FIFA World Cup 2022 – Qatar vs Ecuador, Group A, match preview, predicted lineups
It’s time for footballing showpiece to begin in Qatar as on mega Sunday hosts Qatar play South American nation Ecuador. Both teams will be looking to kickstart with a win here.
Kick-off : 7:00 PM (Local)
Venue : Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Qatar are new as hosts and this would mark their first appearance at a football World Cup and they will be eager to go. They must give it their all. They are in a relatively better group with the likes Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador.
The Maroon have been warming up well for the world cup and have played lot of games this year and have won also. They will like to replicate that same formula in the tournament. They last drew with Chile 2-2 in September.
Manager Felix Sanchez will use his 5-3-2 system on Sunday to trouble Ecuador from the off.
On the other hand, Ecuador are not new to the world stage and have been here before and they know the toughness of it.They would want it to be their best performance.
La Tri have been quite good this year and have got the job done in almost all of their matches. They will look forward to trouble teams in Group A.
Boss Gustavo Alfaro will likely utilise a 4-3-3 system in the first match of 2022 world cup.
Team news and possible lineups
Akram Afif is available and likely play for Qatar. While captain Hassan Al-Haydos will eye his 170th cap.
As for Ecuador, Moises Caicedo, Carlos Gruezo and Jeremy Sarmiento are all available and might play.
Qatar XI : Al-Sheeb, Miguel, Al-Wari, Salman, Hassan, Ahmed, Hatem, Boudiaf, Al-Haydos, Ali, Afif.
Ecuador XI : Domingiez, Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan, Gruezo, Caicedo, Cifuentes, Plata, Valencia, Ibarra.
Prediction
Expect it to be a fascinating contest between hosts Qatar and Ecuador and it might end a 1-1 draw.
