President Lauds Iran National Football Team’s World Cup Performance
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised the national football team for its brilliant performance in the 2018 World Cup games, saying they brought glory to Iran by “fighting to realize dreams of a great nation.”
In a message in the early hours of Tuesday, Rouhani hailed the national team’s players, coaches and crew for representing a united and hard-working nation in an international arena.
The Iranian footballers finished third in the 2018 World Cup “Group of Death” with four points after a 1-1 draw against Portugal in their last group game on Monday night.
Iran had beaten Morocco 1-0 and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain.
The performance of Iranian players in the tournament has won praise from people and experts.
What follows is the text of Rouhani’s message, released by his official website:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Proud athletes and heroes of national football team!
Peace and grace of God be on you hard-working, authoritative young athletes of our country, who exhibited another manifestation of a united, hopeful and hard-working nation before the eyes of the world with your hard work, intelligence and brilliant games in the Russian 2018 World Cup.
You dear athletes who fought for realization of a great nation's dreams and made yourself proud with admirable self-confidence, bring honor to the nation whose name is interwoven with heroism and championship and is grateful of its athletes' self-sacrifice.
I hereby appreciate all people at work, wise coaching staff, especially head coach, and each and every one of the footballers and wish all athletes of our country growing success in different athletic fields.
Hassan Rouhani
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran