John Duerdenreports
eye
witness
QATARInching closer
The 2022 World Cup takes place next
year – let that sink in – and in Qatar,
the clock really is ticking. Preparations
were moving briskly along but the global
pandemic has cast a shadow over the
world of sport and now nothing is
certain any more. At least organisers
in Doha can watch and learn as
tournaments such as the Olympics and
European Championship – should they
go ahead – try to deal with it first.
It is almost a surprise that Qatar
are not participating in that latter
competition as guests given their global
commitments this year. In 2020 there
was not much for the Asian champions
to talk about, though there was just
enough time late in the year to play four
games. There was an expected 5-0
thrashing of Bangladesh, a1-1 draw with
Costa Rica and a 2-1 defeat against
South Korea. There was some concern
after a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of
Ghana in October.
Past tournament hosts have often
worried about the lack of competitive
action that their teams have before the
big games suddenly start on home soil
with the pressure and expectations that
home advantage brings. Not Qatar.
There won’t be the kind of huge
demands for success that some
predecessors have struggled with and
there will be no shortage of competitive
games in which to get ready. Qatar’s
challenge will be fitting them all in.
In December 2020, ten years
after Sepp Blatter made his shock
announcement in Zurich, this tiny
country made headlines once again
by entering qualification for the 2022
World Cup – in Europe. The Maroons
have already started non-competitive
qualification in Asia, joining Group E
along with Oman, Afghanistan, India and
Bangladesh. Sitting in first place with16
points after six games, four points clear
of Oman, if Qatar were not hosts thenthey would be on course to progress to
the third and final group stage, but this
isasfarastheywillbeallowedtogo
(and it also means they will qualify for
the 2023 Asian Cup). The second round
should have been done and dusted by
now but due to COVID-19 there are still
two games to play.
This could lead to a fixture clash. In
June, the Middle Easterners will head
to Colombia to compete in the 2021
Copa America. There will be competitive
games against the hosts as well as
Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela.
This will be their second successiveAlmoez Ali...scoring against Paraguay