The Qataris won the title after scoring 19 goals and conceding just one, and it showed that they were not just the best attacking team, but a team with best defensive style.

But the question is how a small country like Qatar blossoms so much in football?

The answer is clear, a cohesive program. And it’s time for the Iranian football officials to learn from their small neighbors.

Undoubtedly, Qatar is faced with a big problem for finding native footballers. For instance, their newest national hero Almoez Ali was not born in Qatar, but it was not an issue for them. On the contrary, Iran has the advantage of having million talented players but there is no a systematic program for grassroot football.

Iran must restructure the country’s football and the federation should take grassroot football into consideration as Qatar did and won.

The Iranian federation should also hire a coach with a very precise job description, because Quieroz, who was not assigned a blueprint of his duties from day one, went beyond his authority to lead his team.

The Portuguese instructor, the longest serving Iranian coach, had to concentrate on his job ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, but he preferred to publish provocative statements on his Instagram account against an Iranian football club and his critics. Queiroz called his critics “crocodile.”

Sanchez is not worried about the prospect of losing his job in spite of the fact that the Qataris are going to sign a new head coach for the 2022 World Cup.

However, Queiroz seemed to be apprehensive about losing his job after he found out that Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic could be his potential replacement.

Sanchez concentrated on his job and made the Qatar football proud. Now it is time for him to reap the fruit of labor, for what he has done with a small country among the Asian giants. The Qatari team beat Asian powerhouses Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Korea, the UAE and Japan which made their championship more valuable.

Iran must change several players for the upcoming tournament, a decision that should’ve been made by ongoing coach Queiroz.

The next Team Melli coach would have to compete against time as he needs more of it to rebuild a new team. This is while the core of Qatar football team is still very young and this team can compete with the best teams at the 2022 World Cup.

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Queiroz has said Iran’s Ministry of Sport and Youth has put the football federation under pressure to terminate his deal after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup underway in the United Arab Emirates.

“Iran’s Ministry of Sport and Youth didn’t want the federation to extend my contract. Had I known about it, I would not have extended the agreement after the 2018 World Cup. I didn’t want to stand against the minister’s order,” Queiroz had told reporters on the sidelines of Team Melli’s training on Thursday.

Queiroz’s interview created concerns ahead of Iran football match against Oman in the Asian Cup Round of 16 against Oman scheduled for Sunday.

“Iran’s football family needs to keep calm and away from tension in the pivotal period. If there is any criticism it should be discussed after the competition. Team Melli’s pride is the aspiration of the Iranian people, Iran’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, and football federation, all of us are doing our best to make it happen,” Taj said.

“All wages, salaries and bonuses of coaching staff have been paid so far and the coaching crew must only talk about technical issues. Experience has shown that these kinds of controversies could jeopardize our success,” he added.

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Team Melli are going to bring an end to 43-year title drought in the competition but the striker believes that the fans’ expectations could make life difficult for them.

Carlos Queiroz’s team advanced to the Round of 16 as Group D winners after beating Yemen 5-0 and Vietnam 2-0 and a goalless draw against Iraq in the group stage.

“Iran will play Oman on Sunday and if we beat them we will play either China or Thailand but I really don’t care who we will play,” Azmoun said.

“I believe Iran are a good team but Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia and South Korea are also strong teams. The Iranian fans must help us to win but I think the expectations will put us under pressure. For example, the match against Iraq was not an important match but the fans and media provoked the players,” he added.

Azmoun is Iran’s best goalscored in AFC Asian Cup with three goals but he says he doesn’t care who scores.

“What is the most important is that we keep progressing in the tournament,” Azmoun concluded.

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Team Melli will meet Oman in Round of 16 of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the UAE on Sunday.

The Mexican professional football referee has been a full international for FIFA since 2014.

César Ramos refereed some matches in CONCACAF Champions League and in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Ramos refereed the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup Final between Real Madrid and Gremio.

He was the only Mexican center referee assigned to referee at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Mexican officiated Syria and Australia match in group stage at the Khalifa Stadium in Al Ain on Tuesday, where the Syrian heartbreaking 3-2 loss saw them eliminated from the Asian Cup.

Ramos was involved in several controversial decisions during the match, including opting not to give handball against Socceroos captain Mark Milligan and tight goal-line call with Chris Ikonomidis’ second half strike.

The official was also criticized for awarding Syria a penalty in the last minutes of the match when Eagles captain Omar Al Somah tripped over his own teammate.

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Iran have been scheduled to meet Vietnam at Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan Stadium on Saturday in Group D of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

“I had seen Vietnam’s matches in the buildup to the tournament and I thought they were a good side but after watching their performance against Iraq, I have to say they are a very good side,” Queiroz said in pre-match news conference.

“They faced Iraq, one of the favorites to win the AFC Asian Cup, and for 90 minutes, Vietnam gave the match their all. They led twice and, despite football not being about being fair, I must say that they deserved, at least, a draw,” ex-Real Madrid coach added.

“I am not surprised as I know about the Vietnam head coach (Park Hang-seo). He is a good coach and he has good players.”

This, insisted Queiroz, is why Iran will not take Vietnam lightly.

“This is a team that has played 13 matches since October. They won the AFF Cup and this shows how seriously Vietnam are about doing well in the Asian Cup.

“Iran will never make the mistake of underestimating them because that is not how we are built.”

Queiroz explained that in his eight years with Team Melli, he had instilled values in the squad which were very dear to him.

“We are not an arrogant team and as the leader of my team, I always like to share fundamental values with my players. The foundation is always to respect teams.

“It doesn’t matter who the opponents are as it is always the same value of respecting them.”

Iran, said Queiroz, will face Vietnam with the focus and drive that has made them what they are.

“We are going into this game with our normal attitude, which is to win. It will be the same approach Vietnam take and having watched them play against Iraq, we will start fully alert as we know they can hurt us.

“Having said that, it is our responsibility to qualify for the next round and that is exactly what we will try to do,” Queiroz added

Also, Vietnam coach Park Hang-seo says they will face the Continent’s top ranked team but he promised it won’t stop them from giving Carlos Queiroz’s Iran a tough fight.

“We will be playing the strongest team in Asia. They are technically, tactically and physically better than us but having said that, we will play to our strengths to get the desired result,” said Park Hang-seo.

“It will be very hard for us as Iran are a highly experienced side but my players have got strong mental strength and I believe we can overcome Iran,” the Korean stated.

Vietnam, added Park, have forgotten about their heartbreak against Iraq, which saw them conceding a late goal as they fell 3-2 to the West Asians in their opening Group D tie.

“It was disappointing as we led twice only to lose but now, we must focus on Iran and getting a good result against them.”

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Iran have been drawn in Group D of the competition along with Yemen, Vietnam and Iraq.

Team Melli will start the campaign with a match against Yemen on Jan. 7.

Queiroz will look to end the country’s 43-year Asian Cup title drought at the prestigious event.

Iran last lifted Asian football’s most coveted trophy on home soil in 1976, when they completed the third leg of three consecutive championship wins that mark the country out as one of continent’s most successful ever.

After Iran narrowly missed out on advancing from the group stage for a first time, Queiroz’s demands for a new four-year contract were ignored by Iranian football authorities and doubts will remain over his future until the Asian Cup finishes.

Asked him about his future in Team Melli, the Portuguese said, “At the moment, I just concentrate on the AFC Asian Cup. We are going to win the title and make the Iranian people happy. My current contract runs until the AFC Asian Cup and the future is in God’s hands.”

“The football coaches cannot decide their future because their future depend on the results they earn. At the moment, we concentrate on booking a place at the Asian Cup semis,” Queiroz stated.

“AFC Asian Cup is a difficult tournament and I think Australia, Japan and South Korea will most likely to qualify for the semis and the remaining teams must fight to advance to final four as the fourth team,” he concluded.

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In the match held in Doha’s Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Mehdi Taremi put the Persians into the lead in the 50th minute.

Team Melli could have scored more goals by they lacked a cutting edge.

Palestine midfielder Jonathan Cantillana equalized the match in the added time.

Team Melli, headed by Carlos Queiroz, is also scheduled to play Qatar on Dec. 31, Iran football federation’s website announced.

Iran have started training camp in Doha from Dec. 17.

Queiroz also wanted to play India the buildup to the tournament, but Stephen Constantine turned down the Portuguese’s request since the Blue Tigers already had scheduled on December 27 and December 30.

Iran national football team have been drawn along with Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam in Group D.

The 2019 AFC Asian Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1.

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The warm up match will be held in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium as part of preparation for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

“The match against Iran will be a good warm-up for us ahead of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Iran are a strong team and sit in the 33rd place in FIFA ranking. They had an excellent performance in the 2018 World Cup and it shows how good they are,” Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dennis Lawrence said.

Iran defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 ahead of the 2014 World Cup thanks to the goals from Ehsan Haji Safi and Reza Ghoochannejhad at the Corinthians soccer team training center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Iran defeated Bolivia 2-1 in a friendly match on Oct. 16 at the Azadi Stadium.

The Iranian media reports suggest that Team Melli will face Venezuela in Doha, Qatar on Nov. 20.

Iran have been drawn in AFC Asian Cup Group D along with Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam.

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