FIFA World Cup
A 3-1 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina meant Qatar fell short of staying in contention for a place in the Round of 32 but will depart having earned their first ever point on the global stage.
Spaniard Lopetegui said he rated Qatar's campaign as very positive despite the premature end.
"Today was a a big disappointment but this last match allowed us to take one step ahead in Qatar football, Qatar history."
"Today was a a big disappointment but this last match allowed us to take one step ahead in Qatar football, Qatar history."
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"I think that they (the players) showed that, at least, we were able to compete in these kinds of matches."
The two-time AFC Asian Cup™ champions opened their campaign with a last-gasp 1-1 draw and then suffered a 6-0 defeat to Canada in a match in which they were reduced to nine men.
The two-time AFC Asian Cup™ champions opened their campaign with a last-gasp 1-1 draw and then suffered a 6-0 defeat to Canada in a match in which they were reduced to nine men.
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Lopetegui said appearing on the global stage on merit for the first time would help lay the foundation for Qatar's future generation of players.
"I don't know if this will be or not the last match for some of them but the young players, they have to learn and take this example for the future, to be able to have other possibilities in history."
Photos: AFP
"I don't know if this will be or not the last match for some of them but the young players, they have to learn and take this example for the future, to be able to have other possibilities in history."
Photos: AFP
