We have the weapons to blunt Uruguay, Portugal coach says
IRAN COACH QUEIROZ CRIES FOUL ABOUT INCIDENT INVOLVING RONALDO
Portugal coach Fernando Santos brushed aside various video assistant referee (VAR) decisions and a subpar performance from Cristiano Ronaldo to stress his players achieved their main goal in a 1-1 draw with Iran by qualifying for the World Cup last 16.
The result, combined with Spain’s 2-2 draw with Morocco and an earlier win for Uruguay over hosts Russia in Group A, means Portugal will play Uruguay in Sochi on June 30, while Group B winners Spain will face Russia in Moscow on July 1.
“The important thing is to think about the [round of 16] match, think about the game, get to know your adversaries and then to get well prepared mentally and physically, regardless of it being Uruguay or the hosts,” Santos said of his team’s progress.
“These are different circumstance of course, the hosts have huge support and they’ve had a very good tournament, while Uruguay has high quality and top-notch players and they’re all excellent, but Portugal too, we have our weapons and we’re going to try to win.”
Ricardo Quaresma put Portugal ahead just before halftime with a lovely goal from outside the box before Ronaldo missed a chance to double their lead eight minutes into the second half when he missed a penalty awarded with the help of VAR.
At the other end, Karim Ansarifard got an equaliser for Iran in stoppage time after the referee awarded a second VARassisted penalty for handball.
The referee also consulted VAR before deciding not to send Ronaldo off after he raised an arm to Morteza Pouraliganji in the centre of the field while chasing a long ball.
People like Ronaldo “want to be the best and, when they fail, they get upset,” Santos said of the Real Madrid forward, who looked agitated by the tight defending and his lack of opportunities.
“I wasn’t concerned [by the three VAR decisions],” Santos added. “It seemed like a normal thing in the match. The referee ■ did what he had to do. I think the VAR did its job and that’s what we have to accept.”
Man of the match Quaresma praised his side’s determination and said he was eager for the mouth-watering prospect of a last 16 encounter with twice World Cup winners Uruguay.
Santos’ counterpart Carlos Queiroz reacted angrily after the draw, saying Ronaldo should have been sent off for what he said was an elbow in the face of Pouraliganji, and Iran should have been awarded at least one more penalty.
Queiroz tears into VAR
Queiroz also implicitly criticised the refereeing and renewed his attacks on the VAR system. “Only one winner could come out in this game and it should have been Iran,” Queiroz told reporters. “We deserved to win. I am a bad loser, I am proud but frustrated.”
Queiroz was incensed by an incident in the 80th minute when Ronaldo sent Pouraliganji to the ground. The referee consulted the VAR to see if it was a red card, then decided to hand the Portuguese captain a yellow.
“An elbow is a red card.
Uruguay took top spot in Group A by keeping a Russia side that scored eight in two games to half-chances.
The rules do not say what if it is Ronaldo or Messi. It is a red card. The decisions must be clear,” Queiroz said.
Pressed on whether he thought referees treated stars such as Ronaldo leniently, he said. “You need to ask them.”
“I am not in a good mood, as you can see. There could have been at least one more penalty against Portugal, at least one.
“Five guys sitting upstairs and they don’t see an elbow. Give me a break.” Asked what he thought of the refereeing, Queiroz said: “I have a clear opinion but I need to measure my words. I have to be careful.”