Iran contest is not only about Cristiano Ronaldo, insists Santos
Coach Fernando Santos warned Portugal's third and final World Cup Group B match against Iran is not all about top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
![Iran contest is not only about Cristiano Ronaldo, insists Santos](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/6CL2DLBSUVPQTHL34WOWP5KRDQ.jpg?auth=3a4e9e0d60c339bb8802923b267f038652cd70b82cf447d6cd1fc1a534e6394d&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
Portugal head coach Fernando Santos said his side's third World Cup group game was not a case of Cristiano Ronaldo versus Iran as he warned his players of the tough contest awaiting them. Ronaldo has scored all of Portugal's goals so far at the tournament, netting a hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Spain before getting the winner in a 1-0 victory over Morocco. Despite the Real Madrid striker's excellent form, Santos rejected the suggestion that the responsibility would be on Ronaldo to deliver a result against Carlos Queiroz's side.
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11 versus 11
"He makes a difference here, in Real Madrid, in Manchester United, in Sporting," said Santos, recounting Ronaldo's current and former clubs. "This is not a game between Portugal's coach and Iran's; this is not a game of Cristiano against anyone; this is, yes, a game of Portugal against Iran."
The 63-year-old spoke of his close friendship with Queiroz, whose side are one point behind Portugal in the Group B standings after a win over Morocco and a defeat to Spain, both by a 1-0 scoreline. Santos said he had been impressed by the former Real Madrid and Portugal coach's progress with Iran since his appointment in 2011.
![Carlos Queiroz team talk with Iran before the Portugal game](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/44Q7EANMFJIKNF22QYNX2PRWAA.jpg?auth=a6f12645a65e81dd3d015dc29e7655b3095016a4774a2e7658b840f6abcf0599&width=360)
Santos praise for Queiroz
"He has been my colleague and friend for 35 years," said Santos. "We travelled many times by train and we talked a lot of football because he taught at the time and I was an engineer. He will do his best to win for Iran, I am sure. I had the opportunity to see these two Iran games in the World Cup and the 10 that they played in qualifying. I soon felt certain that they are a very strong team: nine wins, one draw, conceding only two goals with Syria when they qualified. There are experienced players with a strong strategy. We have seen here Iran's defensive organisation and not only because they know how to play well and play ball. There will be two teams that fight a lot, that will give everything. I want to win, my colleague wants to win and it's going to be a tough and strong battle. We have to be prepared."