![]() “I was born in a place in Africa,” he said, referring to Mozambique. There followed a monologue in which Queiroz suggested the great lesson from this World Cup was that football’s “mission” is to “create an entertainment and during 90 minutes to make the people happy”, rather than discuss non-sporting matters. He said the US - rather than England, Wales or his own team - had been the most impressive side in Group B so far here, adding that over the past two decades the Americans have made “the jump from ‘soccer’ to ‘football’.” Instead, he praised the USA, fondly recalling his days at the NY/NJ MetroStars of MLS in the mid-1990s and expressing admiration for the progress he has witnessed in the game there since then. “If, after 42 years in this game, I believed I could still win games with these mental games, I think I (would have) learned nothing about the game,” he said. You can easily imagine Queiroz using that to fuel his players’ motivation - not that they will be short of it for such a high-stakes game against the Americans - but he insisted it was not necessary. 'I don’t feel safe': Detained at the World Cup for wearing a 'Women Life Freedom' T-shirt By yesterday, Iranian journalists were asking US coach Gregg Berhalter about racism and inflation in his country and why he hasn’t demanded the removal of an American Navy ship that’s off the coast of Iran. He arrived in Qatar to find journalists - and not exclusively ones from the UK - asking him whether Iran should be allowed to play in this World Cup, given the country’s treatment of women and alleged supply of military drones to Russia during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. To unify the team, the fans and the media in such challenging circumstances is some challenge. It would be a remarkable achievement for Iran, given how shambolic they looked in that 6-2 defeat by England and given the tensions that came to the surface when the fans whistled and his players seemed to mumble half-heartedly through the national anthem before that game, in protest at the oppression of women under President Ebrahim Raisi’s regime. Even a draw will be enough for Queiroz’s team unless Wales beat England. Victory will take Iran through to the World Cup knockout phase for the first time. Now comes a huge clash with the Americans at Al Thumama Stadium tonight (Tuesday). ![]() They were poor in losing their opening game to England, but they hit back with an impressive 2-0 win over Wales on Friday. If his return for a second spell just months before this World Cup was regarded as an act of salvation, his frequent declarations here in Qatar - condemning the inquisitions from British journalists, referencing the UK’s immigration policy and American gun crime and biting back at Jurgen Klinsmann after the former Germany and USMNT coach spoke disparagingly of Iranian football “culture” - have been seen as a defence of his adopted nation’s honour. Among Iran’s players and indeed among the journalists who follow that team, Queiroz inspires a kind of devotion. ![]()
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