World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview: Group A
Image credit: History of Soccer
By: Anthony Tazbaz
Group Schedule
Match Week 1
Sunday, November 20 (opening night): Qatar vs Ecuador, Al Bayt Stadium, 11:00 EST
Monday, November 21: Senegal vs Netherlands, Al Thumama Stadium, 11:00 EST
Match Week 2
Friday, November 25: Qatar vs Senegal, Al Thumama Stadium, 8:00 EST
Friday, November 25: Netherlands vs Ecuador, Khalifa International Stadium, 11:00 EST
Match Week 3
Tuesday, November 29: Netherlands vs Qatar, Al Bayt Stadium, 10:00 EST
Tuesday, November 29: Ecuador vs Senegal, Khalifa International Stadium, 10:00 EST
Countries
Qatar (Hosts)
Nickname: The Maroon / المارون (Almarun)
Players to Watch
Akram Afif (25): Forward, Al Sadd SC
Abdelkarim Hassan (29): Left-back, Al Sadd SC
Saad Al Sheeb (32): Goalkeeper, Al Sadd, SC
Qualification Run
N/A—automatically qualified as hosts.
Quick Preview
Hosts for the 23rd edition of the world’s most prestigious sporting event, Qatar will participate in its first ever World Cup. Controversy aside, their inaugural participation leaves many questioning about how well they will perform, considering this group is arguably one of the weakest groups, overall. Despite having no World Cup experience, Qatar features many veterans at the international level, particularly the aforementioned players. As for their performance and their ceiling, Qatar and its fans could experience something similar to South Africa’s performance when they were hosts in 2010. Although consensus resonates around the idea that the Middle Eastern nation advancing to the knockout stages, do not be surprised if they conclude their campaign with at least a point from their three games.
Ecuador
Nickname: La Tri (La Tricolor)
Players to Watch
Enner Valencia (33): Forward, Fenerbahçe
Moises Caicedo (21): Midfielder, Brighton & Hove Albion
Pervis Estupiñan (24): Defender, Brighton & Hove Albion
Qualification Run
Round 1: 7W, 5D, 6L—26 PTS and 4th place in CONMEBOL
Quick Preview
Bienvenido de nuevo! The South American nation returns to the World Cup following an absence in 2018. However, this team looks completely different from their 2014 squad. Star players from their campaign in Brazil, namely Antonio Valencia, Christian Noboa, Jefferson Montero, and Felipe Caicedo are all gone from the national team. However, veterans Carlos Gruezo, goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez, and Enner Valencia remain with the team and will be key players for this young squad—composed of solid young players such as defenders Pervis Estupiñan and Piero Hincapie, midfielder Moises Caicedo, and forward Gonzalo Plata—to achieve success on the biggest stage.
Although the Netherlands and Senegal are considered the favourites to advance to the Round of 16, their qualification run constitutes evidence of resilience, determination, and overcoming odds. Finishing fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying, La Tri finished above past World Cup nations such as Colombia, Chile and Peru—all while finishing only two points behind third-place Uruguay. Although they are facing a European powerhouse in the Netherlands and a golden generation in Senegal, the Ecuadorians remain hungry for success on the global stage, having not played in a knockout stage game at the World Cup since the Round of 16 stage in 2006 – a 1-0 loss versus England.
Senegal
Nickname: Lions of Teranga
Players to Watch
Sadio Mané (30): Forward, Liverpool FC
Kalidou Koulibaly (31): Defender, Chelsea FC
Edouard Mendy (30): Goalkeeper, Chelsea FC
Qualification Run
Round 2: 5W, 1D, 0L—16 PTS and 1st place in CAF Group H
Round 3: Playoffs
Leg 1: Egypt 1-0 Senegal
Leg 2: Senegal 1-0 Egypt
Final: Senegal 1-1 Egypt (after extra-time)—Senegal won 3-1 in penalties
Quick Preview
The Lions of Teranga are arguably one of the most entertaining countries to watch at the moment. The attacking flair led by Liverpool forward Sadio Mané and the young and experienced Ismalia Sarr turned Senegal into a continental power. However, the attack is also aided by a solid defensive system, led by Kalidou Koulibaly, as well as solid goalkeeping by Edouard Mendy, a Champions League winner with Chelsea in 2021. Their midfield cannot be overlooked either, with the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, and Cheikhou Kouyate.
However, the Senegalese will face a massive challenge amid uncertainty regarding Sadio Mané. Although selected, many ponder if he can play every game for the full 90 minutes—never mind not being 100% fit. Having qualified due to penalties against a strong Egyptian squad. Nevertheless, the defending AFCON champions should savour this World Cup as a golden opportunity to chase glory, whether it would entail reliving their success in 2002 or take their aspirations to a whole new level and try to mimic Croatia’s run to the final in 2018 (maybe even winning the whole thing).
**Update: Since writing this preview, the Senegalese federation has officially declared Sadio Mané out for the entire World Cup**
Netherlands
Nicknames: Oranje, Clockwork Orange & Flying Dutchmen
Players to Watch
Steven Bergwijn (25): Forward, Ajax
Frankie De Jong (25): Midfielder, FC Barcelona
Virgil Van Dijk (31): Defender, Liverpool FC
Qualification Run
Round 1: 7W, 2D, 1L—23 PTS and 1st place in UEFA Group G
Quick Preview
Similar to Ecuador, the Oranje return to the World Cup, having missed out on the 2018 World Cup following a dismal qualifying campaign where they even missed out on the Round 2 playoffs. Despite Senegal being a potential dark horse, the Netherlands remains the heavyweight of the group and are the clear favourites to top Group A.
Interestingly, unlike most heavyweights—who rely on top talent and major tournament experience—the Netherlands relies on relatively young players, many of whom only earned their first international caps at a major tournament last year at the Euro.
Having been an inspiring team at the Euro—despite their 2-0 loss to Czechia in the Round of 16—the Oranje remain eager to prove themselves on the grand stage. Veteran players such as Daley Blind, Memphis Depay, and Stefan de Vrij can use their leadership and potentially help the team return to the semi-finals, as they did in Brazil in 2014. The Dutch will also rely on veteran leadership displayed at the club level, notably from Virgil van Dijk, Marten de Roon—both achieving success with their respective clubs and becoming perennial star players in their respective leagues. With respect to younger players, the Dutch boast young stars such as Frankie de Jong, Matthis de Ligt, and Denzel Dumfries—all proven players at the club level and in the UEFA Nations League, despite their age.
Finally, this World Cup constitutes a perfect opportunity for the Eredivisie to further grow and become an appealing destination for foreign talent. Members of the national team playing in the Eredivisie include all three of their goalkeepers, veteran midfielder Davy Klaessen, Ajax teammates Steven Berghuis, Steven Berwijn, and Kenneth Talyor, as well as PSV Eindhoven’s Luuk de Jog, Cody Gakpo and global sensation Xavi Simons. Ultimately, the Netherlands’s World Cup run should be an exciting one, with potential knockout stage opponents including England or the United States in the Round of 16. Should they advance, they potentially face Argentina, France, or Denmark in the Quarter-finals, and even Spain, Germany or Brazil in the Semi-finals. If you are a Dutch supporter, hang on tight because it will be a bumpy yet entertaining ride.
Group Table Predictions
Netherlands: 3W, 0D, 0L, 9 PTS
Senegal**: 1W, 1D, 1L, 4 PTS
Ecuador: 1W, 1D, 1L, 4 PTS
Qatar: 0W, 3L, 0D, 0 PTS
** Senegal advances on goal difference**
