Bosnia Qatar ended 3-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on Wednesday. Sergej Barbarez's side finished third in Group B on four points. Qatar were eliminated. Bosnia now await confirmation of a knockout place as a best third-placed team.
Bosnia Qatar ended 3-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on Wednesday. Sergej Barbarez's side finished third in Group B on four points. Qatar were eliminated. Bosnia now await confirmation of a knockout place as a best third-placed team.
Five days earlier, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 4-1 to Switzerland after conceding four times in the closing 20 minutes. Sergej Barbarez told his players not to dwell on it. "We will not whine now," the coach said then.
The response came in Seattle. Bosnia beat Qatar 3-1 to finish third in Group B on four points, leaving them in strong shape to reach the knockout rounds for the first time. Qatar were knocked out.
Bosnia tested goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada twice inside the opening four minutes, with Ermedin Demirović and Ivan Šunjić both denied. The breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute when 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegović beat two defenders and drove an unstoppable shot into the corner. Five minutes later Sead Kolašinac crossed for Edin Džeko, whose volley deflected off Sultan Al-Brake for an own goal. Hassan Al-Haydos pulled one back from close range in the 42nd minute, before Ermin Mahmić blasted a third in the 80th to settle it.
Alajbegović, who scored in his country's first goal of the night, became Bosnia and Herzegovina's youngest World Cup scorer. He also ranks among the eighth-youngest scorers in the tournament's history. Džeko, the 40-year-old striker, captained the side on his 150th cap. Mahmić scored for the second match running, having also found the net in the 4-1 loss to Switzerland.
The win was only Bosnia's second at a World Cup. Their sole previous appearance came in 2014.
Qatar's tournament ended in the group stage for a second time, after their 2022 campaign as hosts. They drew 1-1 with Switzerland for their first World Cup point, then lost 6-0 to Canada before the defeat in Seattle.
Julen Lopetegui asked his players to take pride in the journey. The campaign was "very positive, despite today (being) a big disappointment," he told reporters. He pointed to the next wave of players. "I think that they showed that at least we were able to compete in these kinds of matches," Lopetegui said.
Al-Haydos, Qatar's most-capped player, was forced off injured in the 55th minute. Pedro Miguel struck the post in first-half stoppage time, Qatar's clearest sight of a route back.
Qatar were also without Assim Madibo, who FIFA banned for five matches on Wednesday after a tackle that broke the leg of Canada's Ismael Kone earlier in the group.
The eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups reach the Round of 32. Bosnia's place could be confirmed by Thursday's fixtures. Should they hold a top-eight ranking, they are most likely to meet the United States in the knockout round.
