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[monks data]
Wales national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Nov 25, 2022 at 10am UK
Millennium Stadium
Iran national football team

Wales
0 - 2
Iran


Rodon (45+3')
Hennessey (86')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Cheshmi (90+8'), Rezaeian (90+11')
Rezaeian (90+5'), Jahanbakhsh (90+5')

Rob Page takes blame for 'unacceptable' Wales performance

Rob Page takes blame for 'unacceptable' Wales performance
© Reuters
Wales manager Rob Page takes the blame for his side's 'unacceptable' performance in their heartbreaking 2-0 defeat to Iran in World Cup 2022 Group B.

Wales manager Rob Page has admitted that he will take the blame for an 'unacceptable' performance in their agonising 2-0 loss to Iran in World Cup 2022 Group B.

The Dragons were aiming to keep their top-two destiny within their own hands at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, but they produced a woeful showing against Team Melli and succumbed to two injury-time goals.

Having had goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey sent off for a high tackle on Mehdi Taremi in the 86th minute, the 10 men of Wales held out until the eighth minute of second-half injury time before Rouzbeh Cheshmi drilled a terrific long-range effort into the bottom corner.

Any slim hopes of Wales rescuing a point were then dashed with 100 minutes on the clock, as the Dragons committed bodies forward and were hit on the break, with Ramin Rezaeian lifting the ball over Danny Ward for Iran's second.

Defeat for Wales leaves them at the bottom of Group B after two games, meaning that Page's side must secure victory over England next Tuesday if they are to have any hope of progressing to the last 16.

Wales' Gareth Bale looks dejected following defeat to Iran on November 25, 2022© Reuters

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales after the game, Page insisted that the Dragons' efforts against Iran before Hennessey's red card were "not acceptable", and he took responsibility for the defeat.

"Our performance before the red card was not acceptable. We hoped it would all come together today, but we were nowhere near the levels we've set and the standards we've set in recent games," Page said.

"One or two you can carry, but when there are so many off days there is only one outcome. I always take responsibility, that's my team, the sending off didn't help of course but at that point we had five forwards on the pitch so couldn't get a defensive shape.

"But yes I'll always take responsibility for performances. It's a difficult changing room at the minute but we will be ready [against England], it's a local derby and a great game to finish on and we'll be prepared to go."

Iran attacker Ali Gholizadeh had a goal ruled out for offside in the 15th minute of the match as Team Melli won the midfield battle with ease, but they had to be extremely patient for the opening goal.

Iran manager Carlos Queiroz is thrown into the air by players after their win over Wales on November 25, 2022© Reuters

Gholizadeh and Sardar Azmoun hit the post within a few seconds of each other in the second half before two late goals sparked pandemonium, and Carlos Queiroz was left delighted after his side stopped the "bleeding" from their opening 6-2 defeat to England.

"Two points. We played today with amazing character, which is the profile of our team. We play with a sense of unity, cohesion. After the first game we need to get back on route," Queiroz told reporters at his post-game press conference.

"The second point was to get rid of this bad feeling of bleeding. Football is a game of different moments. It's not because you win or lose.

"Sometimes you lose your dignity, your honour, but of course in our first game we were bleeding in our pride. This was an opportunity to rebound. We put a good scarf [bandage] to stop the bleeding. We played brilliantly and deserved to win."

Iran have now gone level on points with England before the Three Lions meet the USA this evening, and Queiroz's side will hope to advance to the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time in their history when they face the Stars and Stripes next Tuesday.

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Game History

How you voted: Wales vs Iran

Wales
52.2%
Draw
30.3%
Iran
17.4%
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Iran's Mehdi Taremi celebrates scoring their first goal with Mehdi Torabi on November 21, 2022
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany11003
2 Switzerland Switzerland11003
3 Hungary Hungary10010
4 Scotland flag Scotland10010

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Spain Spain11003
2 Italy Italy11003
3 Albania national flag Albania10010
4 Croatia Croatia10010

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


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