Host Qatar eliminated from World Cup
World Cup host Qatar was eliminated on yesterday, just six days and two matches into the tournament.
Qatar can't advance to the knockout round after losing to Ecuador in the opener and to Senegal on Friday.
It was the earliest exit by a host nation in the World Cup's 92-year history. Qatar's fate was sealed after the Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1-1 in the other Group A match.
Qatar still has one more match to play against the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Qatar had previously made unwanted history as the first host to lose the opening game of the tournament and, while South Africa in 2010 is the only other host team to be eliminated in the group stage, the South Africans at least went out with a win and a draw from their three games.
The tiny Gulf nation spent around $220 billion on the first World Cup in the Middle East, according to estimates, but has found that great wealth can't buy a world-class soccer team.
Qatar had never qualified for the game's biggest tournament before winning the right to host it 12 years ago. Every squad member for the 2019 Asian champion plays for a local club.
Senegal, on the other hand, got its campaign back on track after losing 2-0 to the Netherlands in the first match.
Against Qatar, Senegal striker Boulaye Dia drilled in the first goal after defender Boualem Khoukhi tried to make a clearance under no pressure, didn't connect properly and landed on his backside. The ball dribbled away from Khoukhi.
And Dia, grateful for the gift, lashed it in. Famara Diedhiou made it 2-0 at the start of the second half with a header from a corner while two Qatar defenders failed to stop him.
Qatar was denied a penalty and the chance of the lead before Dia's goal, though, when Akram Afif was clear on the left and then knocked over by a charging
Ismaila Sarr. Referee Antonio Mateu of Spain didn't award a penalty even though replays suggested that contact was made.
Qatar did at least score a goal through substitute Mohammed Muntari. He headed in to finally beat Edouard Mendy after the Chelsea goalkeeper had pulled off two world-class saves to deny Qatar, which rallied in the second half.
But Qatar's hopes of a fightback to boost its qualification chances lasted six minutes before Senegal substitute Bamba Dieng reestablished the two-goal advantage.
Qatar's second defeat of the World Cup — it lost 2-0 to Ecuador in the opening game — pushes it to the brink of an embarrassing exit which would underline one of the many criticisms of the decision to give the wealthy Gulf country the World Cup: It has no established soccer tradition.
Qatar is still in danger, even if it survives through Friday, of registering the worst performance by a host team.
It has already made unwanted history as the first host to lose the opening game of the tournament and, while South Africa in 2010 is the only other host team to be eliminated in the group stage, the South Africans at least went out with a win and a draw from their three games.
Qatar spent around $220 billion on the first World Cup in the Middle East, according to estimates, but has found that great wealth can't buy a world-class soccer team.