World Cup host Qatar must conquer nerves before Senegal

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — There’s probability the World Cup will go from dangerous to worse for the Qatar staff if the gamers don’t conquer their nerves after they face African champion Senegal of their second group match.

The Qataris are already the primary hosts to lose the opening sport of a World Cup after they had been overwhelmed by their nation’s largest sporting event in a 2-0 Group A defeat to Ecuador on Sunday.

That places them at risk of additionally being solely the second host after South Africa in 2010 to be eradicated within the group stage.

However what about shedding each sport? Or the dismal prospect of failing to attain a objective at their dwelling World Cup?

That will possible pile much more criticism on FIFA’s choice to award the World Cup to the small however very rich Gulf emirate that had by no means certified for the sport’s largest match earlier than profitable the appropriate to host it 12 years in the past.

“Possibly we felt a bit overwhelmed by the duty. We had been nervous as properly,” Qatar coach Felix Sanchez mentioned. “I hope we shall be below much less strain (in opposition to Senegal) and we are able to strategy the sport in a extra aggressive approach. I believe that’s one thing we are able to work in the direction of.”

Qatar’s subsequent probability to indicate it deserves a spot on a World Cup subject comes Friday in opposition to Senegal, a staff nonetheless boasting an array of gamers from the highest leagues in England, Spain, Italy and France even whether it is lacking injured ahead Sadio Mane.

“We have now a number of room for enchancment,” Sanchez mentioned after his gamers froze within the glare of world scrutiny in opposition to Ecuador.

Qatar is likely to be the 2019 Asian champion, however each squad member performs for a neighborhood membership at dwelling in an indicator possibly of the hole between them and the usual required at a World Cup.

Qatar’s struggles additionally stand out after different groups from Arab nations have made themselves extra at dwelling on the first World Cup within the Center East. Saudi Arabia’s colossal upset defeat of Argentina was adopted by spectacular performances from Tunisia and Morocco within the match’s first week.

Senegal additionally slipped to a gap loss on the World Cup however troubled a powerful Netherlands staff earlier than second-half accidents to midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and defender Abdou Diallo interrupted the West Africans’ rhythm and the Dutch took benefit to attain two late objectives.

Kouyate is probably going out of the Qatar sport however Senegal coach Aliou Cisse mentioned the main target for his staff is up entrance, the place he has excessive expectations for a brand new ahead line mixture of Ismaila Sarr, Boulaye Dia and Krepin Diatta.

They didn’t fairly get it proper of their first sport collectively after Mane was dominated out, but when they do in opposition to Qatar as Cisse expects it may very well be one other lengthy day on the World Cup for the hosts.

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AP World Cup protection: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports