South Korea and Iran appear headed for one of Asia’s worst-tempered World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday after their coaches traded barbs and one player said he would make Iran’s captain cry “tears of blood”.
The gloves-off verbal sparring has dramatically raised temperatures ahead of their crunch meeting in the southern port city of Ulsan, where South Korea need just a point but Iran need a win to guarantee an automatic 2014 World Cup berth.
After Korean boss Choi Kang-Hee’s promise to “make life painful” for Iran drew a strong response from their coach Carlos Queiroz and captain Javad Nekounam, the home players launched a fresh salvo.
“I will make him (Nekounam) shed tears of blood,” said Germany-based forward Son Heung-Min.
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Fifa to probe togo, ethiopia player issue
Johannesburg, June 17: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Algeria on Sunday became the first countries to reach the play-offs in the Africa zone of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
However, a Fifa statement issued after the final weekend qualifier said they are probing allegations that Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea and Togo fielding ineligible players this year in qualifiers.
An own goal by Bernard Parker gifted lowest Group A seeds Ethiopia a 2-1 triumph over South Africa and an unassailable five-point lead with one round left.
Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt beat Mozambique 1-0. Yaya Toure netted twice in Dar es Salaam as Ivory Coast recovered from conceding a second-minute goal to defeat Tanzania 4-2 in Group C and they cannot be overtaken. — afp