Qatar’s World Cup campaign came to an end on Wednesday with a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving Julen Lopetegui’s side bottom of Group B with one point from three matches.
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The result ended Qatar’s hopes of reaching the knockout rounds, but many supporters watching the match in Doha said they backed the national team to the hilt.
“We have to look at it in an optimistic way,” Doha-based influencer Ahmad Qablawe said after the match. “I think the coach made some mistakes. But it’s still historic that we are at the World Cup.”
Qatar briefly gave their fans hope when captain Hassan Al Haydos scored before half-time to reduce the two-goal deficit and make it 2-1.
Yet Bosnia’s young striker Ermin Mahmić, who came in for captain and star forward Edin Džeko, restored the Western Balkan country’s two-goal lead in the second half, sealing the final result despite Qatar’s late push.
For content creator Ahmed Alnoufali, better known as Pato, the disappointment did not change his belief in the team.
“Hard luck to the Qatar national team,” he said. “We will support them forever because I think Qatar deserves more than this. Insha’Allah, the next World Cup will be better.”
Qatar left the tournament without a win, having collected its first-ever World Cup point after drawing with Switzerland earlier in the group stage.
For many fans in Doha, the disappointment was obvious, but so was the hope that the team would return stronger next time.
