Iran coach Carlos Queiroz was not a happy man at the end of his team's final group match of the tournament. His side had managed a 1-1 draw with Portugal, but it was not enough to secure progression to the round of 16 following a string of controversial calls.
But it wasn't only the game that had the former Portugal manager annoyed, with the 65-year-old admonishing Cristiano Ronaldo as well as the majority of the Portugese squad for not acknowledging him when the match finished.
"I can't understand someone who can't be bothered to come over and greet a coach who spent 12 years working for the Portuguese football federation," Queiroz told Portuguese newspaper Publico:
During my time there, I won European and world titles, brought new ideas and restructured the team. The history of the Portuguese football federation didn't start on the island of Madeira with Cristiano Ronaldo. It started well before then.
And those are not the values which I was taught by people like Jose Augusto, Simoes, Eusebio, Humberto Coelho... I am not saying that the values which modern day players have are bad, just that they are not the same as the values I and many other people hold.
Portugese winger Ricardo Quaresma had a pop back at Queiroz after the game stating that he "was irritated by the way Iran's coach behaved", and that "being Portuguese, he should show more respect towards the Portuguese". But Queiroz was in no mood to apologise, arguing that other coaches who have worked with the 34-year-old would have a thing or two to say about the temperamental forward:
As a fellow countryman, I'd prefer not to say too much about what Quaresma said. He plays for my country too. But he might find that other coaches who have worked with him will be happy to talk about him - from Sporting Clube to Porto... Let's leave it at that. If he has to say something about me, be brave and say it. To say that I don't respect Portuguese players... How can I not respect them? I am Portuguese.
Despite all the animosity Queiroz did reveal that three players did come and greet the coach at full time, namely Adrien Silva, Bruno Alves and goalkeeper Beto.
Portugal face Uruguay in their next match this Saturday at 7pm, and you wonder how fervently Queiroz will be cheering his fellow countrymen following this snub.
