Host nation Qatar on Friday crashed out of the World Cup after a second straight defeat before an uninspired England missed their chance to wrap up qualification for the last 16 following a 0-0 draw with the US.
Qatar lost 3-1 to Senegal and became the first team to be knocked out of the World Cup after the Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1-1 in the other Group A game.
Asian champions Qatar had high hopes coming into the tournament, but become only the second home team to crash out in the group stage, after South Africa in 2010.
Photo: AFP
Goals from Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou and Bamba Dieng were enough to give African champions Senegal the win.
Mohammed Muntari scored Qatar’s only World Cup goal so far in a deeply disappointing debut on soccer’s biggest stage — it is the first time a World Cup host nation has gone out after just two games.
“We would like to say we’re very sorry to the supporters, to the country,” said Qatar defender Tarek Salman, who was a second-half substitute. “We have made them feel bad about losing two games in a row in the World Cup.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
The Netherlands took an early lead against Ecuador through Cody Gakpo — his second goal of the tournament — but Ecuador leveled through captain Enner Valencia’s tournament-leading third goal.
Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands, who have four points, can qualify for the last 16 with a draw against Qatar in their final match. Senegal must beat Ecuador to advance to the knockout phase.
After thumping Iran 6-2 in their opening match, an unimaginative England produced a limp display against the US.
England fans at the Al-Bayt Stadium made their feelings known as a vociferous blast of jeers echoed around the stands at the final whistle.
However, manager Gareth Southgate said his stars must ignore the criticism, because he had no complaints about their performance.
“Were we booed off? I’m not sure if that was aimed at us. Personally, I’m really pleased with the application of the players against a really tough opponent,” he said.
“Of course I want our fans to go home happy and I want our fans at home to have a smile on their faces. We haven’t managed to achieve that today, but I can’t let that affect the team.”
England need only avoid a four-goal defeat by neighbors Wales on Tuesday to advance, and a victory would send them through as group winners.
In yesterday’s early game, a dogged Australia scored a 1-0 World Cup win over Tunisia to revive their last-16 hopes.
Goal hero Mitch Duke said he had had a feeling he would score.
The striker’s clever looped header in Qatar put Australia in front in the 23rd minute and they desperately held on in the second half to silence Tunisia’s vociferous fans.
The Socceroos sit second in Group D with three points from two games, having been well-beaten 4-1 by holders France in their tournament opener. They face Denmark in their final group game and the knockout round is in sight.
“As a striker you need to have that confidence and believe that you can score in every match,” said Japan-based center-forward Duke, 31, whose physical presence was a nuisance to Tunisia during the entire game.
“I actually was messaging some of my family saying that I was going to score today,” he said.
Duke made the letter “J” after scoring and said that was for his son who was watching.
“I haven’t seen it yet but apparently he did it back to me from the stadium, which was a really special moment and I’m going to treasure it for the rest of my life,” he said.
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