Our dream is to be prepared to reach the ‘Round of 16’: Carlos Queiroz
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Loading...Record – GRAZ, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz believes his team can reach the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup after securing the final stage with “a lot of work and sacrifice”.
“First of all, it’s a challenge for us to compete with three big teams, three great football nations, with great players. We have to do our homework and enjoy being at the World Cup, that’s what we worked for and sacrificed so much. “Now it’s time to have fun, to compete and to continue to dream – and our dream is to be prepared to move on to the second phase of the World Cup,” said Carlos Queiroz.
The Iranian side lost 1-0 to Tunisia in Rades on Friday. They will now face Algeria in Grazy, Austria on Tuesday for another pre-World Cup friendly.
Speaking to his press briefing, the two-time U-20 Portugal coach (1989 and 1991) explained why he chose those two teams to prepare for Iran’s participation. “It is crucial for our players to face opponents with the same style, mentality and culture of the Moroccan national team. It was not possible to get a better opponent than this one from this point of view. Facing Tunisia and Algeria is an opportunity to find the best solutions to improve our team and prepare it to face Morocco during the competition, “explained the Portuguese coach.
The Moroccan team beat Serbia 2-1 in Turin on Friday, but Carlos Queiroz refused to comment on the Moroccan performance, “My concern at the moment is to focus on working with my players and the team, but our ‘scouts’ have been working on reviewing our opponents. We have seen all the matches of Morocco since the draw for the World Cup, qualification for the African Cup of Nations, and observed the performance of the Moroccan players and the work they do in their respective clubs, that is, we have enough information to prepare the game against Morocco in the World Cup, “he said.
In the World Championship, which will take place between June 14 and July 15 in Russia, Iran is part of Group B along with Portugal, Spain and Morocco.
