Xuenou > Sports > Hapless Qatari shot-stopper once won Golden Glove at major international tournament
Hapless Qatari shot-stopper once won Golden Glove at major international tournament
Hapless Qatari shot-stopper once won Golden Glove at major international tournament,Qatar shot-stopper Saad Al-Sheeb made a poor start to the World Cup after bungling his way through his side's defeat to Ecuador, but he hasn't always been so hapless

Hapless Qatari shot-stopper once won Golden Glove at major international tournament

Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb stole the show on the opening day of the 2022 World Cup … but for all the wrong reasons.

The 32-year-old flapped and scrambled his way through a disastrous first half against Ecuador. He conceded a penalty after scything down Enner Valencia and had to be bailed out by VAR after his failed punch led to an early Ecuador opener before technology got involved.

Fans on social media quickly started ripping into him, with some branding him "the worst keeper in World Cup history", but what they probably don't know is that he won the 'Best Goalkeeper' award at the 2019 Asian Cup.

READ MORE: Fans claim Qatar World Cup 'rigged' as early Ecuador goal is chalked off

Qatar were crowned champions of the tournament – which featured the likes of South Korea, Japan, Iran and Australia – with Al-Sheeb playing a starring role.

Incredibly, the gulf nation conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, in their 3-1 win in the final against Japan, scored by former Liverpool man Takumi Minamino.

Is Al-Sheeb the worst goalkeeper at the World Cup? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Al-Sheeb conceded a first-half penalty (Image: GETTY)
He won the 'best goalkeeper' award at the Asian Cup in 2019 - and 10,000 USD!
He won the 'best goalkeeper' award at the Asian Cup in 2019 – and 10,000 USD! (Image: GETTY)

It was the first major honour Qatar had ever won, and they did it in style, seeing off some of the strongest sides on the continent.

They'll be hoping to rekindle some of that form and confidence over the coming days, though judging by their opening day defeat to Ecuador, doing so doesn't appear too likely.

READ NEXT:

  • Why Qatar bizarrely lined up against Lionel Messi and co in the 2019 Copa America
  • Six World Cup sex scandals from Frank Ribery to United States captain getting sent home

  • Eden Hazard admits he is no longer the player he was but he can still do 'great things'