The 2022 World Cup is finally here as hosts Qatar take on Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament at the Al Bayt Stadium. This is the 22nd edition of the World Cup and the first time it is being hosted in the middle east.
Felix Sanchez’s side are making their debut at the grandest stage of international football while a more experienced Ecuador will compete in their fourth World Cup but will grace the stage after eight years.
QAT vs ECU Match Details
Date: Sunday, 20 November 2022
Time: 21:30 (IST)
Venue: Al Bayt Stadium, Al-Khor
QAT vs ECU Match Preview
The latest edition of the 2022 World Cup could not have been more controversial. Starting from awarding a tournament of this magnitude to a small Gulf country 12 years ago having only one stadium at the time, the human rights abuses of the migrant workers that followed to create the necessary infrastructure and the undermining of women’s rights or the criminality of homosexuality in the country. Then-president, Sepp Blatter admitted that Qatar should not have been awarded the World Cup in the first place but all the pressure and boycott campaigns will not stop Qatar from moving down the tunnel in Al Bayt Stadium to play their first-ever World Cup match. The same tunnel carries a death story of a worker from India who collapsed to the floor for poor working conditions, one of many human costs of this tournament. Juggling with these issues, Felix Sanchez’s side will like to make the most of their historical moment in country football. It has been quite a group they have been slated in with the South American nation Ecuador to face next, battling against AFCON champions Senegal and European heavyweights Netherlands as well. In the coach’s words, Qatar have to be realistic about possibilities in this group and stay calm. From a football point out of view, they want to avoid the noises surrounding them. He believes the nation is worthy to be here but admits the oppositions are ahead of them in every department. The host nation will try to be as competitive as possible in a very strong group and in the opening match. Qatar played Ecuador three times before, the latest in 2018 in a friendly which they won 4-3. The opposition did field a strong side but the occasion was completely different. That victory could serve as the inspiration for the Maroons ahead of the opening match of the tournament.
Ecuador are back on the big stage after an edition absence following their stunning qualifiers where they beat World Cup regulars Peru, Colombia and Chile for the automatic qualification spot. However, they had their fair share of controversies when Chile alleged they fielded an ineligible player in the qualifying games. They also want the nation to be removed from the competition. The player involved is right-back Bryan Castillo who was told to have falsified the birth certificate of his actual nationality being Colombian. FIFA and CAS have denied such claims but Chile continues to push the agenda on the table. Anyways, Ecuador’s place is not threatened in the competition as they shoulder a tough group to get into the knockouts. Gustavo Alfaro's men only once managed to reach the knockouts that too in their debut back in 2002 but could be optimistic this time around considering the number of clean sheets registered in preparatory friendlies. Since the 1-1 draw against Argentina in the final match of the qualification, La Tri have not let in any goals with a 1-0 win over Nigeria and Cape Verde and four goalless draws against Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Japan and recently Iraq. Ecuador could get the motivation of not conceding a goal against some fine World Cup teams yet on the flip side will struggle for goals. They have not been able to score much in this period relying on either Michael Estrada or predominately Enner Valencia to channel his excellent scoring at club Fenerbache to the national team. Nevertheless, Gustavo Alfaro's men are favorites here to start the opener with a bang carrying their decorated momentum from the qualifiers and the resulting friendlies to the tournament.
Recent Form (Pre-World Cup)
QAT: WWWWD
ECU: DDDWW
QAT vs ECU Team News
Coach Felix Sanchez will like to keep his defense compact in the 4-4-2 system with star defender Abdelkarim Hassan a leading figure at the back. He has 1300 caps for his country and now will make his debut in the World Cup. Captain Hassan Al-Haydos will eye his 170th cap to provide the two forwards Ahmed Alaaedin and Akram Afif the necessary service. Though, Qatar will rely upon Almoez Ali to do the damage. The 26-year-old Al Duhail striker finished as the highest scorer in the 2019 Asian Cup guiding his nation to the title. The plan will be to constrain Ecuador’s attack, which despite not having much firepower is expected to dominate possession. Qatar’s plan will be to involve Ali or Afif on the break as soon as possible.
The nationality dispute of Bryan Castillo, with Chile being the arch nemesis of it, has left him out of the squad to avoid unfair sanctions as quoted by Ecuador’s manager Gustavo Alfaro. He said the player will be with the national team in spirits but left with a decision to make for the right-back slot. Angelo Preciado could take up the void with Robert Arboleda not being risked after recovering recently from an ankle fracture. Moises Caicedo, Carlos Gruezo and Jeremy Sarmiento were not involved in the pre-World Cup friendly against Iraq for late arrivals. The trio will be involved in the tournament opener. All-time leading scorer Enner Valencia is expected to lead the line in his second World Cup appearance with Michael Estrada giving the place away for the experienced campaigner this time.
Check out here Qatar’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
QAT vs ECU Predicted Lineups
QAT: Al-Sheeb; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khouki, Abdelkarim Hassan, Abdulaziz Hatem; Almoez Ali, Tarek Salman, Karim Boudiaf, Al-Haydos; Ahmed Alaeedin, Akram Afif
ECU: Alexander Dominguez; Angelo Preciado, Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Pervis Estupinan; Carlos Gruezo, Moises Caicedo, Angel Mena; Gonzalo Plata, Enner Valencia, Romario Ibarra
QAT vs ECU Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Dominguez (8)
DEF: Hincapie (7.5), Khoukhi (8.5), Hassan (8), Estupinan (9)
MID: Plata (9), Mena (8.5), Caicedo (8.5), Al-Haydos (9)
FW: Ali (8.5), E Valencia (9)
Vice-Captain: Pervis Estupinian
Captain: Enner Valencia
Pervis Estupinan could pick an assist or two for his ability to burst from the left flank and drive crosses into the box. He has made 3 goal contributions in the qualifying.
Enner Valencia has scored a smashing 13 goals in 12 matches in the Turkish league. That add to his 4 goals in qualifying makes him likeable to find the back of the net in the opener.
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football and 2022 FIFA World Cup for upcoming matches and updates.
