Rio de Janeiro: Lionel Messi’s scintillating goal from outside the box in the dying minutes was the difference between Argentina and Iran in the Group F match in Belo Horizonte on Saturday. Iran were on course to cause the most stunning upset of the 2014 World Cup, but a denied penalty coupled with their own poor shooting cost the Asian team dear.
Iran, however, can still be the torchbearers for Asia and seal a place in the second round by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina, who are already out of the race, provided Nigeria suffer a defeat against Argentina by more than a goal on the final day of action in the group.
If Iran win 1-0 and Nigeria lose 0-1, a draw of lots will decide which team will join Argentina in the pre-quarters.
Iran were patently unlucky not to get a penalty when Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta brought down Ashkan Dejagah in the second half. The decision of Serbian referee Milorad Mazic to wave “play on” didn’t go down well with Iran. Coach Carlos Queiroz pulled no punches.
“Messi was fantastic, but the referee wasn’t,” he said. “I don’t understand the decision because he was five metres away. There is no way he couldn’t have seen the foul.”| DC
Rio de Janeiro, June 22
Lionel Messi’s scintillating goal from outside the box in the dying minutes was the difference between Argentina and Iran in the Group F match in Belo Horizonte on Saturday. Iran were on course to cause the most stunning upset of the 2014 World Cup, but a denied penalty coupled with their own poor shooting cost the Asian team dear.
Iran, however, can still be the torchbearers for Asia and seal a place in the second round by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina, who are already out of the race, provided Nigeria suffer a defeat against Argentina by more than a goal on the final day of action in the group.
If Iran win 1-0 and Nigeria lose 0-1, a draw of lots will decide which team will join Argentina in the pre-quarters. Iran were patently unlucky not to get a penalty when Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta brought down Ashkan Dejagah in the second half. The decision of Serbian referee Milorad Mazic to wave “play on” didn’t go down well with Iran. Coach Carlos Queiroz pulled no punches.
“Messi was fantastic, but the referee wasn’t,” he said. “I don’t understand the decision because he was five metres away. There is no way he couldn’t have seen the foul.”
