Zoom News : Nov 20, 2022, 03:32 PM
FIFA World Cup 2022: The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup is starting today i.e. from 20 November 2022. With this, the long wait for hosting a global football tournament for the first time in the Middle-East also ended. Ecuador will face a tough challenge in front of host Qatar in the first match of the tournament. History is also associated with this match to be held at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. It will be interesting to see whether Qatar will be able to maintain it or Ecuador will be able to modify it.Will Qatar get the benefit?Qatar has made a lot of preparations for this tournament and spent money like water. Work was done fast to ensure that there was no shortage in the event. With this, Qatar would also like to start with a win. Actually, no host team has lost the first match of the FIFA World Cup. In such a situation, Qatar would also like to maintain this record. However, the players of the host team will not make the mistake of taking Ecuador lightly.Alfaro's expectationsHis fans have high hopes from the Ecuador team, whose manager is Gustavo Alfaro. Alfaro took over the responsibility in August-2020 after Jordi Cruyff was replaced as Ecuador's manager. The World Cup qualifying campaign saw Ecuador finish fourth in the South American group, behind Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and above teams of the caliber of Chile, Peru and Paraguay. The players are doing well under the guidance of Alfaro. The team did not lose any of its last seven matches. During this, wins over Nigeria and Cape Verde followed, as well as draws against Argentina, Mexico and Japan.Ecuador's defense is awesomeEcuador's defense claims to be the most solid and strong of all the teams in the tournament. Ecuador conceded just 19 goals in 18 qualifiers and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five matches. Although attack is their concern. Only one goal has been scored in Ecuador's last five matches, which has raised questions about the team's attacking-approach.