4 Arab teams qualified for the World Cup in Qatar, a record that was achieved in the 208 World Cup in Russia. The Arab presence would have reached 6 teams if Egypt and Algeria could skip the World Cup play-off.
But since we are facing 4 teams, each of which fell into a group, meaning that we will not witness any purely Arab confrontation or guarantee qualification for the second round from a group that includes more than one Arab team, we try to read the fortunes of each team separately, and its capabilities and ability to qualify for the second round or even Get over it and go ahead and claim the title of the dark horse.
We start with the Qatar national team, which plays in Group A alongside Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands, and will cut the opening tape next Sunday against the team from South America.
It is noteworthy that "Al-Anabi" gradually becomes more difficult to face the group's teams, and he also plays with 3 different football schools (South America, Africa and Europe).
Al-Annabi's confrontation with Ecuador will not be strange to him, as they faced 3 times (Al-Annabi lost once, won the same, and tied another).
In the numbers of the two teams, it appears that they are very close to the level. Qatar ranks 50th in the FIFA rankings, compared to 44th for Ecuador, which was eliminated from the first round of the World Cup 3 times.
In the second round of first-round clashes, Qatar, the Asian champions, must face Senegal, the African champions, who are full of stars headed by Coulibaly, Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy.
In contrast to this spherical quality enjoyed by the Senegalese players, the ground and public factors may be decisive for the "support" team in its second match.
The two teams have not met before, but the numbers show the superiority of the "Tranga Lions" over the Qatar team.
But Al-Annabi may be able to stand firm and achieve a positive result.
The third and final match for the Qatar national team in the group stage is the most difficult, and that is why Al-Annabi, if it wants to pass to the second round, must achieve two positive results in the first two matches.
And the numbers indicate a great superiority - on paper - for the "windmills" team over Al-Annabi, who have not met in the past, neither formally nor friendly.
In conclusion, in order for the Qatar national team to qualify for the second round, it must achieve two wins or a victory and a draw, and then wait for the results of the other teams.
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Saudi Arabia is in the third group
Saudi Arabia's mission seems close to impossible to qualify for the second round, especially in light of the presence of teams from Argentina, the favourites, Poland led by top scorer Robert Lewandowski, and Mexico, an expert in the World Cup, which participated in it 17 times.
The first match for the Saudi national team, which ranks 51st in the FIFA rankings, against Argentina, may be a match in which Al-Akhdar will test himself, especially after a positive trip in friendly matches, including a victory over Iceland, a draw with Panama, and a 1-0 loss against Croatia.
And if the confrontation with Messi's companions is difficult, then the Saudi national team may be able to withstand Lewandowski's companions and achieve a positive result, provided that the confrontation with Mexico, which has been in fluctuating performance recently, is an opportunity to emerge and win.
In other words, the task of the "Green Falcons" seems difficult, and their qualification to the second round is almost impossible, but no one knows what football has in store.
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Tunisia is in the fourth group
And to another Arab team, Tunisia, which is ecstatic from its 2-0 victory over Iran in the last friendly match before the start of the Qatar World Cup, it is playing in Group D alongside world champions France, Denmark and Australia.
The beginning of Tunisia will be with the Danish national team, which is nominated by experts and analysts to be the black horse in the tournament, but the team that occupies the tenth place in the FIFA classification does not have a great history in the World Cup, but it won the European Championship 1994 and presented excellent levels in the last European Championship and European qualifiers, and possesses players of their quality High.
However, the Tunisian national team will not be an easy team, and it may be able to withstand and win, even with a point in this match, to open a door for it to qualify for the second round.
After Denmark, the Tunisian national team faces Australia in an equal-level match, and it will be its last chance if it wants to continue the tournament because the last match in the group stage against France will be difficult and achieving a positive result against the world champions will be almost impossible.
In conclusion, there are hopes and the task is difficult, not impossible.
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Morocco is in the sixth group
The last team is Morocco, which most experts recommend to pass through to the second round and continue further in the championship due to the constellation of professional players in the best European and Arab clubs that the team includes.
However, the sixth group, in which the "Atlas Lions" team plays, includes Belgium, Canada and Croatia.
Morocco's first match will be against the Croatian national team, the runners-up of the World Cup Russia 2018, whose level has declined recently and did not leave an imprint in the last "Euro". Also, its players who were the nucleus of the Russian World Cup achievement have either advanced in age or retired, in other words, the Moroccan national team is able to achieve a positive result. against him.
The second match will be fiery and very difficult for the Moroccan national team against the "Red Devils", the uncrowned champion and third-placed team in the World Cup in Russia, which includes a group of players who are considered the best in the world, and for this reason the task of the Arab team will be arduous and difficult.
Against the Canadian national team, which leads the North American and CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, the Moroccan national team plays without a complex of inferiority, because the history of the "Lions" is much greater than Canada's, and they may achieve what is required in this match and pass through it to the second round.