The host Qatar knows for sure this match against Senegal is a match of life and about fate, even reputation in the Gulf and the Arab world.
They are getting nervous after allies and sometimes become competitors in Gulf Arabia, Saudi Arabia, making a big leap to overthrow the two-time world champion Argentina three days ago.
Whether Saudi victories are a driving force for the presence of more energy against Senegal later, or even make Qatar wary, it will still be seen in the match against Senegal at the Al Thumama Stadium later.
To be sure, losing will make them eliminated early from the world Cup the most expensive of all time and is most covered by issues outside of football. And this scenario is really not good for the Qatari rulers.
The defeat at Al Thumama Stadium will ensure the Asian champions host the second World Cup which failed to pass the first round after South Africa in 2010.
Qatar must also imitate what Saudis did when tens of thousands of supporters continued to provide support, when many Qatari spectators left when their team was beaten by Ecuador long before their game was over.
Coach Felix Sanchez himself promised a more "effective and competitive" team against Senegal later. They inevitably have to score first, to keep their supporters in support until the end.
But Qatar also had to overhaul its defensive line which looked weak against Ecuador. It could also be by adding the right spirit and tactics that made goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb debut even though he could present a better performance than the first match.
The problem is, Senegal is also in the same situation. The African champions who twice set aside Egypt, reinforced by superstar Mohammed Salah in the African Cup final and the African zone qualifying playoffs, had to beat Qatar, in order to revive hopes of reaching another knockout round of the World Cup.
Against the Netherlands, Senegal was not too bad. They even conceded in the last minutes. The best goalkeeper in the world, Edouard Mendy, became the player who was most scapegoated for the defeat.
Even so, Mendy will still enter Senegal's starting line-up against Qatar.
In contrast to other departments, coach Aliou Cisse must think hard about finding out who is right to start as a substitute for midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and injured defender Abdou Diallo.
Cisse may also change front row personnel by bringing Bamba Dieng into Senegal's first eleven players.
"Football is about efficiency, when you don't score, then you can't win," Cisse said as quoted by Antara via Reuters.
Cisse must also be able to restore the sharpness of his team like Sadio Mane is still there. Mane was dropped from the squad due to injury, and so far Senegal has shown signs of not finding the right replacement for Mane.
This must be Cisse's top priority because Mane's absence made the elements of terror in the Senegal squad a bit disappear so that the Dutch could freely press them.
Predictions of the first eleven players
Qatar (5-3-2): Meshaal Barsham; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Tarek Salman, Abdelkarim Hassan, Homam Ahmed; Hassan Al Haydos, Karim Boudiaf, Abdulaziz Hatem; Almoez Ali, Akram Afif.
Senegal (4-2-3-1): Edouard Mendy; Youssouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koulibaly, Pepe Abou Cisse, Abdou Diallo; Idrissa Gueye, Nampalys Mendy; Moussa Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Krepin Diatta, Boulaye Dia.
Back in action 🔙#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 #AlAnnabi pic.twitter.com/1OMZae0w55
— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) November 22, 2022
Important statistics of both teams
Before this, the two teams had never met, so the second match of Group A of the 2022 World Cup was Qatar's first meeting with Senegal.
Both teams lost their first game. Qatar was silenced 0-2 by Ecuador, while Senegal lost the same score to the Netherlands.
The match at the Al Thumama stadium will be a meeting between Asian and African champions.
Senegal surprised the world by reaching the quarter-finals 20 years ago at his first World Cup performances in Japan and South Korea.
Four years ago they reached their first World Cup finals in 16 years but their campaign at the 2018 World Cup in Russia fell apart after being knocked out in the group stage for losing a fair play to Japan.
Qatar is working hard not to host the fourth World Cup to be eliminated from the group stage of the World Cup finals after Switzerland, Chile, and South Africa in 1954, 1962, and 2010.
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