After each matchday of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily blog will recap the day’s events and look ahead to the next day’s slate of games.
Here’s what happened on Friday in Qatar, in case you missed it…
THE RESULTS
Wales 0, Iran 2 in Al Rayyan: Match report || Match stats
Qatar 1, Senegal 3 in Doha: Match report || Match stats
Netherlands 1, Ecuador 1 in Al Rayyan: Match report || Match stats
England 0, United States 0 in Al Khor: Match Report || Match stats
MAIN TALKING POINTS
Hosts Qatar make history for all the wrong reasons
Qatar’s World Cup campaign came to an abrupt end on Friday, even though it put forth a valiant effort in a 3-1 loss to Senegal in Doha Group A play. With the loss, Qatar became the first host nation to lose multiple group stage matches in a single World Cup. But the killer blow for the Qataris came later in the day in Al Rayyan where the Netherlands and Ecuador played to a 1-1 draw in the other Group A match.
That result officially eliminated Qatar after only two matches of this tournament, confirming the Gulf nation as the worst-performing host team in the 92-year history of the World Cup. South Africa, in 2010, is the only other host nation since the first World Cup in 1930 tournament staged in Uruguay to bow out in the first round. But at least the South Africans made an honest go of it, upsetting France 2-1 in their final group stage match, only to be eliminated on the basis of goal difference.
Qatar can feel somewhat aggrieved over its premature exit after giving Senegal, the reigning African champions, a tough test on Friday. The hosts were denied a clear penalty and the chance to take the lead when star winger Akram Afif was bundled over by a charging Ismaila Sarr in the first half. But referee Antonio Mateu of Spain didn’t award a penalty and the VAR booth sustained his decision, leaving the hosts fuming. Taking the lead into the halftime break would’ve put Senegal under immense pressure and the complexion of the game would’ve looked much different. Instead, the Africans responded with three second-half goals to earn their first win of this tournament.
Notwithstanding the penalty decision that it wasn’t awarded, Qatar can have no complaints about their early elimination. Coach Félix Sánchez’s side looked tepid and tame in its loss to Ecuador last weekend, which ranked as one of the worst ever performances in an opening game at the World Cup by a host nation. Next week’s Group A finale vs. what will be a motivated Netherlands will likely be a game that further compounds Qatar’s woes, as the Dutch will need a win to ensure their passage through to the knockout round.
England served a dose of reality
As the old saying goes in the soccer world, “England expects.” It just never expects to come up short. One can never underestimate the intoxicating nature of English presumption at the World Cup, and confidence was certainly riding high after the Three Lions pummeled Iran 6-2 in their opening game in Group B. But England sobered up in a big way after being outplayed by a resolute and fearless U.S. side on Friday. If it is, in fact, “coming home,” then the English were reminded by the Americans that their standing as creators of the game doesn’t make winning the World Cup their birthright. They’ll have to earn it.
A victory over the U.S. would have ensured England’s passage through to the knockout round, the first nation in Qatar to advance to the next stage. Instead, Gareth Southgate’s team will have to wait until next week’s match vs. Wales for another chance to punch its ticket. No doubt, he’ll apply some of the hard lessons he learned from this 0-0 draw against the U.S. when his side faces the Welsh. One such lesson is the value of having your best attacking players run directly at opposing defenders in the final third of the pitch, something England didn’t do with any regularity until after Jack Grealish’s introduction in the 68th minute.
As for the U.S., it can take pride in this performance, but it leaves them with a bit of work to do as it sits third in the group with two points and just one goal from its first two matches. That makes next week’s encounter with Iran, sitting a point ahead in second place, a must-win for the Americans. The lack of offensive production must be concerning for coach Gregg Berhalter. For all of the attacking intent the U.S. showed, it never really managed to test Jordan Pickford, although the English goalkeeper did look lost at sea when dealing with the dangerous corner kicks whipped into the box by Christian Pulisic.
The one thing Berhalter can take comfort from is his team’s strength in the middle of the park. Anchored by Tyler Adams, the American midfield comfortably contained the trio of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling who ran absolute riot in the English attack vs. Iran. Meanwhile, star forward Harry Kane was completely neutralized by the Americans’ compact defensive posture and was unable to find his way through to gain a sight of goal.
GOAL OF THE DAY
With the game knotted at 0-0 deep into injury time, 10-man Wales looked destined to earn a share of the points after thoroughly being outplayed by Iran. But then substitute Roozbeh Cheshmi took matters into his hands, curling a shot from 24 yards out that went just beyond the diving reach of Welsh goalkeeper Danny Ward and nestling inside the far post. Cheshmi’s strike in the 98th set a new record as the latest match-winning goal in World Cup history (excluding games that went to extra time).
Honourable mention to Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands for his rocket of a shot that opened the scoring against Ecuador.
MOMENT OF THE DAY
The Al Thumama Stadium in Doha erupted in the 78th minute when Qatar substitute Mohammed Muntari scored his country’s first ever goal at the World Cup via a powerful header to cut into Senegal’s lead. The Africans went on to win 3-1, but the hosts provided the hometown fans with a moment they’ll never forget.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Our job is to produce joy, happiness, pride for the people. That’s our job. We’re not indifferent to anything that happens in the world. But we — like doctors, like engineers, like pilots — we need to do our jobs. We hope that this 90 minutes of entertainment really helps the people to feel that joy, that happiness and that pride.” – Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, in reference to the widespread protests going on back home.
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Wayne Hennessey of Wales is only the third goalkeeper ever to receive a red card at the World Cup, after Itumeleng Khune (for South Africa vs. Uruguay in 2010) and Gianluca Pagliuca (for Italy vs. Norway in 1994).
• Senegal ended its run of 269 minutes without scoring at the World Cup, its longest drought since going 124 minutes without a goal from June 16, 2002, to June 19, 2018.
• Cody Gakpo is the second Netherlands player to score in his first two World Cup appearances, after Memphis Depay in 2014.
• Enner Valencia has scored each of Ecuador’s last six goals at the World Cup, tying the tournament record co-held by Portugal’s Eusébio (1966), Italy’s Paolo Rossi (1982) and Russia’s Oleg Salenko (1994).
• Gregg Berhalter is the first man to play for and coach the U.S. national team at the World Cup.
• The United States is unbeaten in three World Cup games vs. England: (1-0 in 1950 in Brazil; 1-1 in 2010 in South Africa).
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1) Enner Valencia, Ecuador: The veteran striker leads this World Cup in scoring with three goals after netting the equalizer against the Netherlands.
2) Mehdi Taremi, Iran: The FC Porto striker was one of the main reference points in his team’s relentless attack, and he collected an assist on Iran’s second goal that sealed the win over Wales.
3) Tyler Adams, United States: The American captain did an excellent job in central midfield of breaking up English attacks and winning back possession.
LOOKING AHEAD TO SATURDAY
All eyes will be on the Lusail Iconic Stadium where Argentina clashes with Mexico (2 p.m. ET) in an important Group C clash. While the Mexicans earned a 0-0 draw with Poland in their opener, the South Americans suffered a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. What that means is Argentina would be eliminated after only two games if it loses to Mexico. A draw or a win would keep their hopes of advancing to the group stage alive, so it’ll be interesting to see how Lionel Messi and his cohorts not only respond after losing to the Saudis but how they deal with the pressure of the situation.
John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 20 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic can be found here.
