World Cup Report Card: Qatar | OneFootball

Hosts Qatar have been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup and they were the first team to have lost out on their chance to make it to their next round of the competition, as they failed to win even one of their games.

The Asian outfit were taking part in their first major international tournament and while hopes were slim, they did put in some decent performances that will act as an inspiration for betterment in the future.

The standout was Akram Afif, as the forward displayed supreme technical ability and despite playing upfront, he often dropped into midfield to conduct play and showcased a wide range of strengths. The tournament has helped the 26-year-old increase his reputation – something that will come in good use soon.

While Qatar did start slow, they did show signs of how the Aspire Academy experiment helped them. Xavi’s impact in the national side glowed through, even though the glimpses were brief. They often came across as a team that was very efficient in building from the back and operated using slick and low passes from the backline.

While they may have gone out without a single goal or win, Qatar showed signs of the fact that some good footballing foundations are in place in the country.

Grade: E

GWFN