Tag: Sergio Romero

Queiroz faults officials in loss

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz laid the blame for his team’s 1-0 loss to Argentina squarely on the shoulders of the referee Milorad Mazic after the game.

Near the start of the second half, Argentina’s Pablo Zabaleta mistimed a tackle and took down Iran’s Ashkan Dejagah in the penalty box, but Mazic let play continue despite protests from Dejagah.

“I’m proud and a little bit frustrated with the result. I hoped it would be different, but what can we do?” said Queiroz. “I have no complaints or excuses, only the frustration with a referee that nobody can understand in the world. How could he not give a clear penalty in front of 40 million people watching the game? It is very sad.”

Iran’s defence frustrated Argentina for much of the game, while their attack generated a number of legitimate chances in the second half. Dejagah had a header deflected over the crossbar by Sergio Romero at 67 minutes that was Iran’s best opportunity up to that point.

“The team played well. We defended very good. We tried to make it hard for Argentina and with a little bit of luck we could have won this game or a draw,” said Dejagah. 

 

Lionel Messi made sure his team picked up three points by hammering home a late winner vs. Iran.

 

Before Messi’s game-winning goal in injury time, Iran’s Reza Ghoochannejhad had a breakaway chance on a through ball that Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero deflected away. Minutes later, Messi worked the ball to his left at the top of Iran’s penalty box and buried a shot to give Argentina a 1-0 victory.

“When Messi scored it felt terrible,” said Dejagah. “But this is what the best players do. They change games in one second.”

Now Iran will try to move on. A point against Argentina would have positioned them well to advance from Group F, but the team’s hopes are still alive after an opening-round draw with Nigeria.

“The most important thing now is to refresh and focus on the game,” said Queiroz. “We need to forget what happened here. We can still go through.”

Nigeria faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in their final match on June 25. They’ll need a win and some help from Argentina to advance. A full list of possible Group F outcomes is listed here.

Magnificent Messi strike breaks the hearts of Queiroz’s men

Argentina 1-0 Iran

A stunning strike from Lionel Messi snatched a 1-0 victory for Argentina against a spirited Iran side in Saturday’s World Cup clash in Belo Horizonte.
Few would have expected Argentina, viewed as one of the favourites to win the tournament, to be given too much of a test by a team that has never gone beyond the first round of a World Cup in three previous appearances.

However, Carlos Queiroz’s side, who had been criticised for their defensive style of play following their opening Group F goalless stalemate against Nigeria, produced another resolute display at Estadio Mineirao on Saturday to come within a few minutes of a highly creditable

draw.

Argentina 1-0 Iran: Magnificent Messi strike breaks the hearts of Queiroz's men

 

But, in injury time, it was Messi who stepped up when it mattered most, curling home brilliantly into the corner to give the South Americans a place in the last 16.

Meanwhile, Iran will head into their final group game with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday reflecting on an opportunity missed, and knowing that only victory will be enough to extend their tournament.

Argentina unsurprisingly dictated the opening stages without creating any clear-cut opportunities against an Iran defence that displayed the same determination as against Nigeria.

Gonzalo Higuain was the first to test the Iran backline after 13 minutes, but goalkeeper Alireza Haghigi showed quick reactions to race out and block the Napoli striker’s effort after he had been played through by Fernando Gago.

Higuain was involved again as he linked up with Sergio Aguero inside the area, only to see the Manchester City man’s curling effort brilliantly kept out by a fine diving save from Haghigi.

Aguero then headed wide from a corner as Argentina’s dominance of play continued, yet Iran, with impressive commitment and organisation, did not have too much difficulty in keeping the South Americans at bay.

Iran’s ability to maintain parity also owed much to Argentina’s profligacy, which was demonstrated in the 35th minute when defender Ezequiel Garay headed a Messi free kick over the crossbar.

Ghoochanejad reaction after missing a chance
Ghoochanejad reaction after missing a chance

Queiroz’s men were able to fashion some first-half opportunities of their own, the best of which came after 41 minutes as centre-back Jalal Hosseini turned Ashkan Dejagah’s corner narrowly wide of the post.

Pablo Zabaleta went close from the edge of the area in the opening stages of the second half, but it was Iran who continued to look more threatening.

Indeed, they would have taken the lead in the 53rd minute had forward Reza Ghoochannejhad not directed his header straight at Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero following a fine break.

Iran felt they should have been awarded a penalty a minute later after Zabaleta appeared to bring down Dejagah, with replays suggesting that the South Americans had been given a let-off.

At the other end, Messi failed to find a finish after surging forward with an archetypal run from midfield and curling wide of the post.

Messi's free kick
Messi’s free kick

With time running out, Romero was called into action to tip Dejagah’s header over and Iran had an even better chance when Ghoochannejhad was sent clear one-on-one but saw his somewhat tired finish parried.

But just as they looked set to celebrate their famous point, Messi struck.

The Barcelona man worked space on the edge of the area before opening his body to bend a shot into the corner, as Argentina’s class – and more accurately that of their captain – finally told.