FERNANDO SANTOS ON WORLD CUP DRAW: «VERY DECEPTIVE GROUP»

The coach of the Portuguese National Team commented on the draw for the 2018 World Cup, which put Spain, Iran and Morocco in group B with Portugal. “Portugal has to take its share of responsibility when looking at a group of these teams, but when we notice the interest and  the attention, we realize that it will be a very difficult group. Right from the start in the first game, Portugal-Spain. It is important that we win this. Then for the two other teams that we are going to play, Iran finished their qualifying groups matches unbeaten.”vhe said after the draw, stressing why this is a” tricky group.”

“Spain is naturally the favorite team, as I have always said. “This is not the first time I say it or because I am going to face Spain. I have always said that it is one of the favorite teams to win this World Cup and Portugal is in charge of doing what it has done, which is to look for every game to win, “he said

MOROCCO coach : “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE”

Hervé Renard, Morocco coach was pleased with the draw for the 2018 World Cup, which put Portugal, Spain and Iran in the same group as Morocco team. “We are so happy to be in the World Cup we have to face this group with great motivation. The worst we could do was that we were just satisfied with the qualifiers,” the Frenchman told TMC . “The first game with Iran will be decisive for the rest of the group, then we play against Portugal, and then with Spain, which everyone wants to avoid. We will do everything to qualify to the next round. Even if it seems difficult, in football nothing is impossible. You have to believe it, “he concluded.

“Yes,  I said to him to be calm, and take it easy …” Queiroz jokes

Carlos Queiroz, Iran coach, commented on the draw for the 2018 World Cup, which saw duels with Portugal, Spain and Morocco in Group B. “Personally I’m very happy because it’s a group with two very special country teams for me. For Iran, it’s going to be a very tough competition. It would always be so, regardless of the group. But when you have Spain, World Champion and Portugal, champion of Europe … for me, I could not have done better, ” he began by saying at the end of the draw that took place in Moscow on Friday.

Asked who is stronger, whether Portugal or Spain: «Well … first we will play with Morocco and then we start to prepare very well for the following games. What matters most is playing with ambition and leaving the World Cup with honor. No doubt Spain and Portugal are favorites, unless they make mistakes. It is unlikely. ” 

Queiroz confessed that he had already discussed the draw with his Spanish counterpart:” Yes, we have. I said to him to be calm, and take it easy …” (laughs). “

 

“PORTUGAL HAS A LOT OF FANTASTIC PLAYERS” LOPETEGUI

The Spanish national team has launched a first approach to the 2018 World Cup draw, which saw them drawn with Portugal, Iran and Morocco. “It’s a difficult group, complicated and it’s going to be tough. It is a World Cup and no team is easy, ” Julen Lopetegui quoted, When asked about facing Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular, he said. “It’s not the time to talk about names. Portugal is the European champion, have a group of fantastic players, driven in a fantastic way. We are talking about the highest level of football. ” said the former FC Porto coach.

EUROPE PRESS

12/01/201717: 45
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has confirmed that both Spain and Portugal, “special” rivals in Group B at the 2018 World Cup, are clear “favorites” to advance to the round of 16, and praised the “quality” and the “intensity” of the players directed by Julen Lopetegui.

“They are favorites, unless there is an error,” he said in a statement to Cuatro after the FIFA World Cup 2018 drawing ceremonies  of the group stage, which took place this Friday in Moscow, before joking with his conversation with the Spanish coach. “I told him to be quiet,” he said with a laugh.

Thus, the Portuguese, ex-coach of Real Madrid, acknowledged that the draw has brought him two “special” rivals for him. “I am very happy, we have had two special places for me, first Portugal and then Spain, it is going to be a very tough competition, when you are with Spain, world champion, and Portugal, European champion, it can not be better for me, “he stressed.

On ‘the Red’, the Portuguese confessed that he worries “everything”, including “the quality of the players, the intensity and rhythm.” “We have to play with Morocco and prepare very well, we are facing the World Cup with great enthusiasm, with a lot of respect, and we want to go out to our World Cup matches with great dignity,” he concluded.

Team Melli will face the World Cup 2010 winners Spain, European Cup winners Portugal and the African Team Morocco in Group B of FIFA World Cup 2018.

Carlos Queiroz will have a tough time against his country team and World Champions Spain while the Africans are also a quality team that cannot be taken lightly.

Full program for Team Melli

15th-June-2018

18:00

St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg 

Iran vs. Morocco

 

 

20th-June-2018

21:00

Kazan Arena , Kazan

Spain vs Iran

 

 

25th-June-2018

21:00

Mordovia Arena , Saransk 

Iran vs. Portugal

 

 

Two goals by the Syrians, ended the impressive record held by Iran in the qualifying rounds of the FIFA

In the last round of the competition, Syria surprised the huge fans in Azadi by taking the lead in the 13th minute of the match after a very poor clearance by Biranvand in goal allowing Tamer Haj Mohamad to head the rebound.

 Sardar Azmoun equalized for Team Melli in the added time of the first half by chesting the ball  into the empty net from a rebounded shot.

In the second half, Team Melli seemed to be in a mission and after long periods of controlling the game, Azmoun once again scored from a neat play with a simple slide of the ball. 

The Syrians did not give up despite their poor showing however, a real blunder in the dying minutes of the game by Alireza Biranvand, allowed Omer Al Souma to slide the ball between his legs into the empty net. It was an embarrassing goal to concede for a keeper that has kept 12 continuous clean sheets!. Biranvand was not at his best in the game and was faulted in both goals. The match ended 2-2 while the jubilant Syrian celebrated making the play-off round following Uzbekistan failure to beat Korea Rep. in Tashkent.

Team Melli played a good game and this draw has not tarnished its image , although a win would have been the real icing in the cake for the team. Of course,  changes are expected in the line up  with less than a year from the World Cup.

Man of the Match: Ashkan Degagah:

The midfielder who has been released by VfL Wolfsburg at the ed of last season played one of his best matches in a long time. He was the dynamo and spread the ball brilliantly. His performance and the quality of football he displayed was an eye candy for Team Melli fans.

After some break , Sardar Azmoun did what he does best, score goals. This was his 21st gaol for Team Melli in 27 matches. It is an incredible record for a player who is only 22 years old.

 

Team Melli shut down the Korean machine once again and prevented over 66,000 fans in the landmark World Cup stadium from leaving the stadium cheerfully. Iran drew away to South Korea, the only team in these FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers that have left the Korean soil with a point.

The two teams have been rivals in Asia for many decades but this particular match was significant for both each having its own reason.

It was the Korean coach Shin Tae-yong’s first official match in charge after his predecessor, the Germen Uli Stielike was sacked following a 3-2 defeat by lowly Qatar in the last match.

Victory in Shin Tae-yong’s first match in charge would have secured second place in Group A for Korea with Uzbekistan beaten 1-0 by China, but they could not find the breakthrough goal despite group winners Iran seeing Saeid Ezatolahi dismissed for kicking Kim Min-jae in the head after 52 minutes.

Frankly, South Korea despite its star studded team and a marquee player in Son Heung-min , the Tottenham midfielder, did not show much improvement against Iran under the new coach. Their offensive threat was no more than mild and only few balls eventually reached Biranvand in goal and none in anger.

Iran did not have to win, so Queiroz built his team on the basis of not losing. A solid defensive game plan where defending started deep in the middle of the field, was good enough to hold the Koreans at bay.

Team Melli vs.Korea Rep. record

	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	G. DIFF
Total	30	13	8	9	32 – 32	+0

 

Queiroz was not going to allow the Koreans to get the better of him and he proved that he can pick his players to do exactly what he wants. The wide gap of experience between Shin Tae-yong & Carlos Queiroz showed in this match as the Korean coach failed to change the game plan, his offensive plans or change his offensive tactics to break the Iranians. Queiroz, on the other hand, easily adapted to losing a player and still keep the steadfast defense intact.

Saeid Ezatolahi seriously let Carlos Queiroz down. The Portuguese coach swears by the European based player for some very good reasons, discipline and professionalism being a couple of those attributes. However, The Rostov midfielder was a prime example of petulant and unprofessional act when he stepped on the Korean player’s head despite the Korean being guilty of rough play.

Such childish act was not in Queiroz’s script and he had to adapt and do some enforced changes. However, although the cunning Portuguese had very little problem in changing his line up to accommodate the loss of one midfielder, he has done that on the expense of falling short in the forward line allowing the Koreans to increase the pressure on his defenders.

One amazing performance in this match belonged to the Team Melli fans in the World Cup Stadium. The small groups of Iranian fans were vocal and supported Team melli with passion. Their chant of Iran was heard all over and clearly picked up by the TV microphones.

Team Melli players greeted those fans at the end of the match.

Syria is the last match and another meaningless encounter; however this proud record of clean sheet must be protected at all cost. It is now a mission.

 

The line up for the match starting at 21:30 local time in World Cup Stadium , between Korea Rep and Iran has been announced.

The big news is that Ehsan Hajsafy is not only is in the squad , but also starting the match. On the other hand, there is no place fr the new boy Saman Ghoddos and the prolific striker Sardar Azmoun. Queiroz has decided to pick Reza Ghoochannejad over Azmoun as the Heerenveen striker has been doing quite well and enjoying a good form in the EREDIVISIE.

Striker is and playing well in the Erdivisi.