Jurgen Klinsmann seeks to defuse bizarre row that’s emerged between him and Carlos Queiroz

Jurgen Klinsmann has said he will attempt to ‘calm things down’ between him and Carlos Queiroz. 

The Germany legend, while appearing on the BBC on Friday to provide analysis for Wales’ crushing 2-0 loss to Iran, said that the manager’s style – attritional and perhaps slightly negative in its approach – was a perfect match for the national side. 

Queiroz took issue with Klinsmann’s comments, sending out a series of tweets labelling the 1990 World Cup winner’s remarks a ‘disgrace to football’. 

Clearly wanting to not let the situation escalate, Klinsmann sought to offer some clarity to the situation. 

‘There was stuff really taken out of context. I will try to give him a call and calm things down,’ he told BBC Breakfast. 

‘I have never criticised Carlos or the Iranian bench. Some even thought I was criticising the referee because he didn’t do anything about the way they were behaving on the bench.

‘All I described was their emotional way of doing things, which is actually admirable in a certain way. 

‘The whole bench lives the game. They’re jumping up and down and Carlos is a very emotional coach, he’s constantly on the sidelines trying to give his players all his energy and direction.’

Klinsmann had claimed that Iran have learned to ‘work the referee’ under the coach

Klinsmann had initially said on punditry duty that it was not ‘by coincidence’ that is Queiroz and Iran appeared to be such a good fit.   

‘Carlos fits really well with the national team and their culture, he failed in South America with Colombia and then failed to qualify with Egypt, and he came in right before the World Cup with Iran, where he worked for a long time,’ he said. 

‘It is not by coincidence, it is part of their culture, how they play.

‘They worked the referee. They work the linesman and fourth official, they are constantly in their ear. There were a lot of incidents we didn’t see. This is their culture, they take you off your game.’

The Iran head coach took particular umbrage with the comments from Klinsmann, responding in due course with a series of tweets lambasting him – and the BBC – for ‘trying to undermine our efforts, sacrifices and skills’.  

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz (L) hit back at Jurgen Klinsmann after criticism of his team

‘Even not knowing me personally, you question my character with a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority,’ he tweeted. 

‘No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran culture, Iran national team and my players are a disgrace to football.

Offering a potential olive branch, Queiroz extended an invitation to Klinsmann to come and watch his side train and prepare. 

‘Even saying so, we would like to invite you as our guest, to come to our National Team Camp, socialise with Iran players and learn from them about the xountry, the people of Iran, the poets and art, the algebra, all the millennial Persian culture,’ he wrote. 

Klinsmann said that his comments had been taken out of context and would seek out the Iran coach

The Iran head coach has grabbed a number of headlines so far this tournament, most notably perhaps for berating a journalist for her line of questioning.

‘Why don’t you ask to Southgate these kind of questions? I am talking with you. I ask the pleasure to talk with you,’ he said.

‘I am asking one thing to you now the press conference is finished. Do you think it is fair also to ask other questions to other coaches?

‘That is the only question I make. Why don’t you ask the other coaches? Why don’t you ask Southgate: ‘what do you think about England, the United States and Afghanistan?’