Fifa World Cup 2022: Qatar football will survive early exit, says manager, as hosts crash out
- A 1-1 draw between Ecuador and Netherlands eliminates Qatar just hours after a 3-1 loss to Senegal had left them on brink
- Qatar become only second host nation to go out in first round following South Africa in 2010, and first after two games
Qatar’s early World Cup exit will not be fatal for the country’s football development, manager Felix Sanchez said on Friday, after the hosts became the first team to be eliminated.
A 1-1 draw between Ecuador and the Netherlands sent Qatar crashing out of the tournament just hours after a 3-1 defeat to Senegal had left them on the brink.
Qatar became only the second host nation to go out in the first round following South Africa in 2010, and the first to be eliminated after two games.
But Sanchez believes football will continue to develop in the tiny Gulf state despite the disappointment, and targeted a return to the world’s biggest stage.
“The World Cup will finish but football will continue here,” said the Spaniard, who led Qatar to the 2019 Asian Cup title.
“It’s a football country and they want to keep developing young talent so they can reach the senior team. We can keep on competing within our limitations in Asia.