World Cup 2022 - the opening match blew the fuse - international press coverage

Spain:

Brand:

"Cooling can be solved with money, good football cannot. Without talent, it is almost impossible to prevail at this level. And if anyone doubted this, three minutes at the most significant and spectacular sporting event in the world was enough to prove it."

El País:

"The Emir of Qatar opened the tournament, celebrating diversity in a box with hardly any women."

France:

L'Equipe:

"Qatar are not at the level to play a role in their own World Cup, most of their fans did not even return to the stands after the break. Crazy opening."

Le Figaro:

"One thing is certain: Qatar did not give a convincing performance in this opening match. This match will not go down in the history books, the pace was slow, there were few chances and spectacle."

Great Britain:

Daily Mirror:

"Enner Valencia shone brighter than his opening light show as Ecuador beat hosts Qatar in the first match. Qatar will need to put in a special performance in their next two matches to have any chance of advancing from the group at their home World Cup."

Telegraph:

"Qatar opened with a perfect example of sports washing (a term applied to the practice of individuals, groups, corporations or governments using sport to improve their tarnished reputations). This ceremony was a manifestation of a corrupt, money-obsessed organization and a civil rights and the unique encounter of a regime that approaches the safety of workers in a medieval way."

Guardian:

"Qatar is disappointed after 12 years of preparation. The host nation has used this period to build the infrastructure for a World Cup that will be surrounded by controversy and leave a bitter taste in the mouth that the next four weeks are unlikely to wash away."

Italy:

La Repubblica:

"When the loudspeaker proudly announced that the number of spectators was 67,000, many people had already left by then. Already during the break. The host Qatar had a very bad start to its first World Cup, and this was also reflected in the face of its Spanish national team captain, Félix Sánchez."

(Source: Source: sportrajongo.hu, mti/Photo: pixabay, mti)