‘This is their culture, they take you off your game’: Jurgen Klinsmann says Iran ‘worked’ the referee during their last-gasp 2-0 World Cup win over Wales and says ‘it would have been different with a different referee’
- Iran beat Wales 2-0 and have now set up a thriller against USA in Group B
- Rouzbeh Cheshmi opened the scoring for Iran and Ramin Rezaeian made it two
- Jurgen Klinsmann said Iran boss Carlos Queiroz has created a ‘culture’ with Iran
- Klinsmann says Iran ‘work the referee’ and that ‘they take you off your game’
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Wales fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Iran and now face an early exit from the 2022 World Cup.
Rob Page’s side were below-par for the must-win clash and did not look like troubling their opponents who were on top for the majority of the game.
However, Jurgen Klinsmann believes that one of the factors for Iran’s success is their ability to ‘work the referee’ under boss Carlos Queiroz.
Jurgen Klinsmann has said that Iran have learned to ‘work the referee’ under Carlos Queiroz
Speaking whilst on punditry duty for the BBC, Klinsmann said: ‘Carlos fits really well with the national team and their culture, he failed in South America with Colombia and then failed to qualify with Egypt, and he came in right before the World Cup with Iran, where he worked for a long time.’
Queiroz and Iran seem to be a match made in heaven following their latest triumph and Klinsmann believes that the way they play is no accident.
‘It is not by coincidence, it is part of their culture, how they play. They worked the referee. They work the linesman and fourth official, they are constantly in their ear. There were a lot of incidents we didn’t see,’ said the former USA manager.
‘This is their culture, they take you off your game.’
Klinsmann then went on to make a controversial statement – stating that the outcome of the match could have been different with different officials in charge.
‘It would have been different with a different referee. They have five people around the referee. This did not play into the hands of Wales.’
The win against Wales means that qualification from Group B is now in Iran’s hands.
Queiroz’s side take on the USA in the final round of group stage games knowing that they are in control of their own fate – something not many could have predicted before the start of the tournament.
Qualification from Group B is now in Iran’s hands following their 2-0 win against Wales
Iran lost their opening game of the World Cup 6-2 against England and many began to write off their chances of progress.
However, Iran bounced back with this 2-0 win against Wales thanks to goals from Rouzbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian.
Iran fans will be hoping that their good form continues before their all-important clash against the USA.
Ramin Rezaeian scored with a delicate chip to put his side 2-0 up and to seal the victory
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