Wales' World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after their loss to Iran yesterday, a result that they could have very little complaints about.
Rob Page's side were completely outplayed for the entire contest, even if the two all important goals would not come until deep into injury time. In truth, they likely should have conceded three or four times before that.
Iran were full value for the result and will now enter their final group game against the USA full of confidence that they can get a win and advance to the last-16.
Jurgen Klinsmann under fire for comments about Iran on BBC
The Iranians played some exquisite football in the game yesterday, but that was not the only talking point about them on some broadcasters.
The BBC put together a package of what they deemed to be some overzealous play from the Asian side, with comments from Jurgen Klinsmann going on to cause some controversy.
When discussing Iran, the German implied that underhanded tactics were 'a part of their culture'. He would then go on to say that the same was true of the Guatemalan referee, leading to some heavy criticism online.
This is unbelievable…
Watch @J_Klinsmann dismiss brown athletes, from Iran to Guatemala, repeatedly saying “this is their culture”, while the host and other guests are sitting there listening to him go on and on, live on @BBCSport.pic.twitter.com/RgOR3b1sr0— Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی (@NegarMortazavi) November 26, 2022
That's their culture, that's their way of doing it.
That's why Carlos Queiroz fits really well with the Iranian national team. He struggled in South America, failed to qualify with Colombia then failed to qualify with Egypt as well. Just before the World Cup he went back and guided Iran where he worked for a long time.
This is not by coincidence, it is all purposely. It is part of their culture and how they play it, they worked the referee perfectly. The bench was always jumping up and working the linesman and the fourth official on the sideline.
They're constantly in your ear and your face. Keiffer Moore will probably tell you some stories after this game, he had a lot of little incidents out there that we didn't see.
This is their culture, they kind of make you lose your focus and concentration, what's really important to you.
It would have been a big difference with another referee. They had a Guatemalan referee. I worked in the USA for six years and went to Guatalmala, Honduras, Costa Rica. This fits their culture basically. They have five people around them and talk it out...
It did not play into the hands of Wales.
He was rightly been called out for these comments after the game.
"That's their culture..."
Jurgen Klinsmann confidently asserts that Iranians have a cultural predisposition to cheating in football matches four times in one minute.
Unchallenged.pic.twitter.com/HJiyjjVYo8— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) November 26, 2022
Iran completely dominated an abysmal Wales side & deservedly won that match. The BBC’s analysis - Jurgen Klinsmann in particular - implying they only won because of the ref/their “gamesmanship” & they’re essentially cheats because it’s “in their culture” is an absolute disgrace.
— Louis Allday (@Louis_Allday) November 25, 2022
Would like Jurgen Klinsmann to please put together one sentence without including a horrendously inaccurate cliche
— Casey Evans (@Casey_Evans_) November 25, 2022
Jurgen Klinsmann, on being asked about the referee's decisions in the Wales-Iran game, accuses the Iranian players of "gamesmanship" and flippantly comments that it is in their culture to cheat.
Neo-colonialism still alive and kicking, I see.— Rishav Paul (@paul94rishav) November 25, 2022
Jurgen Klinsmann coming across as a real bitter c*nt. If you listened to this post-match analysis, you would swear the Referee lost the match for Wales. Iran absolutely destroyed them in the second half. There was a massive gulf in quality. Wales were brutal.
— Cahir May (@CM_11) November 25, 2022
What qualifies Jurgen Klinsmann to speak on Iranian culture?
Punditry on the BBC after that game was awful.— Moh Haider (@ArsenalMoh8) November 25, 2022
Jurgen Klinsmann chatting absolute bollocks here - just give Iran the praise you bitter old man
— CrabDribble (@CrabDribble_) November 25, 2022
Particularly funny that legendary diver Jurgen Klinsmann is taking issue with any perceived Iranian “gamesmanship” https://t.co/vvKcn5z3qK
— windsurfing with Sting in Montserrat (@alexjs85) November 25, 2022
Jurgen klinsmann really doesn't like Iran it seems, accusing them of "working the referee" "it's there culture to make fouls behind the referee" expected that kind of sour grapes from the Welsh contingent on the pundit panel.
— Dave h (@david_trains) November 25, 2022
The comments were certainly very misguided and it was bizarre not to see someone else on the BBC call him out on them.
To see someone delve into such lazy tropes when discussing a football match is very disappointing.
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