2022 world cup group a - Historical Football Kits

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A

fifa world cup 2022 poster As hosts, Qatar, 40th in the FIFA rankings, had not played a competitive match since they lost on penalties to Egypt in the FIFA Arab Cup in December 2021. Instead they played a series of 18 friendly matches against modest international teams and club sides. The Netherlands (ranked 8th) started as favourites to top the group.

Among the instructions given by FIFA to match officials was to clamp down on time wasting which led to games being extended by around ten minutes.

2022 Index

2018 Tournament | World Cup Index

Qatar

Ecuador

Qatar 0 Ecuador 2

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
20 November

Having spend £200 billion preparing for the World Cup Qatar's supporters had every right to expect that their team would put up a decent showing against the one side in their group that they might be expected to take points off. Instead, Qatar looked overwhelmed, spooked and utterly lost. Ecuador had the ball in the net in the third minute but this was chalked off by VAR for a fractional offside. Moments later the South Americans scored from a penalty and were 2-0 up at half-time. Disappointed locals streamed through the exits and at full-time the stadium was half empty.

Senegal

Netherlands

Senegal 0 Netherlands 2

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
21 November

The Netherlands won a scrappy match but they left it late. In the 84th minute Cody Gakpo made a well timed run to connect with De Jong's cross and glance the ball past the Senegal goalkeeper. The game was wrapped up after Depay's shot was parried and fell to Klaasen in front of goal.

Qatar

Senegal

Qatar 1 Senegal 3

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
25 November

Once again Qatar looked hopeless in the first half and it came as no surprise that Senegal's opener came from an awful mistake by Khouckhi whose slip allowed Dia to score from close range. Three minutes into the second half Diedhiou scored Senegal's second. The Qataris seemed to wake up to their situation and in the 63rd minute Ali had his effort brilliantly kept out by Mendy. This was the host's first goal atempt on target in the tournament. Muntari then scored for Qatar (77') and briefly it looked like we might have a contest but Dieng's strike six minutes later settled matters.

Netherlands

Ecuador

Netherlands 1 Ecuador 1

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
25 November

Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch an early lead which they held until half-time. Shortly after the restart, Valencia equalised and his team put the Netherlands under intense pressure for the rest of the game. In the end the South Americans were unfortunate not to take all three points. This result meant that Qatar could no longer progress.

Ecuador

Senegal

Ecuador 1 Senegal 2

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
29 November

Senegal led at half-time thanks to a penalty scored by Sarr just before the break. In the 68th minute Ecuador pinged a free-kick into the area where Caicedo flicked the ball in from close range, played onside by Sabally who failed to run off the line. Just two minutes later Senegal retook the lead from another free kick. Ecuador desperately went after the equaliser, which would have sent them through to the knock-out stages but the West African team held on.

Netherlands

Qatar

Netherlands 2 Qatar 0

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
29 November

As expected the Netherlands won the match at a canter to top Group A. Qatar became the first host nation to be eliminated without a single point. As one journalist pointed out, "Qatar are not the worst team to have hosted the World Cup. They are the worst team to have hosted the World Cup by far."