Why FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 Was Different? (image-twitter/fifa)
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 edition will always remain closely etched to the hearts of football fans all over the world. It became a tournament which could be re-watched a number of times, for years to come. From Ghana’s Muntari’s landmark goal to South Korea’s Hwang Heechan’s late winner, Qatar edition curtained down after endowing some priceless moments. The tournament series began on November 20, 2022 and ended on 18 December, 2022.
The Qatar Magic
Qatar World Cup 2023 was the first World Cup edition to be held for the first time in the West Asia and the Arab World. The host represented an unparalleled opportunity to introduce the entire world to Arab culture, hospitality tradition and the tolerance of the Islamic religion.
The inauguration ceremony itself was adorned with some historical moments. The highlights of the night includes the opening statement delivered by Hollywood star Morgan Freeman and Qatar’s FIFA ambassador Ghanim Al Muftah. The Oscar winning actor narrated the opening segment of the event titled, ‘The Calling, telling viewers: ‘We all gather here in one big tribe’.
Freeman told the crowd, “How can so many countries, languages and cultures come together if only one way is accepted?”, to which the 20-year-old Ghanim Al Muftah, who was born with a rare condition that impairs the development of the lower spine, replied by reciting Quranic verses. He read, “Oh mankind, indeed we have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another”.
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The Rise of Maghreb
Moroccan Atlas Lions emerged as the first ever African and Arab country to qualify to semi-finals. It was that moment when the world football map got redrawn in Qatar. The lions roar to the top of their group level by defeating Belgium and Canada.
Apart from their stupendous performance, the team”s celebration will always remain etched to the hearts of football fans forever. The team tossing their coach Walid Regragui up high in air celebrating their quarter-final win over Portugal, the PSG fullback Achraf Hakimi embracing his mother and subsequent cheek-pinch, the players prostrating in a bunch on the field in prayer are some of the iconic moments of the World Cup.
The most powerful and heartwarming scenes came in, conquering hearts of many when the players celebrated their victory, dancing and cheering with their mothers on the field imparting the value of familial relationships to the world. The smiling goal keeper, Yassine Bounou was yet another face which will remain close to the hearts. Moroccan football players posing with the unmistakable tricolour flag of Palestine during their celebration depicting support for Palestinian self-determination was yet another showpiece of the event.
The German protest
German football team posed for a picture before the match against Japan in the group stage while keeping their hands on their mouth in a sign of protest to FIFA’s decision to ban the ‘OneLove’ armband that aimed to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The incident led to spread of widespread anger among football fans. They were backlashes in the match against Japan by the Qatari fans. Few fans were seen holding up pictures of former Germany international player Mesut Ozil as they covered their mouth to highlight their supposed hypocrisy and treatment to their former player. Mezut Ozil retired from international games after their shocking group exit in the FIFA World Cup 2018.
The departure of the legend- Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo departing from the turf after losing the match against Morocco in the quarter-finals teary-eyed as his chances to win the tournament for the first time in his career were shattered. The legend running to the tunnels in tears will remain as a lasting image for Portugal fans looking back on the World Cup. The all-time scorer was benched in the match against Morocco.
Japan-The Asian March
Japan was never among the favourites in World cup, but they exhibited a beautiful game with their never-give-up attitude. The Blue Samurai, exhibited their first grit in their opening match against Germany. While the players mesmerized the fans on the field, the Japanese fans won the hearts of millions with their conduct of the field. The fans were seen cleaning up the stadiums after the matches.
Asian teams shocked the world, when Japan defeated Germany and Spain in the group stage, and South Korea winning against Portugal. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia created the tournaments biggest shock by when they edged passed the Lionel Messi-led Argentina 2-1. The Asian teams grabbed the Qatar opportunity to become the talk of the World.
‘Argentinian’ Final Showdown
The much awaited finals , the final that had superstar rivalries, penalties, iconic goals, and goalkeeping masterclasses, the final which crowned Lionel Messi as world champion after Argentina beat France on penalties. An impersonate masterpiece that will long live in the memory – the Messiah holding the World Cup trophy, lifted aloft on his teammate shoulders.
The fans all over the world witnessed a thrilling final match against France, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi neck-to-neck both sharing one single dream. Messi landed the first blow as he lashed home a 23rd minute penalty before Angel Di Mario shooting the second. But Mbappe single handedly shattered the dream with his own penalty, he further pushed the game to extra-time. Messi brought back the game by scoring the third goal in the 108th minute, but Mbappe reluctant to withdraw, aimed for his third. But this time, the day was marked in ‘Latin American’ title. After France missing two penalties, Argentina held their first world cup trophy since 1986.
