Iran extend Queiroz deal

Carlos Queiroz has extended his contract with the Iran national team until beyond the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Portuguese guided his side to next year’s tournament in Brazil with a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Tuesday thanks to a second-half strike from Reza Ghoochannejhad.

Iran will now appear at their fourth World Cup finals, and their first since Germany in 2006.

And former Real Madrid manager Queiroz has revealed he will be leading the country in the showpiece competition in South America.

“My contract is such that it goes step by step in accordance with the interests of the (Iranian) football federation,” the 60-year-old told Fars.

“After qualification for the World Cup it has now been extended until the end of this competition.”

The build up to the victory over South Korea was marred by angry exchanges between Queiroz and opposite number Choi Kang-hee, who resigned from his post after the defeat.

“The Korean coach created an unusual atmosphere before the match. In my 32 years of coaching, I’ve never encountered such an issue,” Queiroz continued.

“Talk of war, revenge and blood is not normal. The Korean coach wanted to put our players under pressure with such talk but we used it to motivate our players.”