Iran coach Carlos Queiroz
Doha: Carlos Queiroz paid tribute to his players’ efforts to pull themselves back into their clash with the United States at Al Thumama Stadium on Tuesday as Iran crashed out of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic scored the only goal of the game eight minutes before the end of the first half to take Greg Berhalter’s side into the Round of 16 as runners-up in Group B behind England with the Iranians having to settle for a third place finish.
“Naturally it’s important to say that the dream is over with this result in this game,” Queiroz said.
“The first half was the US, they started the game much better than us. They were quick, with better control of the game, passing and moving. They created a couple of chances and they deserved to score, no doubt about that.
“The second half was the opposite. We came back strong, we start to close and stop all the movements of the US and step-by-step the team was going back and we created enough opportunities I think.”
“We created more clear opportunities than the US in the first half, but unfortunately football always punishes the team that doesn’t score and it’s simple. The team that scored in the first half moves forward.
“We played better than the US in the second half, we created opportunities, we didn’t score and we are punished with the result. I think it’s fair to say we should score in the second half and the draw was the right result of this game.
“But in football fair does not exist, that player doesn’t play. The reality is this.”
The Iranians were fortunate to go into the interval trailing by a solitary goal as the Americans dominated in midfield through Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah while right back Sergino Dest often had free rein down the touchline.
It was from a header across goal by Dest following Musah’s angled pass that Pulisic scored the only goal of the game, moments before Timothy Weah thought he had added a second, but that was ruled out for offsde.
The Iranians put on a more spirited performance after the break, with Saman Ghoddos heading off target after replacing Sardar Azmoun at the interval and Morteza Pouralighani going close in the dying seconds as Queiroz’s team grew increasingly desperate.
Matt Turner in the US goal, however, was rarely troubled and Team Melli’s toothless display cost the Iranians a first-ever berth in the knockout rounds in their sixth appearance at the FIFA World Cup.
“When you don’t score you just can’t dream that you will go forward,” said Queiroz. “But there are no ifs in football, there are no fair opinions when you finish a game.
“What you need to know is to deal with the reality and come back stronger, better and be sure the next time when Iran qualify to prepare better and have the mind, the spirit, the soul in the game and keep going, trying to win respect, appreciation and credibility all over the world. They deserve that for what they’ve been doing inside the pitch.”
