TEHRAN – With just 10 days to go before the continental showpiece kicks off, Iran national football team head coach Carlos Queiroz has called for a ceasefire.

The Iranian media launched withering attack on the Portuguese after he said his dream is reaching to the tournament’s final four.

Now, Queiroz has called for a ceasefire with critics and wanted them to support Team Melli in the AFC Asian Cup.

Queiroz, who led Iran national football team to back-to-back World Cups in 2014 and 2018, has posted an announcement to his Instagram account.

“Asian Cup 2019 adventure starts officially with Team Melli’s registration call up list. What did not kill us until now, can only make us stronger and better!!

My last comment is dedicated to raise my heart on behalf of all Team Melli fans and supporters.

When you have major responsibilities and you fail to fulfill your obligations and duties, you lose respect and credibility. The only answer is to ignore and show our indifference.

This was not only against and about Team Melli goals, this was against and all about Team Melli expectations and dreams.

We need to think positive and turn into powerful believers. We need to think big if we want to achieve a big dream.

Thanks to all that on the pitch and off the pitch help and support us to reach this fantastic opportunity of challenging the Asian Cup 2019,” the announcement reads.

Iran have been drawn with Yemen, Vietnam and Iraq in Group D.

Team Melli will start a campaign with a match against Yemen on Jan. 7 at the UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Reporting by Masoud Hossein