Iran have a very difficult task at hand when they take on Portugal in their final Group B clash later on this evening - and the nation will take even the slightest advantage if it can in any way help them in pursuit of a place in the knockout stages. And it appears as though a portion of their supporters have been trying to get one-up on their opponents by standing outside Portugal's hotel and making a whole lot of noise. It's become quite a frequent tactic from football fans ahead of big games and of course Iran targeted Portugal's talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo. Loading… Advert 10 The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is in red-hot form, scoring four in his first two games and coming off breaking the record for the most international goals scored by a European player. CR7's early header against Morocco took him to an incredible 85 goals for Portugal and sees him overtake the legendary Ferenc Puskas. International goals: :flag_hu: Ferenc Puskas (84) :flag_pt: Cristiano Ronaldo (85) Ronaldo is now Europe's all-time top scorer :clap: pic.twitter.com/Ae1qDqIYbh - Indy Football (@IndyFootball) June 20, 2018 Conversely, some Iranians with vuvuzelas (yes they are still a thing it seems) tried to ruin his night sleep and their ploy appeared to work to an extent. Advert 10 Footage shows the Real Madrid star coming to the window and politely asking them to keep the noise down, like your pensioner next door neighbour, with Ronaldo even gesturing with a 'go to sleep' motion. Iran fans not letting Cristiano sleep, reminds of the time when PSG fans were making loud noises outside the Madrid team Hotel. Ronaldo then scored a bullet header. Will happen same again. https://t.co/QoV3KORbfV - Hamza (@Ronaldoverses) June 24, 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo from his hotel window telling Iranian fans to be quiet so he can get some sleep before Portugal vs Iran tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/kDCWKuWIQX - Gilles (@GrimandiTweets) June 24, 2018 Ronaldo foi à janela pedir aos iranianos para o deixarem dormir em paz :zzz: :movie_camera: @RTP1 pic.twitter.com/UtYxZBbJF3 - B24 :flag_pt: (@B24PT) June 24, 2018 Advert 10 As pointed out above it's not fazed him before though, as when PSG fans tried to disturb he and his Real Madrid colleagues, Ronaldo scored a header in a 2-1 Champions League last 16 second leg win in the French capital.<doc-sep>PORTUGAL are banking on Harry Kane’s hat-trick pushing Cristiano Ronaldo to even greater heights this evening. England skipper Kane has overtaken Ronaldo as the World Cup’s leading scorer after his three goals in yesterday’s 6-1 thrashing of Panama. 6 Iran are fearing a Cristiano Ronaldo backlash Credit: Alamy Live News 6 Harry Kane overtook the Portuguese superstar in the race for the Golden Boot with his hat-trick against Panama Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd But the Portuguese captain has made it his personal goal to win the Golden Boot in Russia. And that can only spell trouble for outsiders Iran in tonight’s Group B decider in Saransk. Iran’s Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz is under no illusions where the biggest threat to his team comes from and says: “Portugal have a national side called Cristiano Ronaldo and a group of players who run after him.” Queiroz believes he has inside knowledge of Ronaldo’s abilities after his time at Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant. Hat-trick hero Harry Kane reflects on England thumping Panama and his hat-trick at World Cup 2018 6 Iran’s Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz is under no illusions that CR7 is the biggest threat to his side Credit: EPA 6 Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored four in just two matches for Portugal in Russia Credit: AP:Associated Press Jesse Lingard scores incredible long range goal for England against Panama at World Cup 2018 But Portuguese coach Fernando Santos doubts that even Queiroz can come up with a plan to halt a player who scored his 85th international goal in last week’s 1-0 win against Morocco. “Whether it’s Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid or the Portuguese national team, we all know that Cristiano makes a difference wherever he plays. “I was his trainer at Sporting when he went to Manchester and he has shown very clearly what he can do. “But I have to say that this is not just Cristiano against Iran. It’s Portugal against a very strong team, the best team in Asia in my opinion.” Queiroz knows he will probably never be able to show his face again in his home country if he knocks Portugal out of the World Cup tonight. England fans in wild celebrations as they score six goals against Panama at World Cup 2018 LATEST WORLD CUP 2018 NEWS NO HARD FEELINGS Man dumped by Gareth Southgate's wife insists he holds no grudge 'i want a girl' England star Kyle Walker's model girlfriend reveals she wants FOURTH baby But Santos shrugged off suggestions that Queiroz will somehow be betraying his nation. “Carlos is my colleague and my friend,” he said. “We have known each other for 35 years and though we will put our friendship on hold for the night, this match will not change our relationship. “He is a great coach and a great professional and we both know what is at stake tonight. “It’s a decisive match and you could say that we have already reached the knock-out stage because both teams are in position to move on to the next round. Cristiano Ronaldo explains the reason behind his new beard “I have watched all of Iran’s qualifying games and I know they will give us many difficulties. But we will prove that we have the quality to beat them.” Yet Queiroz is hoping that Ronaldo’s mere presence on the pitch in Saransk this evening will inspire his team to make it through to the last 16 of the World Cup for their first time in Iran’s history. He says: “Not in the wildest dreams of my players and all their limitations could they have imagined playing against Cristiano. “They are very excited to fight for this dream and we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 6 Carlos Queiroz first worked with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd 6 They later worked together when Queiroz was in charge of the Portuguese national team Credit: EPA “Portugal comes with very strong animals and they can bite quite hard. “They are powerful candidates to win the World Cup but we are ready to compete with honour and dignity. “I want to make it clear that we are not here to be losers. “We are here to compete and to have fun and hopefully we can have the bit of luck we need to win this game and get through to the next round.”<doc-sep>Iran held Portugal 1-1 in their final Group B match on Monday but couldn't stop Cristiano Ronaldo's men from entering the FIFA World Cup 2018 last 16. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said Cristiano Ronaldo was fortunate to escape a red card despite a VAR review following an elbow in a the draw match. Portugal will face Uruguay in the last 16 after advancing as runners-up of Group B, but Queiroz insisted Ronaldo deserved to be sent off for catching Iran defender Morteza Pouraliganji with an elbow to the face. "I don't want to talk too much, it's about my country and a player. I know it'll be a war against me," said Queiroz, who coached his native Portugal at the 2010 World Cup. "But the reality is you stopped the game for VAR, there is an elbow. An elbow is a red card in the rules. In the rules it doesn't say if it is (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo..." It was a busy evening for the video assistant referee in Saransk as two penalties were awarded upon review, on top of the Ronaldo altercation. "We accepted human mistakes before, that was part of the game. Players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes and referees make mistakes," said Queiroz. "But now you have one system that cost a fortune. It's high-tech with five, six people inside and what happens? Nobody takes responsibilities. "We need to be like rugby. When there is a decision by VAR I need to know what the referee is saying to them, people need to know what is going on." "So in my opinion, Mr. Infantino and FIFA, everybody agreed that VAR is not going well," he added. "That's the reality, there's a lot of complaints." Ricardo Quaresma struck a brilliant opening goal with a trademark curling effort using the outside of his right foot on the stroke of half-time. Ronaldo had the chance to double the lead with a penalty five minutes into the second half after he was upended by Saeid Ezatolahi, but his effort was save by Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand. Ronaldo frustrated Portugal defender Cedric was then penalised in stoppage time for a handball, and Karim Ansarifard converted from the spot to give Iran a lifeline. Mehdi Taremi nearly snatched a dramatic winner after a deflected shot rolled into his path, but he fired into the side netting as Iran were eliminated in agonising fashion. Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure after failing to add to his four-goal tally at the Mordovia Arena, suffering the same penalty misfortune as Lionel Messi earlier in the competition. "I understand, it's normal. The best players in the world face that when there isn't an opportunity to really make it happen," said Portugal boss Fernando Santos. "That hurts a lot more to them than to other players. They always want to win. They want to be the best and refuse to fail, and when they fail they get very upset." Santos said he thought the referee made the right decision in terms of the Ronaldo flashpoint. "No I wasn't concerned (about a red card), it seemed liked a normal thing in the match. The referee did what he had to do. "He went to the VAR twice or three times, he considered two penalties and one yellow card. I'd have to watch it again to talk about it, but I think the VAR did its job." A late equaliser from Iago Aspas that earned Spain a 2-2 draw with Morocco pushed the European champions down into second place. "To us what is important is to be in the last 16 and we want to carry on in this tournament," Santos said. Promoted "Uruguay have high quality and top-notch players. They're excellent but Portugal are too and we're going to try and find a way to win." (With AFP inputs)<doc-sep>It’s a time-honored international soccer tradition: the 3 a.m. party outside the opposing team’s hotel. In some nations, it might as well be a fan’s duty. And Iranian supporters, among others, have brought it to the World Cup. The night before their team’s decisive Group B showdown with Portugal, Iran fans gathered outside the Portuguese team hotel. They danced. They sang. They blared music. They made use of various noisemaking instruments. And they were loud enough, apparently, to draw a hotel room window appearance from Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo: Ronaldo just wanted some sleep! Last night, Iran fans partied outside of Portugal’s team hotel, forcing the superstar to come to the window to ask for quiet (via 433/IG) pic.twitter.com/wXRgiPiotE — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 25, 2018 The video supposedly shows Ronaldo waving to the fans, and letting them know via gestures that he needs to get some sleep. That, of course, would not discourage the fans; instead, it would encourage them, their disruptive tactics obviously working. (Screenshot: @433 on Instagram) We’d expect Ronaldo to be unfazed, though. We’ll find out at 2 p.m. ET on Monday. Portugal needs a draw to clinch its knockout round place. Iran probably has to win. Full Group B scenarios are here. – – – – – – – Henry Bushnell covers global soccer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook. More World Cup on Yahoo Sports: • Bushnell: The two sides of Toni Kroos and Germany • Kroos’ dramatic late winner rescues Germany • FIFA knew of Russian doping, did nothing – report • Why Swiss goals, celebrations were both political, provocatic<doc-sep>
Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed an electrifying start to the 2018 World Cup. The 33-year-old Real Madrid star scored a hat-trick against Spain in Portugal's opening fixture before scoring the winner in a 1-0 win over Morocco. Ronaldo captained his country to success at Euro 2016 and this is likely to be his final chance to win a World Cup. Portugal face Iran in their final group game, needing a point to advance to the knockout stages. “We have only one alternative — to be better than Portugal in every aspect,” said Iran boss Carlos Queiroz. “We didn’t come here to be nice losers, we have come here to work with dignity and pride for Iran supporters. “We are going to fight for 90 minutes tomorrow.” Iran can progress if they pull off an unlikely win against Ronaldo & Co on Monday evening. Ronaldo v Iranian fans Travelling Iranian supporters have been doing everything in their power to help their team in Russia. On Sunday night, they were outside Portugal's hotel in Saransk as they desperately attempted to disturb their opponents. Ronaldo had a very clear message for the noisy Iranian fans who came armed with vuvuzelas. A GIF went viral which clearly showed Ronaldo approaching the window and asking the unwelcome visitors to let the players sleep. It's unclear how Ronaldo's message was received by the onlooking fans. But it surely wasn't the best idea to wind up the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. In March, PSG fans attempted to disrupt Ronaldo's sleep before their Champions League clash by making noise outside the Real Madrid hotel. The former Man United winger responded the very next day by scoring a goal in a 2-1 victory at the Parc des Princes. He subsequently won the Champions League and finished as the competition's top scorer. Meanwhile, only England's Harry Kane (5) has scored more goals than Ronaldo (4) at the 2018 World Cup. Will Ronaldo add to his tally against Iran on Monday? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below. News Now - Sport News