Cisse – Senegal ‘up against brick wall’ going into must-win WC match with Qatar
Qatar and Senegal go head-to-head in a crucial World Cup 2022 group stage clash after both sides lost their opening fixtures. The tournament hosts slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador on the opening day of the competition whilst Senegal conceded two late goals to lose to the Netherlands by the same scoreline.
Victory for either side will keep them in touch of a place in the knockout rounds but the loser of today’s game is out of the tournament with one more group match yet to play. Should Qatar triumph this afternoon it would be a huge blow for the African champions who are still reeling from the absence of Sadio Mane due to injury.
Yet, Senegal will fancy their chances of defeating Qatar and keeping themselves in the hunt for a spot in the knockout phases. They at least looked worthy of a draw against the Netherlands, until those late goals, while the hosts were poor from first whistle to last against Ecuador.
Qatar have never beaten African opponents, losing twice to Algeria and once to Egypt in their three attempts, and on Sunday failed to have a shot on target against Ecuador. If they have any hopes of remaining in the competition then they need to drastically improve on their first performance.
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Qatar vs Senegal
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Qatar vs Senegal
The fans have arrived at the Al Thumama Stadium ahead of kick off at 1pm.
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(REUTERS)
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:50
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World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
On the sixth day of the World Cup, the best of a continent will probably be lost. Senegal against Qatar pits the African Cup of Nations winners against the Asian Cup champions. The loser may be eliminated with a game to go and less than a week of the tournament played. The possibility is that officially the best sides in two huge confederations will not figure in the World Cup’s last 16.
“It is two teams up against a wall,” Senegal manager Aliou Cisse said. “We are talking about two champions, the Asian champions and the African champions, and you can imagine the importance. If you lose your opening game, you are up against a brick wall. However, we do have experience under our belts and we have played other difficult games under the same level of stress and intensity. We know we need to knuckle down and pull everything together to pull out that win.”
Qatar vs Senegal big match preview by Richard Jolly
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:47
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World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
Qatar want to prove they can compete at the highest level when they face Senegal, coach Felix Sanchez said on the eve of a clash that may thwart their World Cup hopes.
The Asian champions are hoping to avoid becoming only the second hosts to be eliminated in the first round at the finals after South Africa in 2010.
Qatar lost 2-0 to Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament after a disappointing performance, causing many fans to leave the stadium 20 minutes before the end.
“Hopefully we can play freely and without pressure and be better than what happened in the first game, this team have a point to prove,” Sanchez told a news conference.
“Matches are controlled by many factors, but the most important thing is to give our best, in the World Cup if you don’t give your best you will be punished.”
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:40
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Qatar vs Senegal
Should this clash end in anything but a draw we will know who the first team to be knocked out of the World Cup is. Qatar and Senegal both lost their opening fixtures and are in danger of getting booted out of the tournament.
Defeat this afternoon for either team will see them resigned to that fate but victory would put them close to the knockout rounds.
Senegal come into the match as the big favourites especially after an decent performance against the Netherlands but Qatar have made some changes – including swapping out the goalkeeper – which they hope will provide more of a threat to the African champions.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:32
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Qatar vs Senegal line-ups
Qatar XI: Barsham; Miguel, Mohamad, Khoukhi, Hassan, Ahmad; Al-Haydos, Boudiaf, Madibo; Ali, Afif
Senegal XI: Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Jakobs, Diallo; Gueye, N. Mendy; Diatta, Diedhou, Sarr; Dia
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:23
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World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
Senegal centre back Kalidou Koulibaly, who is also Edouard Mendy’s team mate at Chelsea, said people were over-reacting about the keeper’s form.
“We play at the same club and we are also brothers in arms for Senegal, Edouard is a very important player for us, it is normal to go through difficult phases – I think we are making a mountain out of a mole hill here,” he said.
Senegal, robbed of their top attacking talent after Sadio Mane was injured in the lead-up to the tournament, were crowned African champions by beating Egypt on penalties in February, while Friday’s opponents Qatar are the Asian champions.
Cisse’s side were knocked out in the group stage four years ago and are unlikely to better that if they don’t win on Friday.
“We have our back against the wall but we are Lions, the Lions of Teranga,” said Koulibaly.
“We will give everything to continue with the dream and to let the Senegalese people dream. We don’t want to disappoint the Senegalese population. What is certain is that the behaviour and mentality tomorrow will be that of warriors.”
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood25 November 2022 12:22
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World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has total trust in goalkeeper Edouard Mendy despite his rocky start to the World Cup campaign.
Mendy, who Cisse said had a steely resolve and was a certain starter for their second Group A game against Qatar on Friday, was arguably at fault for both goals in his side’s opening 2-0 loss to the Netherlands.
The defeat has left the African champions with work to do to escape a group that also includes an Ecuador side who made light work of hosts Qatar in their opening match.
His place in the Senegal side, however, is not under threat, with Cisse confident in his keeper’s mental strength.
“Edouard is doing very well, he has got a steely resolve,” Cisse told reporters on Thursday.
“Edouard’s qualities speak for themselves, I don’t think that anyone is doubting him, sometimes he has highs, sometimes he has lows, he has my full trust, my blind trust, and that of his team mates. Tomorrow he will be on the pitch.”
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Jamie Braidwood25 November 2022 12:10
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World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
“Senegal could not replace Sadio Mane at the World Cup , and if that much was not already clear it has now been emphatically underlined. As Senegal and the Netherlands were dragged into a match that cried out for a moment of individual inspiration, the Lions of Teranga were missing the source of theirs. This was a chance for Senegal against a Netherlands side who failed to impress and live up to its promise, but the opening closed as Cody Gakpo found the gap between Edouard Mendy and their defensive line.
“Any team would miss a player of Mane’s class and status, but it is a pain that can only be felt by Senegal in Qatar. “He is our best player, the leader in that respect,” said their manager Aliou Cisse, as the news sunk in that the country’s talisman, record goalscorer, and the hero of the most significant moment of their football history would play no part due to injury. It was the cruellest of blows ahead of a tournament where Senegal, the champions of Africa, dreamed of breaking new ground. Mane’s injury made that task harder, and it’s even more improbable now.”
Jamie Braidwood25 November 2022 11:55
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World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
“Rising out of the desert and out of nothing, the Al-Bayt Stadium provides such an arresting sight that it made for a symbolic choice to host the opening game of the first World Cup ever staged in the Middle East. For the Al-Bayt, perhaps, read Qatar, propelled to prominence by its vast resources and huge ambitions, showcasing them through football.
“The Al-Bayt’s roof is modelled on Bedouin tents rather than, say, the Bet365 Stadium in Stoke, lending it a local feel. Outside, there was a parade of camels, all ridden by men in thawbs, to welcome visitors. For the avoidance of doubt, that is also something rarely seen in Stoke, even if Tony Pulis might have appreciated the camels’ ability to intimidate.
“On a night that offered an illustration of what Qatar’s $220bn did and did not buy them, the first impression, of the Al-Bayt coming into view, might have been the most impressive. A spectacular lightshow and a firework display that went off perfectly followed, but Qatar delivered neither the performance the hosts required nor the logistical competence to ensure everything worked smoothly.”
Richard Jolly’s piece on Qatar’s opening game
Richard Jolly25 November 2022 11:42
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World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb was poor in his side’s opener against Ecuador, so he could be dropped for Meshaal Barsham here.
Meanwhile, Abdou Diallo is expected to play despite going off with cramps in Senegal’s loss to Netherlands, but Cheikhou Kouyate is not fit to feature after leaving on a stretcher due to a muscle problem in that game.
Like his opposite number in the Qatar goal, Senegal’s Edouard Mendy could be dropped after a dreadful performance last time out.
Senegal’s star forward Sadio Mane remains out with injury, meanwhile, and will miss the whole tournament.
Qatar XI: Barsham; Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi, Salman, A Hassan, Ahmed; Al Haydos, Boudiaf, Hatem; Ali, Afif
Senegal XI: Dieng; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Cisse, Diallo; I Gueye, N Mendy; Ndiaye, I Sarr, Diatta, Dia
Jamie Braidwood25 November 2022 11:36