Debutants Qatar will be looking to show what they're about on the World Cup stage when they kick off the tournament on Sunday. The Asian side have never qualified for the competition in their history, automatically qualifying for Group A as the designated host nation. The Maroon have tasted silverware recently, however, being crowned Asian Cup champions in 2019. Qualifications from the group will be tough, with all 26 squad members being players from the Qatar Stars League. In order to qualify for the knockout stages, they will be relying on Almoez Ali of Al-Duhail to run the show with 42 goals in 85 appearances for his nation.
Qatar will get the tournament under way against Ecuador on Sunday at the Al Bayt Stadium, with the South American side making their third appearance at the World Cup. Alfaro’s side qualified fourth in the group, proving a frustrating opponent for many. Ecuador will be captained by former West Ham striker Enner Valencia. La Tri will feel they are more than capable of mounting a serious challenge for second place in the group having proven their capabilities of late in the qualification process. Their last World Cup appearance came in 2014, when they were unable to get out of a group which included eventual champions France.
The favourites for second place in the group are 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) winners Senegal. With a squad full of talent, they have risen to 18th in the FIFA world rankings and will be looking for safe passage into the knockout stages. Aliou Cisse’s side topped their group in qualification winning five out of six games and met Egypt in the final qualification game. This was a tight exchange which was a replay of the Afcon final with eventually the same result. Senegal will have to do this without their star player Sadio Mane, who had to withdraw through injury after initially being picked in the 26-man squad. They remain as favourites for second in the group but will want to show what they are about with a push for top spot.
After an unexpected absence from the 2018 World Cup Netherlands are back, and so is Louis van Gaal. The Oranje are looking strong again and head to the middle east with expectation on their shoulders to go deep into the tournament. The 2010 finalists have never failed to make it out of their group at the World Cup and topped their qualification group to secure their return. Van Gaal was able to lead them to a brilliant semi-final run in 2014 finishing in third place but will want to secure the Gold this time around. Many eyes will be on Virgil van Dijk who is set for his first world cup appearance in what could be his last chance. With many more big names alongside him there are expected to easily progress and may even believe they can go all the way this year.
Who will finish top of the group?
Qatar
Ecuador
Senegal
Netherlands
By Scott O'Neill
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