Qatar's head coach Felix Sanchez during the World Cup opening match against Ecuador. EPA
Qatar's head coach Felix Sanchez during the World Cup opening match against Ecuador. EPA
Qatar's head coach Felix Sanchez during the World Cup opening match against Ecuador. EPA
Qatar's head coach Felix Sanchez during the World Cup opening match against Ecuador. EPA

World Cup

World Cup 2022: Qatar coach Felix Sanchez admits pressure hit hosts

Qatar became first host nation in World Cup history to suffer defeat in their opening game

John McAuley
John McAuley

November 20, 2022

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Qatar manager Felix Sanchez conceded the weight of the occasion got to his players as the Fifa World Cup hosts opened the tournament on Sunday with a defeat to Ecuador.

The home side, competing in a global finals for the first time, were beaten 2-0 at Al Bayt Stadium, as the only Middle East World Cup in history kicked off in earnest.

Ecuador captain Enner Valencia struck both goals in the first half in Al Khor, just north of Doha, with Qatar disappointing for most of the match.

They became the first host nation in World Cup history to suffer defeat in their opening game.

“There’s no excuse. We want to congratulate our opponents, they deserved to win,” Sanchez said.

“There is a lot of room for improvement. Maybe the responsibility and nerves got the best of us. We didn’t start well. It was a terrible start, actually.

"Our nerves betrayed us. We were unable to string together four passes in a row. Also, many defensive gaps. The team was not balanced and that hurt us a lot.

“When you play against a team of this level … you pay for it."

Qatar World Cup 2022 opening ceremony - in pictures

The opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. PA
The opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. PA
Fireworks explode during the show. Getty Images
Fireworks explode during the show. Getty Images
Mascots of former World Cups united. AP Photo
Mascots of former World Cups united. AP Photo
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim, centre, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, Jordan's King Abdullah II King of Jordan, left, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino, second right, at the opening ceremony. AFP
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim, centre, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, Jordan's King Abdullah II King of Jordan, left, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino, second right, at the opening ceremony. AFP
South Korean singer Jung Kook, centre, performs. AFP
South Korean singer Jung Kook, centre, performs. AFP
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha. AFP
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha. AFP
Singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi performs. Getty Images
Singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi performs. Getty Images
Performers welcomed the world during the opening ceremony. Reuters
Performers welcomed the world during the opening ceremony. Reuters
A giant inflatable emblem during the opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor City. PA
A giant inflatable emblem during the opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor City. PA
Performers during the opening ceremony. PA
Performers during the opening ceremony. PA
Morgan Freeman performs on stage. Getty Images
Morgan Freeman performs on stage. Getty Images
The performers opened the show. EPA
The performers opened the show. EPA
The Qatar World Cup opening ceremony. Reuters
The Qatar World Cup opening ceremony. Reuters
Dancers performing together. PA
Dancers performing together. PA
The opening ceremony before the Qatar versus Ecuador game. EPA
The opening ceremony before the Qatar versus Ecuador game. EPA
Former footballer Marcel Desailly holds the Fifa World Cup trophy ahead of the opening ceremony. AFP
Former footballer Marcel Desailly holds the Fifa World Cup trophy ahead of the opening ceremony. AFP
A young Qatar supporter at the stadium. EPA
A young Qatar supporter at the stadium. EPA
Ecuador fans in the stands before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup. Reuters
Ecuador fans in the stands before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup. Reuters
A dancer performs at sunset before the Fifa World Cup kicks off with a Group A match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. PA
A dancer performs at sunset before the Fifa World Cup kicks off with a Group A match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. PA
Fans record moments from the first match of Qatar 2022 inside the Al Bayt World Cup stadium. Reuters
Fans record moments from the first match of Qatar 2022 inside the Al Bayt World Cup stadium. Reuters
Performers outside the Al Bayt Stadium entertain the crowds before the Fifa World Cup 2022 Group A opening match between Qatar and Ecuador kicks off. EPA
Performers outside the Al Bayt Stadium entertain the crowds before the Fifa World Cup 2022 Group A opening match between Qatar and Ecuador kicks off. EPA
A Qatar fan wears his national colours outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters
A Qatar fan wears his national colours outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters
Fans arrive at the Al Bayt Stadium before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup begins. Reuters
Fans arrive at the Al Bayt Stadium before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup begins. Reuters
Qatar fans on rollerblades outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters
Qatar fans on rollerblades outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters
Ecuador fans on their way to watch the opening match of the Qatar World Cup 2022. Reuters
Ecuador fans on their way to watch the opening match of the Qatar World Cup 2022. Reuters
A performer with a replica World Cup before the Fifa World Cup Group A match gets under way at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. PA
A performer with a replica World Cup before the Fifa World Cup Group A match gets under way at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. PA

The night began with a colourful opening ceremony featuring Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, but ended with the stadium emptying quickly towards the conclusion of the match.

Asked about the largely empty seats in the final 10 minutes, Sanchez said: “Truth be told, I have enough work to do to look at it.

Royals at Fifa World Cup in Qatar - in pictures

Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed are welcomed to Doha by Qatar's Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani. Photo: Government of Dubai Media Office
Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed are welcomed to Doha by Qatar's Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani. Photo: Government of Dubai Media Office
Qatar's former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with King Abdullah II of Jordan during the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. AFP
Qatar's former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with King Abdullah II of Jordan during the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. AFP
Emir Sheikh Tamim waves to the crowd as he arrives with Fifa president Gianni Infantino. AFP
Emir Sheikh Tamim waves to the crowd as he arrives with Fifa president Gianni Infantino. AFP
King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony. Getty
King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony. Getty
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi as they are welcomed by Emir Sheikh Tamim. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi as they are welcomed by Emir Sheikh Tamim. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Photo: Press Office of the Presidency of Turkey / AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Photo: Press Office of the Presidency of Turkey / AFP

“We felt backed and supported and we hope for the next game, people will feel prouder and keep supporting us to the end of the tournament.

“The atmosphere was great. People were very much looking forward to this game. We knew [defeat] could happen and the result can sometimes be difficult.

"We will try to learn from today and I’m completely sure we will make people feel happier with our performance. People know that we can give more.”

Qatar play Senegal next in Group A on Friday.

The African champions, without injured Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane for the tournament, open their campaign on Monday against the Netherlands.

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From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

 

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