At last, the build-up to the most controversial World Cup in living memory was over as the footballing action got underway in Doha, Qatar today.
The hosts, making a World Cup debut facilitated by a corrupt bidding process and countless human rights abuses, took on Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium.
It unfolded as an opening game that felt unlike any other in World Cup history.
This was an even more sterile and forced atmosphere than the battle of authoritarian states Russia and Saudi Arabia back in 2018, which was no surprise given all the negative elements of how this tournament has been awarded and subsequently defended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
But thank god that Ecuador were there.
The South Americans showed no fear on their return to this stage, with a squad that mostly hadn’t been at a World Cup before demonstrating their class.
It didn’t take long for La Tri to open the scoring, although captain Enner Valencia was denied his first goal by a marginal offside inside the first five minutes.
Valencia, looking so much more confident as an out-and-out number nine than he ever seemed in his Premier League days, or during the 2014 World Cup, was the scorer of both first-half goals to put a dominant Ecuador well ahead.
The first, from a clear penalty conceded by Qatari goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, was slotted away with impeccable calm, and the second was a free header that exposed poor defensive organisation from the hosts.
His evening was curtailed somewhat by a jarring of his knee late in the first half, which eventually forced him off in the 76th minute, but his job was done; he had bagged two goals in 20 minutes, which is more in the World Cup than many players get in their entire careers.
Wayne Rooney, for example, only ever scored once on the biggest international stage.
Elsewhere, Ecuador were solid and full of flair. Brighton’s Pervis Estupiñán and Moises Caicedo were excellent – although I am biased – as they passed and moved metronomically to break the lines of the burgundy-clad Qataris.
As Qatar fell flat and barely threatened – bar a misdirected header from Almoez Ali at the end of the first half – it seemed that their project to improve the national team, which started well before winning their bid in 2010, never did enough.
Sure, they were Asia Cup champions in 2019, but on this stage where it really mattered, they were made to look distinctly average.
Their 5-3-2 formation offered width that they never took advantage of, with wing-backs Pedro Miguel and Homam Ahmed looking rather redundant whilst hugging the touchlines during build-up play.
By the late stages, they went direct and had a decent opportunity, with substitute Mohammed Muntari firing the Al Rihla ball marginally over the crossbar.
It was a shame, in certain respects, to see Qatar be so bereft of quality.
If anything should come out of this World Cup for them, it should be the legacy for their footballers.
Should their team do this poorly in all three matches and bow out without grabbing a goal against very good outfits in the Netherlands and Senegal, the inspiration it would give the country’s youngsters is questionable.
It would only heighten the importance of the sportswashing element of this tournament, too, with the whole façade of trying to spread football to different corners of the globe rather falling apart if the same established powers continue to win.
We shall see what happens, though.
For today, Ecuador were the victors, and well deserved too, with such ease that they could really just play at their own pace in the second half.
Harder challenges will come for them, and Group A should unfold in a fascinating manner for the three competitive teams.
Tomorrow brings much greater excitement; Group B kicking off.
Of course, that means England vs Iran, followed by a Group A interlude of Senegal vs Netherlands and then the USA vs Wales.
We have no idea what to expect in this most unpredictable of World Cups, so it will be an intriguing watch.
Enjoy, Three Lions fans!
Feature Image Credit: BBC Sport YouTube