Advertisement

Iranian fans and players react to heartbreaking World Cup elimination

  • <p>An Iran supporter shows his emotions following defeat during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) </p>
    1/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    An Iran supporter shows his emotions following defeat during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

  • <p>Iran’s Mehdi Taremi reacts after the match. REUTERS/Murad Sezer </p>
    2/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s Mehdi Taremi reacts after the match. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

  • <p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    3/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Iran’s Mehdi Taremi looks dejected after the match. REUTERS/Matthew Childs </p>
    4/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s Mehdi Taremi looks dejected after the match. REUTERS/Matthew Childs

  • <p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    5/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

  • <p>Iran’s players after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    6/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s players after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Iran fans look dejected after the match. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado </p>
    7/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran fans look dejected after the match. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

  • <p>Iran fans look dejected after the match. REUTERS/Matthew Childs </p>
    8/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran fans look dejected after the match. REUTERS/Matthew Childs

  • <p>The IR Iran players lie dejectedly on the pitch at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) </p>
    9/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    The IR Iran players lie dejectedly on the pitch at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    10/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

  • <p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    11/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images)

  • <p>Iran’s players after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    12/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s players after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images)

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Iran’s Sardar Azmoun reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    13/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s Sardar Azmoun reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

  • <p>Iran’s player after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    14/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s player after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

  • <p>Rashid Mazaheri of IR Iran walks off at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) </p>
    15/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Rashid Mazaheri of IR Iran walks off at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    16/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images)

  • <p>Iran’s Milad Mohammadi (L) and Majid Hosseini after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
    17/17

    Iran’s heartbreak

    Iran’s Milad Mohammadi (L) and Majid Hosseini after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images)

<p>An Iran supporter shows his emotions following defeat during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s Mehdi Taremi reacts after the match. REUTERS/Murad Sezer </p>
<p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s Mehdi Taremi looks dejected after the match. REUTERS/Matthew Childs </p>
<p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s players after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran fans look dejected after the match. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado </p>
<p>Iran fans look dejected after the match. REUTERS/Matthew Childs </p>
<p>The IR Iran players lie dejectedly on the pitch at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s players after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s Sardar Azmoun reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s player after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Rashid Mazaheri of IR Iran walks off at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena on June 25, 2018 in Saransk, Russia. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s supporter reacts after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS (Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Iran’s Milad Mohammadi (L) and Majid Hosseini after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B football match against Portugal at Mordovia Arena Stadium. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images) </p>
Yahoo Sports Staff

Iran ran out of time. And its tears were abundant. It had a right to feel aggrieved. Because it had managed not to be beaten by Ronaldo. Instead, it was undone by a world-class goal from Quaresma, and perhaps Caceres, conspiring to eliminate them from the 2018 World Cup.

– Leander Schaerlaeckens