FIFA World Cup - Qatar 2022

[RolStoppable]

SecondWar said:

mZuzek said:

edit: also the VAR shambles 5 minutes in to try and save Qatar's ass was the ugliest thing

I’m usually a staunch defender of VAR but even I didn’t have a clue what was happening there.

From what the pundits showed later, by the letter of the law it was offside but it was so vague at the time it really did look like they’d tried to spare Qatar’s blushes.

That was my impression as well, especially because I was already speculating before the game how much this World Cup could be rigged to make Qatar look good. While the offside was the correct call, I am not looking forward to more of that pathetic 3D. (On a sidenote, this is the second WC after 2010 where this particular offside situation was ruled in the opening match; back then Mexico scored in that manner against South Africa and the call was offside.)

As for the rest of the game, Ecuador was better as could be expected. Qatar didn't have a scoring chance in the first half. I am not sure if Ecuador was just tired in the second half or was urged to let Qatar participate while still being allowed to earn their first win in the tournament.