Two setbacks and then gone: Qatar, host country beaten by Senegal (3-1), became Friday the first nation eliminated from “its” World Cup-2022, during a day marked by the surge of the Iran, winner of Wales (2-0) to continue to dream.
For their part, England could not do better than a goalless draw against the United States (0-0), postponing their possible qualification to a decisive last match against the Welsh next Tuesday, while the Iranians will play a highly political duel against the Americans.
After twelve years of preparations and tens of billions of dollars invested, the World Cup lasted less than a week for the Qatar team. The march of a World Cup was too high for this country with a weak footballing tradition, which tried in vain to progress by forced march.
The draw between the Netherlands and Ecuador (1-1), leaving these two nations at four points and in a favorable position for qualification in Group A, eliminates the Qataris (0 pt) even before their last match against the Dutch on Tuesday.
A hard blow for the Ecuadorians, their captain, Enner Valencia (3 goals), nevertheless went out on a stretcher as a “final” for qualification against Senegal (3 pts) looms.
This is the first time in the long history of the World Cup that the host country has been ousted after only two group matches. “We would like to say that we are sorry to the fans and to the country,” said Qatari defender Tarek Salman.
At least the Qataris saved the honor for their first participation in the World Cup, scoring their very first goal by Mohammed Muntari (78e) and showing a more conquering face than in the opening.
If Qatar, the 2019 Asian champion, quickly bowed out, the other Asian nations continue to do well, in the wake of Japan, who defeated Germany on Wednesday (2-1), and Saudi Arabia, victorious over Argentina (2-1).
Iran, from nightmare to dream
Friday, it was Iran who raised their heads, erasing their initial disappointment against England (6-2) and giving themselves the right to dream of a historic qualification for the round of 16, after their victory against the Wales (2-0), ripped off in added time.
Everything will be played on Tuesday against the United States, revenge for the match won by Iran at the 1998 World Cup.
It could even take on an even greater dimension because this time, “Team Melli” can qualify for the eighth, a first, and because the meeting is being disputed while the country has been shaken since mid-September by a protest movement. against the Islamic Republic, violently suppressed.
A context very present in the stands: on Friday, the security services of the Ahmad bin Ali stadium confiscated from a man his Iranian flag struck with the emblematic words of the revolt, “Women Life Freedom”, noted an AFP journalist.
At her side, a woman wore a jersey stamped with the name of Mahsa Amini and the number 22, the age of this student arrested for having worn the Islamic veil incorrectly and whose death sparked the revolt.
Will the victory against the Welsh reconcile “Team Melli” with those who accuse it of not showing enough support for the demonstrators or of having agreed to be received by the ultra-conservative president Ebrahim Raissi before his departure for Qatar? ?
Neymar’s ankle
This time, the Iranian players sang their anthem, breaking with their silence and their closed faces which preceded the rout against the English (2-6); this time they smiled as they won, thanks to two goals scored in added time.
In addition to its outcome, Wales v Iran was marked by the first red card of the competition, received by Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey for a violent outing in front of an Iranian attacker.
We had to wait for the 86e minute of the 17th match of the World Cup to witness the first expulsion. To find later exclusion, you have to go back to 1982 at the Spanish World Cup.
Hennessey will therefore miss the decisive match against England, scrambles against the United States and forced to play his qualification on a third match while a victory on Friday would have allowed him to rest his executives…
Between two matches, attention is focused on the state of Neymar’s right ankle. The playmaker of Brazil, big favorite of the tournament, sprained Thursday evening during the victory of the Auriverde against Serbia (2-0).
“Ney” is already out of the next match next Monday against Switzerland but he said he was hopeful of healing as soon as possible: “I have an injury yes, it’s annoying, it’s going to hurt but I’m sure I have a chance to come back ” for the rest of the World Cup, he wrote on social networks.