After more than a decade of criticism and controversy, the 2022 World Cup will finally get underway in Qatar on Sunday when the host nation take on Ecuador.

The hosts will no doubt be hoping that matters on the field take centre stage, and that their team can at least do themselves justice on their first-ever World Cup appearance.

However, Ecuador will go into the contest as slight favourites and know that a win is vital to their chances of reaching the last 16, with Netherlands and Senegal also to come in Group A.

Here, Sports Mole looks at some of the key men who could decide the contest for both sides.

QATAR

STAR MAN - AKRAM AFIF

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Long renowned as one of Asia's most able technicians, Akram Afif plays a crucial role in supporting Qatar's star striker Almoez Ali; boasting impressive pace and an ability to beat defenders of all shapes and sizes.

Labelled 'an unbelievable talent' and 'an amazing player' by former club coach Xavi - who should surely know about such matters - Afif plays as a winger for Qatari side Al Sadd, predominantly featuring on the left.

The highlight of his career so far was being named Asian Footballer of the Year in 2019, having starred in Qatar's Asian Cup triumph - without his wing wizardry, surely his nation would not have lifted the trophy. Registering 10 assists in all, that staggering tally set a new tournament record.

In January 2015, the Doha-born star was signed by Belgian club Eupen, scoring on his debut, before setting up three of his side's five goals next time out.

Then, in 2016, a high-profile move to Villarreal was confirmed, as he became the first Qatari-born player in La Liga history. Afif was subsequently loaned to Sporting Gijon in a season-long deal and never played for 'The Yellow Submarine'.

While his European sojourn ultimately did not work out, there remains little doubt that Afif remains his nation's chief creator, and their hopes of upsetting the odds rest heavily on the 26-year-old's shoulders.

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While Almoez Ali is by no means a new name on the international scene, he is not a player most people tuning into the World Cup will know too much about.

However, the prolific striker has every chance of being his country's standout star of the tournament, having fired them to the AFC Asian Cup title in record-breaking fashion three years ago.

Ali scored nine times in seven games as Qatar won their first-ever major continental tournament, breaking the record for the most goals by a player in a single edition of the tournament.

Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that those nine goals came from just 10 shots on target, suggesting the 26-year-old is a deadly finisher when he gets a chance in the final third.

The Al-Duhail forward will go into Sunday's curtain-raiser knowing that one more goal will see him become Qatar's outright leading scorer of all time, with an impressive 42 goals to his name from 85 caps so far.

ECUADOR

STAR MAN - ENNER VALENCIA

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Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is making a name for himself in the Premier League, with the 21-year-old believed to be on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in world football.

However, it is very difficult to look past Enner Valencia when it comes to picking a star player for Ecuador considering what he has given to the national side over the years.

The 33-year-old, who now plays his club football for Fenerbahce, has scored 35 goals in 74 appearances for his country, making him their leading goalscorer ahead of Agustin Delgado.

Valencia previously played in the Premier League for West Ham United and Everton, but he has been with Turkish giants Fenerbahce since 2020.

Ecuador's chances of success at the 2022 competition could depend on Valencia finishing off their chances, with the striker looking to add to the three goals that he netted at the 2014 World Cup.

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The Ecuadorian revolution at Brighton & Hove Albion means that the Seagulls provide three players to Gustavo Alfaro's squad - Jeremy Sarmiento, Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan.

Twenty-one-year-old Caicedo may be the one most people - including scouts for major clubs - have their eyes on, and he arguably already rivals Valencia as the team's highest-profile player.

However, Estupinan proved in qualifying that he too is a key cog in this Ecuadorian side, both in defence and going forward.

The left-back already has three international goals to his name from 28 appearances, making him the joint-fifth highest-scoring player in the squad, but it his assist threat which is perhaps the most notable aspect of his play.

The 24-year-old created 22 chances for his teammates during qualifying for this World Cup, which was more than any other defender in the South American section - no mean feat with the attacking full-backs at the disposal of Brazil and Argentina, amongst others.

Written by
Barney Corkhill