost 2-0 (0-2) in Ecuador at the Al-Bait Stadium on Sunday and conceded the first mood dampener right at the beginning of the finals. Before the eyes of Qatar’s head of state Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Ecuador’s World Cup record scorer Enner Valencia (16th penalty and 31st minute) ensured the South Americans’ well-deserved victory in Group A.

In the arena north of Doha, shaped like a desert tent, the 67,372 spectators felt the World Cup mood, at least at the beginning. A group of fans in flashy red “Qatar” shirts didn’t let the goals conceded stop them from orchestrating their chants.

In the final phase of the game, however, there were increasing gaps in the stands. Thousands of people watched the emirate’s first World Cup game in the capital. A Fanfest, one of the few places where alcohol was allowed to be sold, had to be temporarily closed due to overcrowding.

World Cup 2022: The most valuable players per nation

Akram Afif | Qatar | Al Sadd SC | Market value: €4 million

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Squad value: €14.9m

Keylor Navas | Costa Rica | PSG | Market value: €5 million

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Squad value: €18.75m

Sultan Al-Ghannam | Saudi Arabia | Al-Nassr FC | Market value: €2.5 million

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Squad value: €25.2m

Matthew Ryan | Australia | FC Copenhagen | Market value: €5 million

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Squad value: €37.3m

Mehdi Taremi | Iran | FC Porto | Market value: €20 million

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Squad value: €59.53m

Ellyes Skhiri | Tunisia | 1. FC Cologne | Market value: €13 million

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Squad value: €62.4m

Moises Caicedo | Ecuador | Brighton | Market value: €13 million

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Squad value: €146.5m

Daichi Kamada | Japan | Eintracht Frankfurt | Market value: €30 million

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Squad value: €154m

Frank Anguissa | Cameroon | SSC Napoli | Market value: €38 million

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Squad value: €155m

Ben Davis | Wales | Tottenham | Market value: €20 million*

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Squad value: €160.15m
*plus Brennan Johnson (Nottingham; MV €20m)

Heung Min Son | South Korea | Tottenham | Market value: €70 million

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Squad value: €164.48m

Edson Alvarez | Mexico | ajax | Market value: €35 million

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Squad value: €176.1m

Alphonso Davies | Canada | Bayern Munich | Market value: €70 million

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Squad value: €187.3m

Thomas Partey | Ghana | Arsenal | Market value: €38 million

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Squad value: €216.9m

Kalidou Koulibaly | Senegal | Chelsea | Market value: €35 million

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Squad value: €229.5m

Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | PSG | Market value: €65 million

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Squad value: €241.1m

Robert Lewandowski | Poland | FC Barcelona | Market value: €45 million

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Squad value: €255.6m

Christian Pulisic | United States | Chelsea | Market value: €38 million

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Squad value: €277.4m

Manuel Akanji | Switzerland | Manchester City | Market value: €30 million

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Squad value: €281m

Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg | Denmark | Tottenham | Market value: €45 million

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Squad value: €353m

Dušan Vlahovic | Serbia | Juventus | Market value: €80 million

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Squad value: €359.5m

Josko Gvardiol | Croatia | RB Leipzig | Market value: €60 million

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Squad value: €377 million

Federico Valverde | Uruguay | Madrid | Market value: €100 million

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Squad value: €449.7m

Kevin De Bruyne | Belgium | Manchester City | Market value: €80 million

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Squad value: €563.2m

Matthijs de Ligt | Netherlands | Bayern Munich | Market value: €70 million

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Squad value: €587.25m

Lautaro Martinez | Argentina | Inter | Market value: €75 million

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Squad value: €645.2m

Peter | Spain | FC Barcelona | Market value: €100 million

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Squad value: €877m

Yamal Musiala | Germany | Bayern Munich | Market value: €100 million

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Squad value: €885.5m

Rafael Leao | Portugal | Milan | Market value: €85 million

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Squad value: €937m

Kylian Mbappe | France | PSG | Market value: €160 million

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Squad value: €997.5m

Vinicius Jr. | Brazil | Madrid | Market value: €120 million

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Squad value: €1.14bn

Phil Foden | UK | Manchester City | Market value: €110 million

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Squad value: €1.26bn

The multi-part, half-hour opening ceremony before kick-off was intended to bring together tradition and modernity in Qatar. The host, who was criticized for the human rights situation, among other things, also wanted to put the topic of inclusion in the foreground. Hollywood star Morgan Freeman also got a big appearance. “The day we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived,” said Al Thani, the head of state.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared to be happy that the ball was finally rolling when he gave his verbal starting signal: “Let the show begin!” conceded. However, the video referee saved Qatar from being behind by lightning because the Ecuadorian Michael Estrada had been flagged for offside with his right foot before Valencia’s header.

The goal, which was taken back by Italian referee Daniele Orsato, still had an impact on the internationally inexperienced Qatari – especially Saad Al-Sheeb. The goalkeeper was a constant source of uncertainty in the already unstable defense of the 2019 Asian champions and was responsible for the penalty kick before the 0-1 with a foul on goal scorer Valencia.

World Cup 2022: The participants sorted by squad values

Qatar – squad value: €14.9M

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host

Costa Rica – Squad Value: €18.75M

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Saudi Arabia – squad value: €25.2M

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Australia – squad value: €38.4M

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Iran – squad value: €59.53M

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Tunisia – squad value: €62.4M

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Ecuador – squad value: €146.5M

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Japan – squad value: €154M

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Cameroon – squad value: €155M

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Wales – squad value: €160.15M

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South Korea – Squad Value: €164.48M

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Mexico – squad value: €176.1M

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Canada – Squad Value: €187.3M

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Ghana – Squad Value: €216.9M

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Senegal – squad value: €228M

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Morocco – squad value: €241.1M

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Poland – squad value: €255.6M

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United States – squad value: €277.4M

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Switzerland – squad value: €281M

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Denmark – squad value: €353M

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Serbia – squad value: €359.5M

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Croatia – squad value: €377M

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Uruguay – squad value: €449.7M

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Belgium – squad value: €563.2M

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Netherlands – squad value: €587.25M

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Argentina – squad value. €645.2 million

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Spain – squad value: €877M

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Germany – squad value: €885.5m

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Portugal – squad value: €937M

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France – squad value: €1.03B

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Brazil – squad value: €1.14B

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England – Squad Value: €1.26B

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FIFA and Qatar had brought the game up a day so that the hosts could present themselves to the world public in a classic opening game. However, the World Cup debutant failed to prove that he could keep up on the world football stage. The team, which the Spanish coach Félix Sánchez has been preparing for this tournament for many years, and which consists exclusively of professionals from the domestic league, acted helplessly at times. There was also little to see of the supposed star of the team, former Spain legionnaire Akram Afif. Sánchez followed the performance, which had been weak for a long time, mostly in consternation with his arms crossed on the sidelines.

The Ecuadorians were not only more playful on the ground and stronger in tackles, they also mostly emerged victorious from aerial duels – like the second goal by the conspicuous Valencia. The Fenerbahce Istanbul pro has now become his country’s all-time record goalscorer at the World Cup with five goals. In central defence, Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié had virtually no problems fending off the home side’s predictable attacks. In first-half injury time, however, the South Americans’ back line was unsorted when Almoez Ali, who was completely free, headed in Qatar’s first chance.

Even after the change of sides, the Qatari could think of little in the game, apart from the artful shot by substitute Mohammed Muntari (86th), although they now had more possession of the ball. Ecuador withdrew further and largely limited themselves to counterattacks. In the 76th minute, the battered double goalscorer Valencia had to be limped off and replaced. Sitting on the bench, he cooled his right knee afterwards.

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