The hostess and Senegal play it

The hostess and Senegal play it

MADRID, 24 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The teams of Qatar and Senegal will have a key duel this Friday (2:00 p.m.) in the opening of the second day of the World Cup Group, to which both arrive with an empty box of points and knowing that everything that is not winning can clearly complicate his future, in what will also be the premiere in the appointment of the Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.

The hosts made the worst possible start to their historic first appearance in a World Cup by losing 2-0 to Ecuador and becoming the first host to lose in the opener. 'Los Leones de la Teranga' also lost, by the same result, to the Netherlands, but their sensations on the field were somewhat better and they were punished by a goal in the 84th minute and another in the 99th minute when they were better on the field .

Now, both Félix Sánchez's and Aliou Cissé's men know that they cannot speculate too much if they do not want to jeopardize their chances of going to the round of 16. The tie was worth a little before knowing the result of the Netherlands-Ecuador and it is the three points that would make them reach the last day depending on themselves.

In this sense, Qatar hopes to recover its best level, the one that gave it the Asian title three years ago and that could barely be seen last Sunday at the start of the World Cup. With time to reflect on what happened, the hosts will want to make their countrymen happy and prevent them from being able to 'abandon' them on this occasion as happened against Ecuador.

"Hopefully we have released the pressure and tension of the first day and that we can compete at the highest level and show that we can compete much more than we did the other day, regardless of the result. We have to try to be us and from there to see what happens", said Félix Sánchez, who could do some tweaking in his eleven looking for this improvement in the game.

The most beneficial thing for the Qatari team is that they have been able to remove all the nerves and pressure that surrounded them a few days ago to face a Senegal that will be measured for the first time in its history and that hopes to shake off the bad luck with the casualties .

After losing his star, striker Sadio Mané, Aliou Cissé saw several of his players suffer physical problems in their debut, although the only one that seems to be serious is midfielder Kouyaté, already ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup. .

Regardless, Diallo looks set to be ready and could play at center back rather than left-back as against the Netherlands, while Pape Gueye would once again be Kouyaté's mid-substitute.

CATAR: Al Sheeb; Al-Rawi, Khoukhi, Homam Ahmed; Pedro Miguel, Hatem, Boudiaf, Al Haydos, Waad; Almoez Ali and Afif.

SENEGAL: E. Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, P.A Cissé, Diallo; N.Mendy, G.Gueye, P.Gueye; Diatta, Dia y Sarr.

--REFEREE: Mateu Lahoz (ESP).

--STADIUM: Al Thumama.

--TIME: 2:00 p.m./World Goal-Movistar.