Heartbreak but Iran exits with head held high

ONE of the stingiest teams at Russia, Iran’s departure from the World Cup will be a relief to teams that might have faced it in the knockout rounds.

The Asian powerhouse bowed out with a typically attritional 1-1 draw against Portugal on Monday, its fans heartbroken after Mehdi Taremi missed a last-gasp effort that would have fired it into the knockout rounds for the first time.

Its Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, a self-described “bad loser”, was incensed by the result, teeing off at the refereeing and renewing his attack on the VAR system that he said had let Cristiano Ronaldo off the hook for an elbow to the face.

Once the dust clears, Queiroz and Iran should feel hugely proud of their achievements, which included a first World Cup win in 20 years and all but grinding through one of the tournament’s toughest groups.

Few gave them much chance of reaching the last 16 in a pool also featuring Spain and Morocco, and their preparations were disrupted by political problems, with Nike declining to supply shoes over concerns it would breach US sanctions.

Iran’s ability to nullify the attacking threat of the Iberian powers may be closely examined by the teams that remain in the tournament.

Morocco could find no way through the Persian stonewall in a 0-1 loss and neither could Spain until it conceded a fortuitous Diego Costa goal, the result of a deflection pinging off his knee from an attempted clearance.

It took a wonder goal by Ricardo Quaresma to put Portugal ahead.

Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, who slept rough on the streets of Tehran as a junior while pursuing his football dream, could do nothing to stop either of the goals.

But he departs with reputation enhanced, his brilliant save on Ronaldo’s spot-kick a crowning moment in a fine tournament.

Iran’s problems were down the other end, though, where team spirit and dogged application will only get you so far. Far from playing a negative game, they created enough chances to score a hatful of goals but were let down by a mix of bad luck and poor finishing.

Iran leaves Russia with acclaim but also an uncertain future as Queiroz departs after seven years in charge.