Qatar head coach Julen Lopetegui praised his players’ resilience and mentality after they claimed their first-ever FIFA World Cup point on foreign soil with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Switzerland.
The Asian champions looked set for defeat after falling behind to Breel Embolo’s 17th-minute penalty in their Group B clash in the San Francisco Bay Area.
However, Qatar refused to collapse under pressure and secured a memorable result deep into stoppage time when Switzerland defender Miro Muheim accidentally headed Homam Ahmed’s cross into his own net while under pressure from Boualem Khoukhi.
Despite Switzerland dominating large spells of the game and registering 26 attempts on goal, Qatar’s defensive discipline and late attacking push earned them a valuable point.
Reflecting on the performance, Lopetegui highlighted the importance of the result against a strong Swiss side.
“It was already historic just being here. To get a point today against Switzerland, who for me are one of the best teams in Europe right now – really solid, with continuity with their coach and top players from top leagues – is important.”
The Qatar boss admitted his side had to endure difficult moments but praised the players for staying focused after conceding.
“For that to happen, you need a set of circumstances like those today. We were able to survive difficult moments, we didn’t lose composure when behind, which was important.”
Lopetegui believes the late equaliser was a reward for Qatar’s determination and belief throughout the match.
“And at the end we got the reward with that goal which gave us that point which had never existed [for us].”
The result marks a significant milestone for Qatar, who are competing at the World Cup on foreign territory for the first time after hosting the previous edition in 2022.
With one point secured against one of Europe’s top-ranked teams, Lopetegui’s side will now look to build momentum as they continue their Group B campaign.
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