Queiroz wistfully waves goodbye

Coach proud 'to have done it my way' after Iran's ignominious Asian Cup exit

AL-AIN, United Arab Emirates - Veteran coach Carlos Queiroz quoted Frank Sinatra, gushed over his players and argued furiously with a critic as he said goodbye to Iran on Monday.

"Now the end is here," said the 65-year-old Portuguese, who is stepping down after Iran's 3-0 loss to Japan in the Asian Cup semifinals.

"I'm very happy and very proud because I did it my way."

Queiroz, formerly at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Portugal and now linked with Colombia, has spent nearly eight years with Iran, becoming its longest-reigning coach.

However, his tenure ended in bitter disappointment as Iran, a pre-tournament favorite, fell to its sixth semifinal loss since last lifting the trophy in 1976.

Queiroz pointed to the moment of madness which created the opening goal, when five Iran players surrounded the referee while Japan played on and scored.

Iran's heaviest Asian Cup loss since 1988 extended a woeful record against Japan, which it has not beaten - and never even scored against - in four meetings at the tournament.

But Queiroz, who has taken Iran to two World Cups, paid emotional tribute to his players, cryptically saying they had given their country a "chance for freedom" during his time in charge.

"They did it for the people," he said. "They sent a message to the rest of the world that Iranian people deserve to be looked at differently by the rest of the world."

However, Iran's 43-year wait for a fourth Asian Cup title has proved trying for many, and Queiroz snapped back at a journalist who asked him to apologize for the defeat.

"What was your role in the last eight years? Your role was silence and complicity, nothing more," said Queiroz, who confronted his critic after the media conference.

Queiroz's stint has been troubled in many ways, as Iran struggles for funding and equipment under its nuclear sanctions - including at last year's World Cup, when Nike withdrew its supply of boots.

In-fighting has also been a major problem, with Queiroz embroiled in a public spat with Branko Ivankovic, his heir apparent, in recent months.

'Emotional breakdown'

Japan cashed in on a defensive mix-up and a controversial penalty to move one win away from its fifth title.

Yuya Osako put Japan 1-0 up after halftime when the Iranian defense fatally stopped to remonstrate with the referee, and then stroked home the penalty awarded after a replay for Morteza Pouraliganji's accidental hand ball.

Genki Haraguchi then scored in stoppage time to complete a rout which had been wholly unexpected against a free-scoring Iran side that had banged in 12 unanswered goals en route to the semis.

Queiroz said the "innocent mistake" that led to the opening goal, when players surrounded the referee as Japan continued to play on and scored, "destroyed (them) emotionally".

"My players stopped and everyone was expecting the referee to take action for that incident," he said, referring to a challenge on Takumi Minamino on the edge of the box.

"That moment created an emotional breakdown for my team and after that there was only one team on the pitch."

Eleven minutes later, Minamino's cross hit Pouraliganji's arm as he slid in, but Australian referee Chris Beath blew for the penalty and stood by his decision after watching a replay.

Osako stroked home the spot-kick to give Japan a 2-0 lead with 23 minutes to play.

'Underdog spirit'

"My players had good preparation and showed great fighting spirit. They played as underdogs," said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, whose team will play Qatar or host the United Arab Emirates in Friday's final.

"I'm happy they showed that spirit and fight to deliver a win for the fans back home."

Queiroz's Iran had been the form team of the Asian Cup but it lacked ideas against a calm and clinical Japanese outfit.

At a rocking Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al-Ain, Iran aimed hopeful high balls at target man Sardar Azmoun at every opportunity but it was Japan that looked the bigger threat in the opening exchanges.

Captain Maya Yoshida headed over and Ritsu Doan saw a shot trickle wide as the Blue Samurai were anything but cowed by the physical Iran presence.

However, Shuichi Gonda had to be sharp to keep out Azmoun from a tight angle - after the goalkeeper had gifted Iran possession with a botched clearance.

The game was on a knife-edge but a major misjudgement from the Iranian defense tilted it decisively Japan's way 11 minutes after halftime.

While five players were protesting Hossein Kanani's innocence over his tackle on Minamino, the forward got up and crossed to Osako, whose glancing header put Japan ahead.

It was a body-blow for Iran, but worse was to come when Pouraliganji was adjudged to have deliberately handled in the box, a decision that could have gone either way.

Osako stuck the resulting penalty away to all but silence the Iranian supporters, who then had to watch as Haraguchi stole in for the third goal to make it a lopsided victory for Moriyasu's men.

Japan will be buoyed by its best performance of the tournament so far, and with a 100 percent record it shapes up as a formidable opponent in Friday's final.

Agence France - presse