RIYADH: Many Qatari fans will be left wondering what could have been had head coach Julen Lopetegui instructed the team to play with the same attacking intent they showed after going 2-0 down.
The score might have been different. Qatar might have had a fighting chance to reach their first knockout-stage appearance. Alas, it was not to be.
What happened in first-half stoppage time, however, will be a memory Qatari fans are unlikely to forget.
Pedro Miguel, fresh off making one of his trademark overlapping runs on the right, found himself in a prime attacking position behind the Bosnian defense with a chance to equalize.
Akram Afif threaded a neat pass, giving Miguel enough space to test Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Miguel struck the post, leaving Qatari fans in a state of disbelief.
