Qatar’s World Cup dreams turn to dust

— Qatar’s 1-0 home defeat against Iran on Thursday has left the hugely ambitious country’s 2018 World Cup dreams in tatters.

The result means Qatar, chosen as the host of football’s biggest tournament in 2022, are bottom of Group A with just four points from six games.

With four matches to play, Qatar are 10 points behind leaders Iran and six points adrift of South Korea who occupy the top two spots which guarantee automatic qualification to Russia in 2018.

Even their hopes of finishing third, where Uzbekistan sit with nine points, and where they would progress to a last chance play-off now seem remote.

They are even four points back from Syria, a nomadic team, without key players, who have to play their “home” matches in Malaysia due to the ongoing civil war.

“I had big expectations for today’s result, really I am very sad,” said a forlorn Qatar coach Jorge Fossati after watching his team lose to a Mehdi Taremi goal.