HOME HEARTBREAK: QATAR GETS EARLY BOOT
muffled anger from the fans was evident outside Al Thumama Stadium after Qatar’s 3-1 loss to Senegal on Friday and hours later they were out of the World Cup to become the second host country to suffer that fate after South Africa in 2010.
Qatar has prepared for the finals since getting the hosting rights in 2010 by spending a reported $200 billion to put on a “gathering for all mankind”, as the title of the opening ceremony said, but it was all over for the team in 180 minutes.
Goals from Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou and Bamba Dieng were enough to give African champions Senegal the win.
Mohammed Muntari scored Qatar’s only World Cup goal so far in a deeply disappointing debut on football’s biggest stage— it is the first time a World Cup host nation has gone out after just two games.
“We would like to say we’re very sorry to the supporters, to the country,” said Qatar defender Tarek Salman, who was a second-half substitute.
“We have made them feel bad about losing two games in a row in the World Cup.”
“This whole team should be changed,” a Qatar fan told Reuters outside Al Thumama stadium, without revealing her name.
In the tournament’s opening match, the 2019 Asian Cup winners did not live up to expectations and conceded twice in the first half to lose 2-0 against Ecuador after a disappointing and shaky performance, with lots of fans leaving before the end.
The Netherlands sealed Qatar’s fate with a 1-1 draw against Ecuador.
The Dutch struck first through Cody Gakpo—his second goal of the tournament— but Ecuador leveled through captain Enner Valencia’s tournament-leading third goal.
Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands, which has four points, will qualify for the last 16 with a draw against Qatar in their final match.
Disappointment was also heavy for England after a goalless draw with the United States.
After thumping Iran 6-2 in their opening match, an unimaginative England produced a limp display against the US and were booed off at full-time.
Gareth Southgate’s men would have been guaranteed to advance from Group B with a victory, but they rarely troubled a determined US team.
“A draw isn’t the end of the world for us, it puts us in a great position in the group,” England captain Harry Kane said. “After our first performance people thought we were just going to landslide every team we play, but it’s not the case.”