Iran and Japan performed their last-16 video games on Wednesday, permitting them solely three days of relaxation.
While Japan wrapped up their sport in about 90 minutes of regulation time, Iran performed greater than 120 minutes earlier than wrapping up the match in a penalty shootout.
“We had much less restoration time than Japan. We ought to have completed the sport in opposition to Syria within the seventieth minute, however we did not take our possibilities and we had some dangerous luck,” Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei mentioned.
“I feel the FIFA rule is a minimal of 72 hours (of relaxation between video games) however we did not have sufficient time to recuperate for Japan. The very first thing is the bodily side and the second is restoration from the psychological side too.”
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand additionally complained in regards to the lack of restoration time however praised their medical workers for getting ready them for the sport.
“It’s not simple to play Japan after 139 minutes in opposition to Syria, a few of our gamers had spasms. But what’s essential is how we recuperate mentally and I noticed the gamers immediately, they’re very comfortable,” he mentioned on Thursday.