The 2022 World Cup is here. This afternoon, at 5:00 pm Spanish time, the moment will arrive that the fans have been waiting for, but also the Qatari organizers and FIFA itself with the hope that when the ball starts rolling, football will leave behind the criticism that have been relegated to the background.involved in the tournament since Qatar was chosen as the venue and they have intensified the countdown in recent days.
The moment of truth has arrived for the 32 teams and it is the only rookie in the 2022 World Cup, the hosts Qatar, who will raise the curtain in the opening match against Ecuador. Since 2017 by the Catalan Fèlix Sánchez Bas, they have been preparing this fight for 12 years, since the organization was granted to their country in 2010, and now, after being proclaimed the Asian champion in 2019, they have the opportunity to show the world their progress with the support of 60,000 fans who will fill the stands of the Al Bay de Jor stadium.
Qatar has focused on the World Cup for the past six months, with two stages in Austria and Spain, after local clubs released their players and the 26 called up by Sánchez Bas are active in their ranks. Some, like strikers Akram Afif (ex Villarreal) and Ali Almoez (Leonesa) have experience abroad.
“We would like to have players from the Bundesliga or Premier, but we have to work with what we have,” Sánchez Bas admitted, and, although he considers Ecuador the favourite, he made it clear that “we are going to try be competitive. It’s a big challenge for us but we have absolute illusion”.
pulse styles
After his absence in Russia 2018. Ecuador will face the fourth participation in the World Cup since 2002 with a solid block (he was imbetted for 540 minutes) before which Sánchez Bas, a coach who forged at La Masia, will increase styles with his commitment to the offensive game.
“They can beat us as a team, but nobody can beat us as a group,” said Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, who took command of Ecuador, in August 2020, replacing Jordi Cruyff.
Unlike Qatar, ‘Tri’ only has four players from Ecuadorian clubs, including its three goalkeepers. Gonzalo Plata (Valladolid) and three Brighton members stood out: Pervis Estupiñán, Moisés Caicedo and Jeremy Sarmiento.
The absent Byron Castillo, the spur
But the big illusion driving Ecuador is Byron Castillo, absent to avoid possible sanctions after the legal battle raised by Peru and Chile at TAS for his possible improper alignment. Starting on the right foot will allow the South Americans to dream of taking on the Netherlands and Senegal in the battle for a place in the round of 16
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
