Iran's Queiroz dismisses 'mental games', hopes less politics at next World Cup

28.11.2022 - 19:09 channelnewsasia.com

AL RAYYAN, Qatar : Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday said he hoped the next World Cup would feature less about politics and more about football, stressing there were better ways to use the sport as a force for good.

Queiroz's team have been dragged into a political crisis at home, pressured by protesters seeking to challenge the legitimacy of Iran's clerical rulers to side with them publicly and condemn a deadly state crackdown.

Speaking ahead of his team's Group B match on Tuesday against the United States, Queiroz was asked about the U.S. Soccer federation temporarily displaying Iran's national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, in solidarity with the protest movement."I still believe I can win games with those mental games," he told a news conference."Those ...

events surrounding this World Cup I hope will be a lesson for all of us in the future and we learn that our mission is here to create entertainment and for 90 minutes make people happy."After Iran's opening 6-2 drubbing by England, Queiroz vented his fury over what he called harassment and political pressure that had distracted his team, who have been criticised for not speaking out strongly over the deaths of protesters, with some Iranians accusing them of siding with authorities.

Football FIFA Sporting cup Carlos Queiroz Qatar Usa Iran state Indiana county Republic

Doha : Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said his team deserved at least a draw against the United States after their 1-0 defeat on Tuesday was enough to end the side's dreams at the World Cup.

'Football gods bless those who score' - Iran coach Carlos Queiroz

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said his team deserved at least a draw against the United States after their 1-0 defeat on Tuesday was enough to end the side's dreams at the World Cup.

Sargent replaces Wright for US, Iran's Beiranvand back in goal

DOHA : U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter recalled Josh Sargent to his starting lineup for Tuesday's Group B showdown against Iran, who were boosted by the return of first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand after his recovery from concussion.

Queiroz tells Klinsmann to quit FIFA role over 'outrageous' Iran rebuke

DOHA : Iran's coach Carlos Queiroz lambasted German soccer icon Juergen Klinsmann for criticising his team's World Cup conduct, calling his remarks a "disgrace to football" and urging him to resign from his role with world governing body FIFA.

Queiroz brands Klinsmann a 'disgrace' over Iran 'culture' comments

Carlos Queiroz has called for Jurgen Klinsmann to resign from FIFA's World Cup Technical Study Group and labelled comments he made about Iran "a disgrace to football". Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990, claimed while working as a pundit for the BBC that Queiroz's side had "worked the referee" in their 2-0 victory over Wales on Friday. The former Tottenham forward said: "Carlos fits really well with the national team and their culture, he failed in South America with Colombia and then failed to qualify with Egypt, and he came in right before the World Cup with Iran, where he worked for a long time. "It is not by coincidence, it is part of their culture, how they play. "They worked the referee. They work the linesman and fourth official, they are constantly in their ear. There were a lot of incidents we didn't see. This is their culture, they take you off your game." Those comments clearly enraged Queiroz, who took to Twitter on Saturday to respond. "No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iranian culture, (the) Iran national team and my players are a disgrace to football," he wrote. "Nobody can hurt our integrity if it is not at our level, of course." Queiroz went on to invite Klinsmann to the team's training camp and meet the players "to learn from them about the country" before concluding: "We just want to follow with full attention what will be the decision of FIFA regarding your position as a member of Qatar 2022 Technical Study Group. "Because, obviously, we expect you to resign before you visit our camp."