In Friday’s action, host nation Qatar crashed out of their own World Cup after a second straight defeat.
Qatar lost 3–1 to Senegal and became the first team to be eliminated from this World Cup after Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1–1 in their other Group A game.
Asian champions Qatar had high hopes coming into the tournament, but became only the second home team after South Africa in 2010 to crash out in the group stage.
Goals from Boule Dia, Famara Didhiou and Bamba Dieng were enough to seal the victory for African champions Senegal.
Mohamed Muntari scored Qatar’s only World Cup goal ever on football’s biggest stage – the first time a World Cup host nation has been knocked out after just two matches.
Qatar defender Tarek Salman said, “We want to say that we are very sad for the supporters, the country.”
We have made them feel bad by losing two consecutive matches in the World Cup.
Senegal will now need to beat Ecuador to progress to the knockout stage, while Qatar will face the Dutch.
An indifferent England missed the chance to qualify for the knockout stage after a 0–0 draw with the United States.
After defeating Iran 6–2 in their opening match, England rarely troubled a well organized USA unit and were booed at full-time.
England captain Harry Kane said, “A draw isn’t the end of the world for us, it puts us in a great position in the group.”
England need to avoid a four-goal defeat by neighbors Wales on Tuesday to progress and know that a win would see them progress as group winners.
