Iran coach Carlos Queiroz with his players during training ahead of the clash against the US. REUTERS
Doha: Iran meet the United States in their final match of World Cup Group B today at Al Thumama Stadium in a high-stakes game where the winners will reach the knockout stage.
The 10pm game has attracted the world's attention owing to reasons off the football pitch but team coaches mostly deflected questions about politics and controversies at pre-match media briefings.
“If after 42 years in this game as a coach, I still believe I can win games with those mental games, I think I’ve learned nothing about the game,” Iran’s veteran
Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz said.
“This is not the case.”
Queiroz said nobody can predict results at a World Cup.
“This is the World Cup, all the results are unpredictable,” said Queiroz.
“Everything comes from the inspiration and organisation of the players on the day. We have a strong belief that we can play good football tomorrow [today]. Nothing happens if we don’t play good football."
“But for us it’s a soccer game against a good team. And it’s not much more than that. It’s a knockout game between two good teams that want to get to the next round,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said.
Ahead of the game, in Group B England have 4 points, Iran 3, the US 2 and Wales 1 after playing two games each. England are scheduled to meet Wales also at 10pm today.
Queiroz also praised the US team’s performance at Qatar 2022 where they drew with Wales and England saying Berhalter’s side had made a “jump from soccer to football”.
“We play a very, very good team, very well organised with the same dream and same goal in mind,” Queiroz said.
“I hope tomorrow my boys will be able to put together their heads, their souls, their skills and the will to win. I hope that they will get the result that gives us a passport for the second round.”
Iran had a famous 2-1 win over the US at the World Cup in 1998.
USA’s players take part in a training session at Al Gharafa Sports Club in Doha. AFP
Former US international Berhalter who covered that match as a television commentator, said it’s still in his mind.
“That game sticks in my mind, it burns in my mind,” he said.
“What I saw from the opening whistle is one team that really wanted to win the game and one team that didn’t want to win the game. Iran wanted to win the game with everything - they played really committed, really focused from the first whistle.”
“For us to win the game tomorrow that’s going to have to be the mindset of our group ... We don’t want to make the mistakes of the past,” he added.
When: Today at 10pm
Where: Al Thumama Stadium (Capacity: 44,400)
Key stats:
- Iran were thrashed 6-2 by England in their group opener but then recovered to beat Wales 2-0.
- The US have two draws, 0-0 against England after their opening 1-1 with Wales.
- Iran have never gone past the group stage.
- The US returns to the World Cup for the first time in eight years after failing to qualify for the 2018 showcase in Russia.
- Defender DeAndre Yedlin is the only player in the US squad with any
World Cup experience.
- With a spot in the knockout stages at stake, there will be added significance
to a politically charged clash.
- The geopolitical rivals have met once before at a World Cup in France 1998 in what at the time was dubbed "The Mother of All Games".
- Iran's 2-1 win over the US that day was their first-ever victory at a World Cup.
- Prior to the match Iran presented the US team with white roses.
Previous meetings:
- The two sides have met just twice before with the US having yet to win.
- Iran won their first meeting 2-1 at the 1998 World Cup before drawing 1-1 in an international friendly in 2000.
