Thirty-two groups, 832 gamers and eight teams of 4 nations. After one of the vital controversial build-ups ever, the soccer World Cup begins on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, with the hosts taking over Ecuador within the opening match on the Al Bayt Stadium. The Indian Express takes a have a look at every of the 32 groups, takes a have a look at their strengths, weaknesses, the participant who could possibly be their X-factor, what could be the perfect state of affairs for them in addition to the perfect (and nation’s) most catchy) idiom for soccer lingo.
Here, we analyze Group A, which incorporates hosts and Asian champions Qatar, the mighty Dutch, African champions Senegal and Ecuador.
Ecuador
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
Expectations:
After a turmoil throughout the nationwide federation marred by inside issues and a change of coach, Ecuadorians hope this staff will go additional than some other facet of the previous and attain the quarter-finals. The actuality, nonetheless, could also be harsher for one of many youngest and least skilled groups within the match, with solely three gamers from the 2014 marketing campaign nonetheless round – ahead Ener Valencia, midfielder Carlos Gruzo and goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.
what works
They are one of many higher sides in transition, utilizing their power and tempo to modify from protection to assault and vice versa. Their tempo allowed them to play with a excessive line even in opposition to Brazil, making them an thrilling staff to look at, a lot in order that Brazil coach Tite mentioned throughout the World Cup attract April that Ecuador have been one such staff. Which is able to stunning. ,
what not
They could also be good at substitutions however that doesn’t make Ecuador a harmful counter-attacking facet. The staff coached by Argentina’s Gustavo Alfaro has not conceded a purpose of their final 5 video games, however they have not scored both. This is a younger staff that has already tasted success – Ecuador have been the South American U-20 champions in 2019 – however it will likely be a problem for them to determine themselves on the largest stage. An damage to one in every of their key playmakers, Angel Mena, solely difficult the state of affairs for them.
comply with #we are going to make historical past pic.twitter.com/WZlrN3JXc1
— LaTri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) November 15, 2022
X Factor
Moses Caicedo: A participant who’s on the radar of Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea, the 21-year-old Brighton midfielder is understood for his fiery runs by the center. A basic box-to-box midfielder, he was thrown into the deep finish throughout a World Cup qualifier when he was simply a youngster and since then he hasn’t appeared again.
Football language: bat tip (bat technique)
Roughly translated as ‘bat techniques’, tacticia del murcielago is used to explain groups that sit deep in their very own half and defend with their backs to purpose, evaluating them to a The purpose is scored with a bat hanging the other way up on the submit. Ecuador will hope that the phrase they use for different groups will not be used to explain them in Qatar.
fixtures: November 20: v Qatar (9.30 pm), November 25: v Netherlands (9.30 pm), November 29: v Senegal (8.30 pm)
Queue
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify (DNQ)
expectations
For Qatar, the primary goal shall be to keep away from changing into solely the second host nation, after South Africa in 2010, to be eradicated within the group phases. The Asian champions will fancy their probabilities of making it to the knockout rounds, provided that they’re in a gaggle the place the battle for second place – behind group-favourites the Netherlands – is just about open and every of the three groups There is a practical risk of reaching Round of 16 Anything past this may be a bonus for Qatar.
Our nationwide staff returned to Doha earlier at the moment 😍 🇶🇦 @Qatar Airways #AllForAlAnnabi#ForTheLoveOfQatar pic.twitter.com/Tww4aBjlve
– Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) November 14, 2022
what works
Qatar’s largest asset is the partnership between the 2 forwards, Almoeiz Ali and Akram Afif, who’re additionally the staff’s inventive retailers. It additionally helps that each one their gamers compete within the Qatari league and a dozen of them characterize the identical facet – Al Sadd. At Al Sadd, all these gamers have been educated by Spanish legend Xavi earlier than leaving for Barcelona. This ought to make Qatar one of the vital cohesive groups ever seen on the Asian Cup three years in the past.
what not
Their over-reliance on Ali and Afif for objectives is a downside however the staff’s porous protection shall be a giant concern for Spanish coach Felix Sanchez. Qatar often play 5 males on the again when defending. However, their three centre-backs have been repeatedly moved out of place when taking part in for larger ranked groups from Europe over time. The protection additionally confirmed vulnerability when coping with crosses and set-pieces.
X Factor
Almoez Ali: The ahead, who performs for Al Duhail within the Qatari Super League, was the highest scorer of the 2019 Asian Cup. He has proven an unmistakable eye for purpose and is bodily robust. Performing for the 26-year-old shall be essential if Qatar hope to progress to the knockout rounds. And he may also be chasing a private milestone and changing into his nation’s all-time highest goal-scorer. Ali Mansoor is simply 5 objectives behind Mufta, who has 44 objectives.
Football language: to mujniso
Expect the English translation of the time period – ‘pure participant’ – to be thrown round quite a bit each time the Qatari takes to the sphere. Noticing that there was a scarcity of gifted home gamers who might rub shoulders with the world’s greatest, Qatar started naturalizing gamers from different international locations. Even typically the nationwide staff has extra naturalized gamers than the home gamers. There are eight Mujnisoons of their squad, gamers who have been born in different international locations.
Fixtures: November 20: v Ecuador (9.30 PM); November 25: v Senegal (6.30 PM); November 29: vs Netherlands (8.30 PM)
Senegal
2018 World Cup: Group Stage
expectations
In 2018, no African staff superior past the group stage. This time round, Senegal are the largest prospect to enterprise into an enviornment that no different staff from the continent has completed earlier than – the World Cup semi-finals. Senegal got here very near attaining this feat once they participated within the World Cup for the primary time – 20 years in the past in Japan and South Korea. One of the heroes of that marketing campaign, Aliu Cisse (additionally the captain), is now the coach of a staff loaded with expertise.
| #soccer #Senegal #world Cup pic.twitter.com/YhreR5H7gX
– Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) November 15, 2022
what works
The African champions are a really well-balanced facet, with a powerful defence, led by Kalidou Koulibaly, a purposeful midfield and a dynamic ahead in Sadio Mane. They have among the finest goalkeepers on the earth, Edouard Mendy. This made Senegal among the finest groups to look at at this 12 months’s African Cup of Nations. Offensively, Senegal have been most harmful and balanced, taking part in a 4-4-2 system, with Crepin Dutta and Ismaila Sarr on the flanks and Boulay Dia and Mane within the center.
what not
On the events when Mane has performed down the left wing, Senegal haven’t been capable of establish a harmful centre-forward who can get rid of probabilities created from both flank. Cisse has tried out a number of gamers in that position however with little success. An damage to Bayern Munich winger Bouna Sarr will solely add to Cisse’s attacking issues.
X Factor
Ismailia Sarr: While Mane turns into the primary goal for a lot of the staff, Sarr is changing into an ideal decoy for Cisse’s staff. The 24-year-old Watford ahead has been very efficient down the suitable and is without doubt one of the gamers to look at on this very gifted Senegalese staff.
The language of football- Yalli: What is named ‘nutmeg’ in the remainder of the soccer world, the Senegalese name it Yalli. The time period originated throughout a replay of the Senegal Cup competitors in 1964 between Club Olympique Thésois and US Ouakam. Playing for Oakam, a Third Division facet, ahead Ibrahima Dion scored the profitable purpose in additional time. His shot went between the legs of goalkeeper Yali Nduguane. Since then, nutmeg has acquired a brand new identify in Senegal: Yalli.
fixtures: November 21: v Netherlands (9.30 PM); November 25: v Qatar (6.30 PM); November 29: vs Ecuador (8.30 PM)
Netherlands
2018 World Cup: Did not qualify
Expectations:
After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands return to the largest stage after an eight-year hiatus. Over the previous 4 years, the staff has proven indicators of discovering their previous magic, which ought to give them confidence going deep into the match. The Dutch have one of many best teams, no less than on paper, and are more likely to face the runner-up of Group B, which incorporates England, Iran, the US and Wales, within the spherical of 16. Given the draw, something lower than a quarter-final look could be seen as a defeat.
right here it’s. Our World Cup Team!#NothingLikeOrange , #FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/s4KMWBvJQU
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 11, 2022
what works
They have an eclectic group of gamers who type the spine of the staff, managed by a coach Louis van Gaal – who scripted the turnaround. Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij are the choices in central protection for the Dutch; Frankie de Jong has demonstrated his wide selection of abilities and magical imaginative and prescient taking part in in midfield for membership and nation, whereas Memphis Depay might, on his day, punish the perfect of defences.
what not
Despite making some progress since 2018, this facet will not be practically as expert within the remaining third than Dutch groups of the previous. This was seen at Euro 2020, the place they progressed previous the group stage however have been shocked 2–0 by the Czech Republic, noting a single try at dwelling in opposition to them. Defensive and attacking weaknesses have been additionally seen within the qualification match in opposition to Montenegro, the place they squandered a 2–0 lead for a draw.
X Factor
Steven Bergwijn: The 24-year-old appeared poor within the Premier League with Spurs however has lit up the Eredivisie since becoming a member of Ajax. The winger has been Van Gaal’s go-to attacking possibility and he has but to disappoint.
the language of soccer Vacuum Cleaner (Vacuum Cleaner): A midfielder who has the power to soak up strain, work in empty areas in entrance of the protection and chase the ball, is named a vacuum cleaner in Dutch soccer terminology. The phrase was first used to explain 1978 World Cupper Will van der Kerkhof, who was nicknamed ‘De Stopfzuiger’. In the present staff, Maarten de Roon performs the position of ‘vacuum cleaner’. However, he suffered a hamstring damage on 27 October, which raised doubts over his participation.
fixtures: November 21: v Senegal (9.30 PM); November 25: vs Ecuador (9.30 PM); November 29: vs Qatar (8.30 PM)
* IST on a regular basis
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
