“We are not afraid of Japan” – Queiroz

Tasnim – TEHRAN, Iranian national football team’s head coach Carlos Queiroz says that to play Japan is a good opportunity for his players and they are not afraid of the team.

Iran will play Japan in a friendly on Tuesday at the Tehran’s Azadi stadium.

“In the past two decades, Japan football has improved so much. The Japanese women football team won the World Cup title once and their men’s team has been competing in the World Cup continuously,” Queiroz said.

“I’ve already coached Japan’s Nagoya football team and the team remains in my heart forever. In that time, just two Japanese football players were playing in the European clubs but at the moment just two players are playing in Japan. In my opinion, Japan is the best Asian team,” the Portuguese coach added.

“For us, it’s a good opportunity and honor to play Japan. It has a great coach and players but we are well-prepared for the friendly and not afraid of them,” Queiroz said.

Iran and Japan have played against each other fifteen times which resulted in six wins for Iran and five wins for Japan while four matches ended up in a draw.

The last time two teams faced each other was on the 17th August 2005 in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Yokohama International Stadium in which Japan beat Iran 2-1.