"It was difficult but we proved that we are superior. We created five or six chances in the first half but did not get the goal - then they got theirs from one happy launch."

- Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo's take on the 1-1 draw at Lansdowne Road.

"We have a group of players who could have gone very far in a World Cup, but we got knocked out."

- Holland manager Louis van "We coulda been contenders" Gaal after Ireland scuppered their World Cup qualifying hopes.

"But the pitch was wet and very smooth an hour before the match, but due to the wind it dried out which made it more difficult for us in midfield to pass the ball along."

- And van Gaal explains why Holland lost in Dublin.

"The Iranian team showed on Thursday (against the United Arab Emirates) that it is among the top teams in the world. Anyone who is not admitting this fact is either blind, doesn't know anything about football, or is trying to destroy us."

- Iran coach Miroslav Blazevic.

"If we lose I will hang himself from the crossbar - I hope you will grieve for me."

- Blazevic again, promising to bid adieu to planet earth if things didn't go Iran's way in Tehran on Thursday.