Mexico-Iran: Coaches’ Quotes

6/12/2006
FIFAworldcup.com

Branko IVANKOVIC (IRN)

I’d like to congratulate Mexico for their win, for the way they played and because they capitalised on the opportunities we gave them.

Some of our players need a little more international experience, and that was evident today with the defensive errors that we made. When you make individual errors you pay dearly for them, but that’s something that can happen to any team. It’s just part of the game. In the second half we went on the attack more. We controlled possession for long periods and stopped Mexico from creating chances.

Now we’ve got another hard task in front of us. We’re not out of this, but we have to pick the players up mentally and get them ready for Portugal. They’re a very experienced side, and experience is invariably what you need to win the World Cup.

Ricardo LA VOLPE (MEX)
Despite the goal, we were tense and nervous in the first half. The opening game in the World Cup is never easy and the players know that. We started to play a bit after the break. We had to reorganise ourselves at half-time and make some necessary changes, and that helped us clinch the win. If we can play like we did in the second half, with a solid back-line and a balanced formation, we can go far in this tournament.

Oswaldo Sanchez showed us that you have to take important decisions in life sometimes. He went to Mexico to his father’s funeral, and spoke to his family in Guadalajara because he wanted to be with us, and there he was. I’m sure his father, wherever his is, gave him plenty of backing and support for this game and the others that are coming up.

I had no doubts about the team’s ability to play with the same rhythm for 90 minutes and to keep going right to the end. I’d like to thank the presidents of the clubs in Mexico and their directors for releasing all the players and giving us plenty of time to prepare them for the tournament.

7 Responses to “Mexico-Iran: Coaches’ Quotes”

1. Soroush Says:
   June 12th, 2006 at 8:54 am

   Mexico beat brazil. They are tricky. In some parts
   Branko IVANKOVIC said iranina players need more international experience. But what i think they need is a better coach.
   Iranians are the most pationate fans in the wrold and they are also the most dissapointed fans.

2. farnaz Says:
   June 12th, 2006 at 9:01 am

   salam be ali daee aziz omidvaram ke tasmimetoon ba harfaye ye mosht jahtalab avaz nashode bashe shoma baraye iraniha hamoon ali daee 10 sale pish hastin inha mardomi hastan ke natonestan jaye shoma ro begiran baraye hamin asabanian hamintor baaghaye beranko mokhalefan be nazare man hameye bachha ali boodan behtar ham mishan motaenam pas kenar nakeshin va be bazi khoobetoon edame bedin tanha omide ma mardome iran be in 2 ta baziye hasase omidvaram ke cheshme hasooda va doshmanatoono koor konid
   az tarafe hameye mardom az aghaye branko ham tashakor mikonam bedoone eghragh behtarin va bozorgtarin morabi ta behal boodan baraye iraniha

3. Nima Says:
   June 12th, 2006 at 9:27 am

   First of all, Branko is a coward, iran clearly had that game going for them, but he was scared. I mean what does it take for a person to know ali daei is past his prime. please please help team melli. I swear I was soooo mad yesterday that I just wanted to buy tickets to go to germany and just slap branko. I’m really happy he is leaving after germany, but why didn’t he leave sooner. this could also be a reason why he did what he did second half aka coach’s half. did he really settle for the tie? was he blind? what did he say to our men in that dressing room? please someone answer

4. Hash Says:
   June 12th, 2006 at 2:28 pm

   It was not Branko’s fault. Ali Daei still commands a constant double team and for that reason alone opens the game up for everyone else. Not to mention the fac that he is still very solid on headers around the goal! If i’m not mistaken, he lead Iran with 9 goals in the qualifying rounds. So stop bitchin. I WANT DAEI TO PLAY; WE NEED HIM.

   We just made a huge mistake ( 2 huge mistakes) by mirazpour and razaei. Period. Then the team gave up. You have to fight till the end. Iran gave up a huge chance. We could have beaten Mexico or at very least tied. But in the world cup, as in life, we have to figure out what the next steps are. We need 2 wins and that’s all we can hope for. Its not impossible and the team has to forget about yesterday and move forward. We as iranians need to stop bitchin’ and stop bringing the morale of the team down.

5. Ardavan Says:
   June 13th, 2006 at 1:18 pm

   Daei is a good player against the Asian teams(perhaps) but not against the real ones. What did he do in the last world cup in France against Germany or the US team! Nothing!!!!! And he was 8 years younger too.
   How many chances did he create? Please get real! Even Zidaine is retiring! Daei is a waste of time for our national team against the real teams, I.E. The Europeans or Central Americans. Let the young ones come in and play!

6. ARYAN Says:
   June 13th, 2006 at 2:31 pm

   well…my opinion is that Ali Daei just has to say bye…cuz he’s not doing good …i know that he was champion and blablabla but he’s not anymore n i do not say that it’s his fault… well he’s old..he can’t play as well as he played before…i think if Arash Borhani was in Daei’s place…we had a chance to win… by the way i do not say that the only problem of the team is Daei…WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD COACH… . another thing is that Mirzapoor was acting so dizzy.

7. Ali Says:
   June 13th, 2006 at 5:14 pm

   This is very interesting news that I read in IFC side.

   Zlatko Leaves Iran’s Camp!
   (IFC) Zlatko Petricevic who has been attending the practices of Mexican team only to gather valuable information on the Iranian side has left the Iranian camp due to his frustration from Branko.

   Pejman Nozad, has interviewed Zlatko after Sunday’s match. This interview was published in Jahane Football. Zlatko says:

   I am sorry that I wasted my 11 year coaching reputation on Branko. I knew once after I was going to be labled as an Iranian spy, I would never be able to have a job with the Mexicans. I had discussed everything about Mexico with Branko. He was well aware of the Mexicans. I am sorry but I did not know Branko is this small and such a coward. From three months ago I repeatedly asked Branko to play a more offensive game and do not pull back. You saw that in the first half when you were attacking, you then controlled the game. I have no idea why he pulled the team back.

   When I saw Branko after the match, I screamed at him from madness that why you pulled back in the second half? Branko said that players themselves pulled back. I told Branko, so what are you on the bench for? You could stand up and yell so that Yahya and Rahman could come forward.

   Zlatko then says that, Iran did not lose to Mexico. Iran lost to Branko. I do not want to see him again since I believe he is such a small figure for the Iranian national team. I am leaving the Iranian camp today. I feel sorry for Branko for taking out Karimi and leaving Daei on the pitch to walk.

   Zlatko at the end apologized to the Iranian people for not doing more to help the Iranian team to come out victorious against Mexico.