Opening clash crucial if hoststs are to makema a noise

THE controvversy over Qatarr hosting the first Euuropean winter Worrld Cup has dominated the build-upu to the tournament so thhe home team’s on-field ability feels like something of an afterthought.

They are World Cup debutants and their squuad, composed entirely of pplayers from the domestic Qataar Stars League, has little to no experience of top-levell club football elsewhere.

They raised eyebrowws in June, losing 1-0 to Nortthern Irish champions Linfield in a friendly in Marbella, annd Spanish manager Felixx

Sanchez wwill need his squad to be cherry -ripe for their opening cclash with Ecuador. A defea at against the South American ns would be a major blow to Q atar’s hopes of reaching thet last 16, as Senegal and the Netherlands N are formidabl le opponents on matchday ys two and three. Sanch hez can take heart from hiis side’s impressive perfor rmance at the 2019 Asian n Cup, where they beat t Japan 3-1 in a final feat turing a spectacular goa al from prolific striker Alm moez Ali. Without W a proper qu ualifying campaign in wh hich to sharpen their com mpetitive instincts, Qat tar enjoyed guest appearances at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and the 2019 Copa America.

They came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 Copa draw with Paraguay, conceded an 86th-minute goal in a 1-0 defeat to Colombia, and restricted an Argentina front three of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Lautaro Martinez to a 2-0 win in the group finale.

Qatar reached the Gold Cup semi-finals, losing 1-0 to the USA after scoring 12 times in a draw with Panama and wins over Grenada, Honduras and El Salvador. Their attacking players are unlikely to find things so easy in Group A and, even with home advantage, an early exit looks likely.

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DLA veteran of club management in his native Argentina, Alfaro has shown tactical flexibility during his two years in charge of Ecuador and clearly has great faith in the nation’s young talent.

Battle-hardened after South American qualifying campaign Youthful, energetic squad should thrive in Qatari conditions

Striker Valencia in prolific form for Fenerbahce

• Goalkeepers all play for

Ecuadorian Serie A clubs

• Poor away record in World Cup

qualifying

• Scored only six goals in first

nine games in 2022