FRIBOURG (Switzerland), July 14: Milovan Rajevac wants to create football history as the first man to lead Qatar to the World Cup.The Serbian coach has a difficult mission, though, in trying to give the wealthy 2022 World Cup host credibility on the field to match its status as a player in football politics.

Hired in February, Rajevac’s task truly begins next week when the 94th-ranked Qataris start their qualification road to Brazil 2014 with a tricky preliminary-round tie against Vietnam.

Rajevac will be richly rewarded for success, although his 3 1/2-year contract could mean little if Qatar are eliminated in the two-leg series before the main draw is even made on July 30 in Rio de Janeiro.

However, he said he is motivated by making history, not money.

“That is the most important thing, the greatest satisfaction. This is something that you cannot buy,” Rajavec said, after his team’s final match of a brief European training camp on Tuesday.

“This is an excellent challenge to leave a mark in this country and help them achieve their dreams. It would be just confirmation for everything I did with Ghana.”

Last year, Rajevac’s Ghana team eliminated the US in the second round before coming within touching distance of being the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final.

In a notorious act of gamesmanship, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez used a hand to block a goal-bound shot in the final minute of extra-time, denying what would have been Ghana’s winning goal.

The resultant penalty struck the crossbar, as the red-carded Suarez danced a jig of delight near the tunnel, and Uruguay won the ensuing shootout.—AP