Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Penalty controversy as coach hails underdogs
was eventually shown yellow. But the biggest controversy was the handball call, which gave Karim Ansarifard the chance to equalise from the spot.
That goal cancelled out a superb strike from Ricardo Quaresma on the stroke of half-time, which ultimately saw Portugal through to a secondround meeting with Uruguay while group winners Spain face Russia.
Coach Fernando Santos said: “The important thing is to think about the last-16 match, to get to know your adversaries and then to get well prepared mentally and physically, regardless of it being Uruguay or the hosts.
“These are different circumstances, 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.”
Alan Shearer slammed referee Enrique Caceres and VAR after the decision to award Iran the late penalty.
“If he thinks that’s a deliberate handball then he’s crazy,” the BBC pundit said during the post-match analysis.
“In his rulebook every time it hits a hand it’s a penalty. It’s ridiculous. How can he do anything about that? He’s half a yard away and the defender’s eyes are closed. There’s no way on earth that’s deliberate.
“That was my fear coming into this tournament, that you’re going to get decisions like this.”