Japan Deserved to Be in Asian Cup Final, Says Carlos Queiroz

Team Melli suffered a 3-0 loss at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in the UAE against Japan in the competition’s semi-finals.

 “The most important thing for me is to say I am so proud and this venture, this journey, of the Iranian players has been fantastic,” said Queiroz.

“They deserve to be in the final to be honest, but I think the most simple thing is to say, copying the famous song” ‘And now the end is here.’ And I’m very happy and very proud because I did it my way and it’s time to show my gratitude to the Iranian fans having coached these players and this team for eight years,” the Portuguese said.

Iran was making its first appearance in the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals since 2004 and shaded a competitive first half, but the game turned in the 56th minute when its defense switched off following a clash between Mortez Pouraliganji and Takumi Minamino.

While the Iranians protested to referee Christopher Beath, Minamino played on and delivered the cross from which Osako opened the scoring.

The Werder Bremen striker then doubled the lead from the penalty spot before Haraguchi put the result beyond any doubt in injury time with an emphatic strike as the Japanese advanced to a fifth AFC Asian Cup final since 1992.

“That moment created an emotional breakdown in my team and after that there was only one team on the pitch and that was Japan,” said Queiroz of the opening goal. “Just to say the best team won, the best team deserve to be in the final and congratulations to Japan.”