Jurgen Klinsmann has attempted to backtrack on controversial comments he made about Iran after their manager Carlos Queiroz called him out on social media last night.
The German hit headlines due to comments he made on the BBC about the Iranians in the aftermath of their victory over Wales on Friday. He would suggest that underhanded tactics were a part of their 'culture', a phrase he repeated on a number of occasions. He was widely condemned for the language he used as a result.
The remarks did not go unnoticed in the Iran camp, with Carlos Queiroz taking to social media last night to express his feelings on the matter. He would label the German's words as 'outrageous' and invited him to meet his squad to put any prejudices behind him.
No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran Culture, Iran National Team and my Players are a disgrace to Football.
Nobody can hurt our integrity if it is not at our level, of course.
(...)— Carlos Queiroz (@Carlos_Queiroz) November 26, 2022
No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran culture, (the) Iran national team and my players are a disgrace to football.
Nobody can hurt our integrity if it is not at our level, of course. Even saying so, we would like to invite you as our guest, to come to our national team camp, socialise with Iran players and learn from them about the country, the people of Iran, the poets and art, the algebra, all the millennial Persian culture. And also listen from our players how much they love and respect football.
As [an] American/German, we understand you’re no supporter. No problem. And despite your outrageous remarks on BBC trying to undermine our efforts, sacrifices and skills, we promise you that we will not produce any judgments regarding your culture, roots and background and that you will always be welcome to our family.
The former Spurs man has now responded to that invite.
Jurgen Klinsmann responds to Iran invite
Jurgen Klinsmann has attempted to ease any simmering tensions between himself and Queiroz.
Speaking on the BBC this morning, he would claim that his comments were taken out of context and were actually meant as a compliment.
There was stuff really taken out of context. I will try to give him a call and calm things down.
I have never criticised Carlos or the Iranian bench. Some even thought I was criticising the referee because he didn’t do anything about the way they were behaving on the bench.
All I described was their emotional way of doing things, which is actually admirable in a certain way. The whole bench lives the game.
They’re jumping up and down and Carlos is a very emotional coach, he’s constantly on the sidelines trying to give his players all his energy and direction.
Iran will enter their final group game against the USA knowing that a win will ensure their passage into the knockout stages, with Kilnsmann having previously managed the Americans for five years.
It will be interesting to see how they react if they can get one over on his old team.
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