Qatar relies on naturalized players, Queiroz says

MNA – TEHRAN, The coach of the Iranian national football team has said that Qatar is a strong team since they take advantage of their naturalized players.

“Qatar is a powerful rival since they have so many naturalized players. We will have a difficult task in Doha, where the weather is both hot and humid. However, I believe in my players, and we can beat them in our away game,” Carlos Queiroz said in Tehran on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s match against Qatar in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“The Qatar football team has a very good coach. I met Sebastiao Lazaroni for the first time at the 1990 World Cup. He was Brazil’s coach at that time, and I have to say the Brazilian is one of the world’s best coaches,” the 58-year-old Portuguese coach of the Iranian team said.

“Iran has 23 talented players that I can trust. They deserve to be here. We will travel to Doha to get three points. Iran played better against Indonesia compared to the Maldives games, and we will also be better against Qatar,” Queiroz added.

Group E leader Iran will meet Qatar at Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.