Qatar players during a training session, in this file photo. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha: Given their history of making strong starts at the World Cup, in-form Netherlands are unlikely to let their Group A opponents – Senegal, hosts Qatar and Ecuador – surpass them in the first stage in Qatar.
Only two defeats from their 30 group matches in the tournament’s history describe how formidable the Dutch have been in the first stage.
Coming to Qatar, the Oranje’s 15-match unbeaten streak since the return of veteran manager Louis van Gaal has made them among the title contenders on their World Cup return after missing the ticket to Russia four years ago.
Being the only team to have played the final three times without clinching the trophy, the Netherlands are hoping to claim their maiden trophy under Van Gaal, who guided them to the semi-finals in 2014.
Ranked 8th in the FIFA rankings, the Netherlands feature exciting young players captained by experienced Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, though veteran goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen was a surprise omission in the final Dutch squad.
The squad boasts Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Steven Berghuis, Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo, who are all expected to play crucial roles for the team in Qatar.
Van Gaal’s side will take on Senegal in their opening match on November 21.
The African champions, who are second top ranked side in the group, is likely to miss injured Sadio Mane – the African Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or-runner-up – in the key clash.
The 30-year-old has been a key to Senegal in crucial clashes, scoring winning penalties in Africa Cup of Nations final and World Cup play-off against Egypt in the shootouts.
“Losing Sadio Mane is not an easy thing for a coach, for the team, even for African football,” said coach Aliou Cisse.
“We don’t want to think about it but inevitably we have to be prepared should Sadio Mane be absent,” he said.
Netherlands’ players celebrate during the UEFA Nations League, in this September 22 file photo. Reuters
In their third World Cup appearance, Senegal will look to emulate their 2002 performance when the side, led by Cisse, reached the quarter-finals on their debut having shocked defending champions France 1-0 in their first-ever World Cup match.
“The 2002 generation are our role models. That team put Senegal on the world football map. They rewrote our nation’s history and were their heirs. They’re record-breakers, and all records are there to be broken. I can tell you now that we will be heading to Qatar with a clear idea of our strengths and will be giving our all to get as far as possible,” Mane told FIFA+ recently.
The Bayern Munich star also predicted a tough November 25 match against Asian champions Qatar – the only team to make their debut at this World Cup.
The Felix Sanchez-coached side will enter the tournament’s opener against Ecuador on November 20 well prepared, having spent the last few months in near-lockdown, training in Spain and Austria.
The team aims to leave a mark in their historic participation with their first target being to clear the group stage.
While the Netherlands and Senegal appear to be favourites to cruise into the knockout stage from the group, Qatar and Ecuador have the potential to spring surprises, making it an exciting group.
Qatar have often proved themselves tough, winning the 2019 Asian Cup, reaching the Gold Cup semi-finals and finishing third at the FIFA Arab Cup in their build up for the World Cup.
Sanchez is hopeful of a strong show from his team on the historic debut.
“In 2019, it was difficult to imagine that Qatar could win the Asian Cup,” Sanchez said in a recent interview.
“Obviously, I’m not talking about winning the World Cup but to play at a good level against these three opponents is our challenge. Afterwards, it’s football and anything can happen.”
A lot of onus will be on Al Annabi’s attacking trio of Akram Afif, Almoez Ali and Hassan Al Haydos, who were named in Qatar’s 26-man final squad on Friday.
Qatar have won all their last five friendlies, beating Albania, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama on the sidelines of their training camp in Marbella, Sapain this month.
But Ecuador will completely be a different challenge for Qatar in the opener – dubbed a crucial game for the home team in their quest to reach the knockout stage.
Having made their World Cup debut in 2002, Ecuador reached the Round of 16 four years later. The Gustavo Alfaro-coached side is appearing in their fourth World Cup after missing the 2018 event in Russia as they also qualified for the 2014 edition.
Alfaro has set his sights on victories in the group to lead La Tri into the knock-out stage.
