Cristiano Ronaldo struggles and VAR takes centre stage but Portugal do enough to advance

Portugal and Iran played to a draw in a wild finale in Group B which saw Portugal advance as the group runners-up, but just barely.

SARANSK, Russia — Three quick thoughts from Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Iran at Mordovia Arena, which sees Fernando Santos’ European champions finish second in Group B behind Spain.

1. Santos’ attacking changes enough to survive

There’s a shop in Munich city centre that sells an cast-iron, wood-fired orange outdoor hot tub. Imagine sitting in that on the hottest day of the year, slowly dissolving, next to 10 screaming, bouncing guys blowing vuvuzelas in your face. That’s what it was like in the…

Continue reading

VAR harming ‘prestige of the game,’ says Iran manager Carlos Queiroz

ESPN FC’s Stevie Nicol and Alexis Nunes predict the outcomes of the first round of group finales, including Uruguay-Russia, Iran-Portugal and more.
SARANSK, Russia — Iran coach Carlos Queiroz criticised the video assistant referee (VAR) system on Sunday and said it has left many fans sitting in the stands scratching their heads about what was going on.
The new system was intended to correct referee errors but has delivered more contention with technology playing a decisive role in some matches during the World Cup in Russia.
The 65-year-old Portuguese manager was initially reluctant to comment on VAR for the fear of retribution from governing…

Continue reading

Ronaldo friend-turned-foe when he faces ‘dad’ Carlos Queiroz and Iran in World Cup

Charlie Gibson sets out to find the answer to the question on everyone’s lips – who is the GOAT???

The guys respond to your tweets about Jorge Sampaoli, Messi vs. Ronaldo, Isco vs. Coutinho, Switzerland’s first goal and Neymar’s non-penalty.

MOSCOW — Men’s football is a game of father and sons, biological and adopted, real and imagined. Monday night’s game in Saransk between Iran and Portugal is a loser-loses-it-all clash for the right to advance to the last 16.

Portugal advance with a win or draw, Iran with a win.

Iran versus Portugal features a rather bad-blood, personal content between Ronaldo and the man who stands in his way of greatness, Carlos Queiroz, both seen here at Manchester United in happier times.
But the high-stakes match in the capital of Mordovia also pits two compatriots against each other who were once so close that Team Melli coach Carlos Queiroz was referred to as Cristiano Ronaldo’s “dad” by his then…

Continue reading

Iranian women’s fight to watch football in stadiums reaches tipping point

Iran fans enjoying the World Cup in Russia.
Iran’s support in Russia has been impressive.
Thousands of fans celebrated the last-minute winner against Morocco on June 15, and are now hoping Team Melli can defeat Portugal on Monday to extend their stay at the 2018 World Cup. If nothing else, it will give the female members who have travelled from Iran more chances to see their heroes in the flesh.
This is because the Iranian government has not allowed women into stadiums to see all-male sporting events since 1980, a year after the Islamic revolution,…

Continue reading

Portugal look to Ronaldo to overcome gritty Iran

Iran

Portugal

Fox

6:00 PM UTC

Match 35

Game Details

Live football odds with bet365. Bet Now »

GameCast

Lineups and Stats

By Sudipto GangulySARANSK, Russia, June 23 (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo has scored Portugal’s all-four goals in the World Cup so far and the European Champions will be heavily dependent on the talismanic forward to see them through against a stoic Iran side in their final Group B match on Monday.Ronaldo’s hat-trick in the 3-3 draw against Spain gave Portugal a vital point while an early headed strike, which made him Europe’s all-time top international goal scorer, against Morocco proved enough to…

Continue reading

Women allowed in Iran stadium to watch World Cup match

Don Hutchison says while Spain narrowly defeated Iran, there was always going to be one winner in the match.

Spain managed to walk away with three points against Iran, but the FC crew explain how Iran managed to disrupt La Roja.

Diego Costa scored on a deflection to lift Spain past Iran, despite the best efforts of Carlos Queiroz’s side to find an equaliser.
Women in Iran were permitted to enter a football stadium for the first time since 1979 as fans gathered to watch the national team play in the World Cup on Wednesday.
Religious leaders have prevented women from entering stadiums in Iran for decades, though there is no official law against their admittance.
But with the help of some moderate politicians, the rules were relaxed to allow men and women to watch Iran face Spain on video screens from inside the Azadi stadium in Tehran.

The event…

Continue reading

Iran’s Carlos Queiroz to Spain: We didn’t fake injuries — ask Sergio Ramos

Don Hutchison says while Spain narrowly defeated Iran, there was always going to be one winner in the match.

Spain managed to walk away with three points against Iran, but the FC crew explain how Iran managed to disrupt La Roja.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has denied his players faked getting hurt during their defeat to Spain on Wednesday and seemingly criticised the conduct of Sergio Ramos for his Champions League final tussle that injured Mohamed Salah.
Spain players complained throughout the game, which they won 1-0, about Iran’s perceived time-wasting tactics. On one occasion, in the 39th minute, Diego Costa objected after Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand began jumping in pain, insisting to the referee that Costa had…

Continue reading

SIGN INTO YOUR ACCOUNT CREATE NEW ACCOUNT

 
×
CREATE ACCOUNT ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT?
 
×
FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?
AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
×

Go up