You could hear the dejection in Gareth Bale’s voice and some of that might have been in his own
performance. He will know he hasn’t performed to levels we’re used to.
But we can’t keep
relying on Bale to dig us out, do something magic or score a worldie goal.
We’re always talking about magic moments and even if he's not playing well, it'd be a brave man to take Bale off. I’m sure he’d be honest though and say that wasn't good enough and it wasn't what we expect.
You can say the same thing about Aaron Ramsey. Certainly if Wales were going to progress,
we would need more from the pair - that might be harsh to expect it from them but we do expect more and unfortunately today they were not at the levels we are used to.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
The second best goal of the World Cup so far?
'Didn't look like the same guy'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
If his name wasn’t Gareth Bale, you'd have taken him off and you would not play him in the next game.
He had no impact whatsoever and he didn’t try to go by anyone.
We know the Bale from the past but that didn’t
look like the same guy.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Jess Fishlock
Wales' most-capped footballer
Wales have to work through this over the next couple of days and get ready for England, go up against England regardless of their result tonight, go and play against England and show everybody exactly who they are.
I feel like they will be a little bit disappointed they haven't been able to do that as much as they would have wanted to in this tournament.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Too many of Wales' top performers just haven't played well so far in this World Cup.
Ethan Ampadu has been superb.
Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham and Ben Davies have all played well.
Other than that? I'm not sure any of Wales' players will feel they have hit their top levels.
They didn't live up to their billing today.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz told BBC One:
“This
is just the beginning, but we need to finish the job.
“It was a wonderful
day for us.
I don’t have words to say thank you to the players. They were brilliant, they deserve all the respect.
People will understand that these boys love to play football.
“Our
players deserve to be supported. We want to play for the fans.
"We did it for them,
we did it for them. That’s the only reason we’re here, to play for the fans."
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Cymru
You've got to be honest, they deserve it. They deserve the goal, the win, the three points.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Hot on the heels of Richarlison's wonderful goal last night, Rouzbeh Cheshmi produced a moment of World Cup magic today.
Wales were beaten by a special, special goal.
It's probably not a great consolation, but it is true.
'Wales are not going to beat England'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Kath Morgan
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Cymru
We have to be realistic, Wales are not going to beat England. Wales are not fit enough to compete at this level.
But the biggest thing was the standard of passing, it was dreadful. So many times they made the wrong decision, and we were off the pace from the first minute. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were guilty of a lot of those mistakes.
Iran were too good, we didn't test their defences at all. It's the right result.
'We are gutted'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Wales captain Gareth Bale told BBC One:
“We are
gutted, there is no other way to say it.
“We
fought until the last second and we need to go again.
“We are
all gutted but we have to pick ourselves up straight away.
“It is
going to be difficult for us for sure. We will have to see.
“What
can I say? We recover and we have to go again.”
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
'A special afternoon for Iran'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
The Welsh fans are applauding the Iran players as they do their lap of honour around the stadium.
It's very emotional.
They're saying; "We respect you as a team".
This is a very special afternoon for Iran and the Wales fans understand that.
Iran on a lap of honour
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Qatar
The Iran squad are going on a deserved lap of honour - to acknowledge their fans who are here in numbers all around this stadium.
Their World Cup is very much alive and kicking.
Wales? Not so much...
Get Involved
#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only) or via What's App on 03301231826
SMS Message: Very impressive from Iran. Thoroughly deserved. Makes England's win all the more impressive now. from Matt
Very impressive from Iran. Thoroughly deserved. Makes England's win all the more impressive now.
SMS Message: What's cost Wales at least a draw was not the red card but the reliance on an ageing midfield. Aaron Ramsey was awful the whole game and Joe Allen has looked like a poor Joe Allen tribute act. from Jeff
What's cost Wales at least a draw was not the red card but the reliance on an ageing midfield. Aaron Ramsey was awful the whole game and Joe Allen has looked like a poor Joe Allen tribute act.
SMS Message: Welcome to the World Cup heartbreak club Wales-from a Long time England fan from Ben
Welcome to the World Cup heartbreak club Wales-from a Long time England fan
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#bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)
SMS Message: absolutely shocking by Wales. First World Cup in over 60 years and didn't even bother to turn up. Got exactly what they deserved, nothing. 3-0 England on Tuesday. from Adam
absolutely shocking by Wales. First World Cup in over 60 years and didn't even bother to turn up. Got exactly what they deserved, nothing. 3-0 England on Tuesday.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales
Those players will be devastated because that's a game we had to win, going up against England was going to be extremely difficult and looking at the players faces they are absolutely dejected.
Get Involved
#bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)
SMS Message: I think this tournament has shown that Wales can no longer carry Ramsey and Bale for 80 mins for the 10 mins that they provide some magic because the 10 mins of magic has faded. from Anon
I think this tournament has shown that Wales can no longer carry Ramsey and Bale for 80 mins for the 10 mins that they provide some magic because the 10 mins of magic has faded.
Still together
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Qatar
It's been a hugely disappointing day for Wales but their players and staff have just been over to applaud their fans, and got the same treatment back from the Red Wall. They are still together.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Kath Morgan
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Cymru
Wales were defending heartily and it's cruel but there were so many gaps.
Wales haven't been good enough, either individually or as a team. They haven't been physical and I think they've been out of their depth. They haven't been able to cope with Iran since the start.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Cymru
I'm extremely disappointed in how Wales performed. If we're being honest, we haven't been good enough in the two games.
The thing for Wales is our fitness levels, not enough of our players are playing 90 minutes regularly. Not enough energy, nobody looked fresh. You can get a couple of players through like that, but not five or six.
We were lucky against the USA. We lost to the better team today, no doubt about it. They were fitter, more confident, more sharp. We can't complain about that result at all.
Live Reporting
Michael Pearlman
All times stated are UK
'Can't keep relying on Bale'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
James Collins
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
You could hear the dejection in Gareth Bale’s voice and some of that might have been in his own performance. He will know he hasn’t performed to levels we’re used to.
But we can’t keep relying on Bale to dig us out, do something magic or score a worldie goal.
We’re always talking about magic moments and even if he's not playing well, it'd be a brave man to take Bale off. I’m sure he’d be honest though and say that wasn't good enough and it wasn't what we expect.
You can say the same thing about Aaron Ramsey. Certainly if Wales were going to progress, we would need more from the pair - that might be harsh to expect it from them but we do expect more and unfortunately today they were not at the levels we are used to.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
The second best goal of the World Cup so far?
'Didn't look like the same guy'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
If his name wasn’t Gareth Bale, you'd have taken him off and you would not play him in the next game.
He had no impact whatsoever and he didn’t try to go by anyone.
We know the Bale from the past but that didn’t look like the same guy.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Jess Fishlock
Wales' most-capped footballer
Wales have to work through this over the next couple of days and get ready for England, go up against England regardless of their result tonight, go and play against England and show everybody exactly who they are.
I feel like they will be a little bit disappointed they haven't been able to do that as much as they would have wanted to in this tournament.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Too many of Wales' top performers just haven't played well so far in this World Cup.
Ethan Ampadu has been superb.
Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham and Ben Davies have all played well.
Other than that? I'm not sure any of Wales' players will feel they have hit their top levels.
They didn't live up to their billing today.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz told BBC One:
“This is just the beginning, but we need to finish the job.
“It was a wonderful day for us.
I don’t have words to say thank you to the players. They were brilliant, they deserve all the respect.
People will understand that these boys love to play football.
“Our players deserve to be supported. We want to play for the fans.
"We did it for them, we did it for them. That’s the only reason we’re here, to play for the fans."
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Cymru
You've got to be honest, they deserve it. They deserve the goal, the win, the three points.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Hot on the heels of Richarlison's wonderful goal last night, Rouzbeh Cheshmi produced a moment of World Cup magic today.
Wales were beaten by a special, special goal.
It's probably not a great consolation, but it is true.
'Wales are not going to beat England'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Kath Morgan
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Cymru
We have to be realistic, Wales are not going to beat England. Wales are not fit enough to compete at this level.
But the biggest thing was the standard of passing, it was dreadful. So many times they made the wrong decision, and we were off the pace from the first minute. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were guilty of a lot of those mistakes.
Iran were too good, we didn't test their defences at all. It's the right result.
'We are gutted'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Wales captain Gareth Bale told BBC One:
“We are gutted, there is no other way to say it.
“We fought until the last second and we need to go again.
“We are all gutted but we have to pick ourselves up straight away.
“It is going to be difficult for us for sure. We will have to see.
“What can I say? We recover and we have to go again.”
'A special afternoon for Iran'
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
The Welsh fans are applauding the Iran players as they do their lap of honour around the stadium.
It's very emotional.
They're saying; "We respect you as a team".
This is a very special afternoon for Iran and the Wales fans understand that.
Iran on a lap of honour
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Qatar
The Iran squad are going on a deserved lap of honour - to acknowledge their fans who are here in numbers all around this stadium.
Their World Cup is very much alive and kicking.
Wales? Not so much...
Get Involved
#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only) or via What's App on 03301231826
Get Involved
#bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Nathan Blake
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales
Those players will be devastated because that's a game we had to win, going up against England was going to be extremely difficult and looking at the players faces they are absolutely dejected.
Get Involved
#bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)
Still together
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Qatar
It's been a hugely disappointing day for Wales but their players and staff have just been over to applaud their fans, and got the same treatment back from the Red Wall. They are still together.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Kath Morgan
Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Cymru
Wales were defending heartily and it's cruel but there were so many gaps.
Wales haven't been good enough, either individually or as a team. They haven't been physical and I think they've been out of their depth. They haven't been able to cope with Iran since the start.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Iwan Roberts
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Cymru
I'm extremely disappointed in how Wales performed. If we're being honest, we haven't been good enough in the two games.
The thing for Wales is our fitness levels, not enough of our players are playing 90 minutes regularly. Not enough energy, nobody looked fresh. You can get a couple of players through like that, but not five or six.
We were lucky against the USA. We lost to the better team today, no doubt about it. They were fitter, more confident, more sharp. We can't complain about that result at all.
Post update
FT: Wales 0-2 Iran
Surely the right decision?