QUEIROZ JOY AS IRAN GATHER MOMENTUM

Brisbane: Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has said the AFC Asian Cup Group C winners will head into the quarter-finals with a full squad ready to make a run at the title.
Queiroz tweaked his line-up for Iran’s 1-0 injury-time win over the United Arab Emirates on Monday and came away satisfied with how the entire team stepped up to unseat Mahdi Ali’s side from the top spot.

After making it a perfect three-from-three in the group phase, Iran will likely avoid defending champions and Group D leaders Japan at the first hurdle of the knockout stage on Friday.

“The changes reflected two yellow cards in the squad and one injury, as well as the chance to use some players with fresh legs especially in the front line,” Queiroz said.

“Now we have a full squad ready to play, both tactically and mentally, as the young boys gained some experience and did very well. My plan was also to use some aces later on if it was necessary, and the experience of the players that came on played a big role in the match.

“It was a good win against the UAE as in my opinion they are the best football team in West Asia – they have beautiful players and good combinations and have played together for a long time. It is difficult to play against them as they play like a club team.

“(We) showed good concentration and played with a fantastic attitude and were willing to sacrifice for the team. We played a passing game and were better than UAE in terms of penetration and movement. It was a great football game, very emotional and skilful.”

Samsung Player of the Match Reza Ghoochannejhad was one of those aces Queiroz referred to, winning the game in the 91st minute off the bench. Iran’s last-eight opponents will likely be Iraq in what could be a highly-charged affair in Canberra.

“Congratulations to both teams but I think Iran was more efficient today,” said the Kuwait-based Ghoochannejhad. “Luckily we scored in the dying seconds. Our team showed amazing spirit and chemistry. Right now everyone is happy but we have to focus on the upcoming days.

“There is still a chance we play Japan, but it’ll probably be Iraq. If we play Iraq it’s up to the coach. We trust the coach that tactically, he’ll come up with very strong organisation, with a good plan and we just have to do what he asks from us on the pitch.”

 

 

 

Carlos Queiroz interview

 

 

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Mehdi Ali : We didn’t deserve to lose

 

Brisbane: United Arab Emirates coach Mahdi Ali said his team deserved points from their heart-breaking 1-0 defeat to Iran in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup on Monday.

UAE did not have a single shot on target against a very determined Iranian side who won the group after an intense affair at Brisbane Stadium where substitute Reza Ghoochannejhad ended the stalemate in stoppage time.

UAE only needed a draw to move on to the quarter-finals as the group’s first-place team but Ghoochannejhad’s 91st-minute header now have them facing a potentially very difficult opponent.

Carlos Queiroz’s Iran will face the runners-up of Group D which will likely be either Iraq or Jordan. UAE, on the other hand, are set to play the Group D winners, expected to be holders Japan.

“This is football,” Ali said. “Sometimes, you see the side of football you don’t want to see. We didn’t deserve to lose the game but we lost. Now we have to focus on our game against Japan.

“We were not playing this game to try to avoid Japan. We wanted to win the group because it would have given us more motivation for the second round. We don’t have a problem playing Japan or any other team.”

Ali did not make any substitutions and defended his decision to stick with the first team, saying he felt they were playing well enough to win the match.

“We didn’t make any substitutions because we were doing well,” he said. “We were playing good football and had many chances. That’s why we made no changes.

“The players knew they played well and I think that will help them relax a little bit. I thanked them for their effort and the game they played.”

The manager also defended his young playmaker, Omar Abdulrahman of Al Ain, who showed flashes of his brilliance but was neutralised by the Iranian defence for large patches of the game.

“Sometimes you play well and you lose,” Ali said of his playmaker. “I think Omar is talented and has a great future. He is one of the best players of the tournament and we are happy with his performance here.”