Editorial
It was arguably the best performance that an Iranian team has displayed in a World Cup, perhaps only challenged by that glorious win against USA in Lyon in 1998.
Carlos Queiroz displayed a masterclass in coaching a young team against the icons of world football. Spain. The land of Real Madrid and Barcelona, the World Champions, European champions and the richest country in football.
Like him or hate him, Carlos Queiroz is a genius and has no fear of any team in the world including the best of them. When his team defends, it is a bastion, a fortress which was only broken by a fortuitous goal. When the teams intend to attack, like they did after conceding the goal, they are real threats.
Vahid Amiri’s bamboozling of Gerard Pique and leaving him for dead, after he slipped the ball between the legs of the Barcelona defender, perhaps highlighted the ability and the skill of the Team Melli players.
The disallowed goal by Saeid Ezatolahi, which was rightly called by the help of the VAR, was a huge disappointment and heartbreaking moment especially after the wild celebrations, however what followed and the chances that the Team Melli boys created, endeared this young and brave team. There was no shame in losing so narrowly to the mighty Spaniards, no shame at all. It was a performance full of grit and passion. It was a winning performance, but shame about the result. Iran deserved better.
Kudos to Team Melli players for a fine performance that will linger in the memories of the fan and critics for long time to come. Kudos to Carlos Queiroz, a brave man by all meanings of the word, for putting confidence in a 22 years old rookie with 3 caps in the center of defense in a World Cup match against a title contender and a World Cup champion. And the icing on the cake was the excellent performance of the boy, Majid Hosseini, who delivered and hardly put a foot wrong.
Regardless to the result versus Portugal, which the fans of course dearly like to see a repeat performance, the team and the coach have already done us proud.
