Fifa World Cup, Group A Preview: Netherlands, Senegal, Qatar, Ecuador

Qatar will play Ecuador in the opening match of the World Cup on November 20. The hosts are the second host nation to be knocked out in first round. Senegal and the Netherlands are favourites to progress from Group A. Ecuador are underdogs in their fourth World cup. Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations in February. Louis van Gaal's Dutch team is unbeaten since being dumped out of Euro 2020 by the Czech Republic. They are without the injured Virgil van Dijk. All five African teams failed to reach the knockout phase of 2018 World Cups. France, Senegal, and Japan are expected to get through.