Iran coach Queiroz refuses to be distracted by mind games ahead of USA World Cup clash

Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz attends a training session at the Al Rayyan training facility in Doha. EPA

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz will not allow himself or the team fall into the trap of any mind games ahead of their crucial Group B showdown against the USA.

The Iranian Football Federation on Monday complained to Fifa about the USA removing the Islamic Republic symbol from the nation’s flag in some social media posts in the build-up to Tuesday night’s match at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Queiroz himself also become embroiled in a war of words with Jurgen Klinsmann after the former Germany striker spoke about how Iran had been deemed to have deployed gamesmanship and “worked the referee” during their 2-0 win over Wales.

The squad has also played against a background of widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in custody in September having been detained for allegedly failing to follow the country’s Islamic dress code.

Nevertheless, former Manchester United assistant manager and Real Madrid boss Queiroz insisted he and all of the players were fully focused on their next game – and the chance to progress to the last 16.

Iran are second in Group B on three points, one point behind leaders England and one ahead of the USA, with all four nations still in contention for a top-two finish.

“I need to be with my mind preparing them to play the best football on the day,” Queiroz said.

“Because if my mind falls in the trap to pay attention and destruct with all those things, I am lying to football. I will not do that to my father and I will not do that to the game.”

Wales 0-2 Iran

Iran's players celebrate their win over Wales at the World Cup 2022 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday, November 25, 2022. AP

Ramin Rezaeian of Iran celebrates scoring his team's second goal. Getty

Roozbeh Cheshmi, centre, of Iran celebrates after scoring his team's first goal against Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Getty

Wayne Hennessey of Wales is shown a red card by referee Mario Alberto Escobar Toca. Getty

Wales' Gareth Bale after the defeat to Iran. PA

Wales' Kieffer Moore looks dejected at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. PA

Sardar Azmoun of Iran during the World Cup 2022 match against Wales. Getty

Aaron Ramsey of Wales battles for possession against Iran. Getty

Wales' Gareth Bale reacts. Reuters

Wayne Hennessey of Wales jumps to defend an Iran attempt at goal at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Getty

Brennan Johnson of Wales takes on Milad Mohammadi of Iran. Getty

Iran's Morteza Pouraliganji, above, and Wales' Neco Williams battle for the ball. AP

Wales' Ben Davies rues a missed chance. PA

Queiroz added: “Those collective set of events which are surrounding this World Cup, I hope it will be a good lesson for all of us in the future and that in the next event, we will learn that our mission here is to create entertainment and at least during 90 minutes, make the people happy.”

Queiroz looked to defuse tensions when asked if he felt Iran would continue to face criticism ahead of their final group match.

“When we respect and we commit ourselves to the values and principles of being part of a team, we can only be better, more stronger," the Portuguese said.

“This is what I always believe in my life and I will always work in that direction, to create a coach code of conduct in terms of principles and values that can make the players believe that every single morning when they wake up, they only have one challenge in mind – to be better, to compete against themselves and they need to be better than the others.”

England v Iran ratings

ENGLAND RATINGS: Jordan Pickford 6: Almost nothing to do in the first half where England had seven goal attempts and scored three, while Iran didn’t have one. Mistake at the start of the second half and then beaten by Taremi smashing the ball into the net. The No 9. . Getty

Luke Shaw 8: More touches than any player on the field. Spent most of the first 45 in the Iran half and set up Bellingham for the opener. Pushed high and wide, moved the ball quickly. Headed the goal kick to win possession and start the attack for the fourth goal. AFP

Harry Maguire 8: Appealed for an early penalty having been hugged. Beautiful header under pressure which hit the crossbar on 32. Started move before first goal and set up the second with a header and was a real threat at set-pieces. Taremi ran behind him for Iran’s goal, then he went off. AP

John Stones 7: Didn’t give the ball away once against a side ranked 20th in the world. Hit accurate long balls. Will have more pressured games but a VAR went against him which led to a 101st minute Iran penalty. AP

Kieran Trippier 7: Got high and wide on the right in a bright start. Poor pass led to a rare Iran attack, but part of England’s success was using their full backs so well. Took corners and free-kicks. Went down angrily after having his feet stamped on. AP

Jude Bellingham 9: Put his side ahead after 34 with his first international goal, glancing a header into the far corner. Super goal. Tackled well, got box to box, ran from midfield and linked positions well. Read the second balls well and integral to England’s third. Super ball to set up England’s sixth. EPA

Declan Rice 7: To quote one fan: “You watch the game, you don't see Declan Rice. You watch Declan Rice, you see the whole game.” Getty

Bukayo Saka 9: Another who started well, shifting positions as England dominated. Scored the second after 43, a volley past Iran’s replacement goalkeeper into the roof of the net. Always looked to beat his man. Incredible goal made it four after he bedazzled the Iran defence on 62. AP

Mason Mount 7: Weak shot into the side netting on 30. Fouled more than any player. Very comfortable. AP

Raheem Sterling 7: Skilful and scored the third after 45, a volley on the outside of his boot. Swept Saka into action before the fourth goal, before being floored by a challenge in the same move. Getty

Harry Kane 8: England’s captain whipped a cross in for Sterling to score the third. Went over on his ankle after 49. A flick set up a 56th minute attack. The top scorer didn’t score as his team got six, but he played well. Reuters

SUBS: Eric Dier (On for Maguire 70’) 7: Had a busy workout marking Taremi in the 45,334 crowd in a stadium which holds 68,000. The subs worked for England. Conceding two wasn’t in the plan, but then nor was scoring six. Reuters

Marcus Rashford (On for Saka 70’) 7: His first England appearance since the Euro final and scored his first goal in a major tournament with his first three touches. Confident for club this season… and now his country. Getty

Jack Grealish (On for Sterling 70’) 7: Helped win the ball back high up the pitch as England were relentless to the end. Gifted a ball to finish England’s sixth on 89 minutes. Fouled, as ever. Reuters

Phil Foden (On for Mount 70’) 7: Busy around the Iran area as England pushed for a sixth goal. AP

Callum Wilson (On for Kane 75’) 7: His first international appearance since 2019. Played in Grealish for England’s sixth. PA

IRAN RATINGS: Ali Beiranvand 6: Left dazed with face injury after clashing heads with teammate Hosseini. Ludicrously allowed to carry on after lengthy treatment before eventually being carried off pitch. AFP

Sadegh Moharrami 5: England tore down Moharrami’s right flank as Shaw provided the cross for Bellingham’s opening goal. A difficult night for Iran’s defence. AP

Milad Mohammadi 5: Found it a struggle dealing with the livewire Saka who was aiming to go past players very time he got possession. Found Jahanbakhsh with cross just before break but teammate couldn’t keep volley down. PA

Roozbeh Cheshmi 4: Should have given away penalty in opening few minutes after pulling down Maguire in box but referee/VAR somehow not interested. Caught in no man’s land ahead of third goal. AFP

Majid Hosseini 3: Helpless against the movement of England’s attacking players and his big contribution to first half was smashing heads with own goalkeeper resulting in his early exit. Allowed Saka the freedom to ease inside on to his left foot and put England 4-0 up, skinned by Rashford for fifth. AFP

Ali Karimi 4: Slow to react when Bellingham headed England into the lead and generally spent the game chasing after English shadows. AFP

Morteza Pouraliganji 4: Part of Iran’s five-man defence that attempted to sit deep from start and keep out England’s attackers … a plan that went out the window in disastrous first half. Booked early in second half for poor tackle from behind on Kane. AP

Ahmad Nourollahi 4: Midfielder, who plies his trade in the UAE with Shabab Al Ahli, but was over-run in midfield against likes of Bellingham and Rice. Should have been booked for stamping on foot of Trippier just after break. Getty

Ehsan Hajsafi 3: Tried to offer some support for the isolated Taremi up front but Iran just couldn’t regularly string passes together or gain any foothold in match. Getty

Alireza Jahanbakhsh 4: Feyenoord’s former Brighton midfielder picked up game’s first yellow card for clumsy late challenge on Shaw. Volleyed Iran’s first real opportunity way over bar in lengthy first-half stoppage time. Getty

Mehdi Taremi 7: Scorer for Porto in Champions League a few weeks ago, but little chance of repeating that here until, from nowhere, he smashed home off the bar in the 65th minute to pull it back to 4-1. Blasted another chance high and wide. Confident finish from spot with pretty much last kick of game. Getty

SUBS: Hossein Hosseini (On for Beiranvand 19’) 5: Early introduction but found himself picking ball out of net three times before break – none of them his fault to be fair. Similarly let down by his porous defence after half-time. AFP

Saeid Ezatolahi (On for Ali 46’) 5: One of three changes at break but couldn’t help turnaround Iran’s fortunes. Getty

Hossein Kanaanizadegan (On for Cheshmai 46’) 5: Al Ahli defender failed to offer much more protection from rampant England attacks than man he replaced. Getty

Ali Gholizadeh (On for Jahanbakhsh 46’) 6: Sloppy ball soon after coming on set England off on counter attack. Nice pass to set up Taremi goal, though. Reuters

Mahdi Torabi (On for Mohammadi 63’) 5: Brought to try and offer some attacking width, to little affect. Sardar Azmoun (On for Nourollahi 77’) N/A. Had shot turned on to crossbar by Pickford deep in injury time. AP