Quaresma: “Queiroz should show more respect”
Portugal versus Iran may have not been the highest quality football match played at World Cup 2018, but it was certainly one of the most tense and dramatic, adorned with a wonder goal and a slew of controversial VAR decisions.
Emotions were running high at the end of the ninety minutes, with Carlos Queiroz furiously arguing that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo should have been sent off, and a number of Portugal players expressing their displeasure at how Iran’s Portuguese coach had conducted himself. PortuGOAL brings you all the match reaction.
Portugal coach, Fernando Santos
“We started well, had control of the game and Iran had only one or two counter-attacks in the first half. Things started to get complicated for us when they adopted a man-for-man marking system all over the pitch. Portugal’s players didn’t understand what was happening and William got lost and the match became more to and fro.”
“At the break we rectified matters and in the second half we took control again. We should have been more clinical but we ended up conceding. Afterwards, of course, we knew Iran would take risks and throw everything at us, especially in the air. The most important thing was to qualify and by the grace of God we did.”
“The Ronaldo red card review? I wasn’t worried because it was a normal collision. The referee did what he had to do, using the VAR three times. He gave two penalties and gave Ronaldo a yellow card. I haven’t seen the replays to give an opinion, but I think the referee did his job.”
Iran coach, Carlos Queiroz
“The rules say an elbow is a red card. There are no half elbows. It doesn’t matter if it’s Lionel Messi or Ronaldo. We need to know what’s going on and nobody lets us see. We have a system in place that costs a fortune and nobody’s taking responsibility. When there is a VAR decision, we have to know who’s making the decisions.”
“I’ve been a coach for 36 years and for 20 years for international teams: almost eight for Iran and 12 with Portugal. That’s 20 years of my life working for two national teams, so this was a special match for me. At the end of the match I was greeted by my friend Fernando Santos, Carlos Godinho [FPF director] and some players: Adrien, Bruno Alves, Cédric and Beto.”
“But I can’t remember any others who acknowledged me, and some of them I was coaching when they were teenagers. When I play against Spanish or Brazilian players who I have trained they all come to greet me.”
“There’s no such thing as a moral victory in football, although success for us and success for Portugal cannot be judged on the same scale. We aren’t good losers. The dream has ended. I wish the best of luck to Portugal. From now on Portugal has one more supporter.”
Ricardo Quaresma, Portugal winger
On the aggressive attitude of the Iranian players: “I was more annoyed with their coach. As a Portuguese citizen he should have more respect for the Portuguese people, but that’s a conversation for another day.”
On Queiroz complaining about non-acknowledgement from Portuguese players: “I’m not going to answer Queiroz, otherwise we’d be here all night.”
On his wonder goal: “I connected well with the ball, it was a great goal, but the most important thing was to achieve the objective we were all fighting for, which was to progress to the next phase, which we did. Now we have to rest and think about the next game.”
On annoyance at being substituted: “That’s how I am. You shouldn’t pay much attention to it. Everyone knows what I’m like. I always want to play, you should ignore my resentment.”
João Moutinho, Portugal midfielder
When asked what Queiroz was telling him as he was about to be subbed on: “Who? I didn’t see anyone, didn’t hear a thing. I was about to go on and was focused on the game.”
Moutinho sobre Queiroz: "Quem? Não vi nem reparei"
— B24 🇵🇹 (@B24PT) June 25, 2018
🎥 @SICNoticias pic.twitter.com/bLyeHBXL8u
On Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card review: “It’s not a red. Cristiano tried to get his arm in front of his opponent to reach the ball first and the Iranian made a bit of a meal out of it.”
On Queiroz complaining about non-acknowledgement from Portuguese players: “I went to the anti-doping test, I didn’t, see him. I have nothing to say about that.”
José Fonte, Portugal defender
“We have to be happy to be in the last 16. We had the game under control until the penalty, which was difficult to accept. It was doubtful to say the least. You can’t jump with your arms beside your body. When you jump you have to raise your arms.”
Adrien Silva, Portugal midfielder
On the incredible atmosphere: “We’ve played plenty of games like this, with this pressure, with this atmosphere. It’s what you want as a professional footballer, to be on stages like this one, playing high-intensity games. Happily, we achieved our aim which was to get through to the next phase.”
On Ronaldo missing his penalty: “He’s got unshakable confidence, as always. That’s his mentality. His belief in himself is one of his strong points. He’ll score the next one for sure.”
By Tom Kundert
