Qatar manager Felix Sanchez conceded the weight of the occasion got to his players as the Fifa World Cup hosts opened the tournament on Sunday with a defeat to Ecuador.
The home side, competing in a global finals for the first time, were beaten 2-0 at Al Bayt Stadium, as the only Middle East World Cup in history kicked off in earnest.
Ecuador captain Enner Valencia struck both goals in the first half in Al Khor, just north of Doha, with Qatar disappointing for most of the match.
They became the first host nation in World Cup history to suffer defeat in their opening game.
“There’s no excuse. We want to congratulate our opponents, they deserved to win,” Sanchez said.
“There is a lot of room for improvement. Maybe the responsibility and nerves got the best of us. We didn’t start well. It was a terrible start, actually.
"Our nerves betrayed us. We were unable to string together four passes in a row. Also, many defensive gaps. The team was not balanced and that hurt us a lot.
“When you play against a team of this level … you pay for it."
Qatar World Cup 2022 opening ceremony - in pictures
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The opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. PA -
Fireworks explode during the show. Getty Images -
Mascots of former World Cups united. AP Photo -
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim, centre, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, Jordan's King Abdullah II King of Jordan, left, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino, second right, at the opening ceremony. AFP -
South Korean singer Jung Kook, centre, performs. AFP -
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha. AFP -
Singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi performs. Getty Images -
Performers welcomed the world during the opening ceremony. Reuters -
A giant inflatable emblem during the opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor City. PA -
Performers during the opening ceremony. PA -
Morgan Freeman performs on stage. Getty Images -
The performers opened the show. EPA -
The Qatar World Cup opening ceremony. Reuters -
Dancers performing together. PA -
The opening ceremony before the Qatar versus Ecuador game. EPA -
Former footballer Marcel Desailly holds the Fifa World Cup trophy ahead of the opening ceremony. AFP -
A young Qatar supporter at the stadium. EPA -
Ecuador fans in the stands before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup. Reuters -
A dancer performs at sunset before the Fifa World Cup kicks off with a Group A match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. PA -
Fans record moments from the first match of Qatar 2022 inside the Al Bayt World Cup stadium. Reuters -
Performers outside the Al Bayt Stadium entertain the crowds before the Fifa World Cup 2022 Group A opening match between Qatar and Ecuador kicks off. EPA -
A Qatar fan wears his national colours outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters -
Fans arrive at the Al Bayt Stadium before the opening ceremony of the Qatar World Cup begins. Reuters -
Qatar fans on rollerblades outside the Al Bayt Stadium. Reuters -
Ecuador fans on their way to watch the opening match of the Qatar World Cup 2022. Reuters -
A performer with a replica World Cup before the Fifa World Cup Group A match gets under way at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. PA
The night began with a colourful opening ceremony featuring Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, but ended with the stadium emptying quickly towards the conclusion of the match.
Asked about the largely empty seats in the final 10 minutes, Sanchez said: “Truth be told, I have enough work to do to look at it.
Royals at Fifa World Cup in Qatar - in pictures
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Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed are welcomed to Doha by Qatar's Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani. Photo: Government of Dubai Media Office -
Qatar's former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with King Abdullah II of Jordan during the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. AFP -
Emir Sheikh Tamim waves to the crowd as he arrives with Fifa president Gianni Infantino. AFP -
King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony. Getty -
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi as they are welcomed by Emir Sheikh Tamim. AFP -
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Photo: Press Office of the Presidency of Turkey / AFP
“We felt backed and supported and we hope for the next game, people will feel prouder and keep supporting us to the end of the tournament.
“The atmosphere was great. People were very much looking forward to this game. We knew [defeat] could happen and the result can sometimes be difficult.
"We will try to learn from today and I’m completely sure we will make people feel happier with our performance. People know that we can give more.”
Qatar play Senegal next in Group A on Friday.
The African champions, without injured Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane for the tournament, open their campaign on Monday against the Netherlands.
