Qatar 1-1 Switzerland: FIFA World Cup Match Report

Qatar took one point from this World Cup and they took it in their opening match. Qatar 1-1 Switzerland stood at 0-1 at the interval and finished level, a second-half equaliser against the side that would go on to win Group B.

The rest of Qatar's group makes the result look better with every passing fixture. They lost 6-0 to Canada in the second round and 3-1 to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the third, finishing with two goals scored and ten conceded, comfortably the worst defensive record in the group. Against Switzerland, who beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 and Canada 2-1 in their remaining matches, they conceded once.

Switzerland's campaign frames the same ninety minutes from the other side. Seven points, seven scored, three conceded, first place in Group B — and the only points they dropped all group came here, having led at half-time against the team that would finish bottom. They won both of their remaining fixtures without needing to trail at any stage. Whatever the explanation for the equaliser, Switzerland answered it comprehensively over the following ten days, and Qatar never got near a second point.

Very little on the night and rather more in hindsight. Switzerland still topped the group, so the dropped point cost them nothing beyond a perfect record. Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina both finished on four, three behind, with Canada ahead of them on goal difference after their 6-0 win over Qatar.

For Qatar this was the entire return from their tournament. One point, and it came against the group winners rather than against either of the sides they might realistically have competed with. Both of those, Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina, beat them — by six goals and by two. Finishing bottom on a single point taken off the strongest team in the group is an unusual way to go out.

Our pre-match call was Double Chance 1X (Qatar or Draw) at 1.42, and the draw half of it landed after Qatar had trailed at the interval.

This one was won on the outcome rather than on the reasoning. Qatar went on to concede nine goals in their next two matches, and a side with that defensive profile is not one you back on merit to avoid defeat against the eventual group winners. What made the bet work was the fixture's position in the calendar — an opening match, before either team had a table to react to, where a cautious 1-1 is always among the most likely results. The equaliser rescued a pick that the rest of Qatar's tournament suggests was fortunate rather than well judged. Verdict: won