Iran manager Carlos Queiroz has seemingly started the mind games with an apparent attempt to increase the pressure on England ahead of their 2022 FIFA World Cup clash on Monday afternoon.
Queiroz is now in his second spell in charge of Iran after a lengthy first tenure between April 2011 and January 2019, the longest managerial reign in Team Melli's history.
Read: Ecuador hand Qatar losing start in World Cup opener
The former Manchester United assistant coach was thus in charge of the team at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, where they were knocked out at the group stage on both occasions.
This time around, he will be hoping he can make history and lead Iran to their first knockout stage appearance ever on football's biggest stage in the coming weeks.
If the Middle Eastern nation are to progress, though, they will have to come away with points from their opening match against the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists England, which would be the first shock upset of the tournament.
With pressure on the Portuguese coach in his third chance to see the team qualify beyond the group stage at a World Cup, the 69-year-old has seemingly decided to turn the attention to Gareth Southgate's Three Lions by claiming they are the most talented England side since 1966.
"For the majority of our players, to play against England is like magic, a unique opportunity, a gift, because in terms of the international calendar, to play England or Germany is almost impossible," the former South Africa manager explained, per the Daily Mail.
"This new generation that Gareth Southgate is bringing for the national team, in my opinion, is probably the most talented, the most competitive English national team since 1966.
"This team is very, very functional, very practical, very realistic. I work with the generation of Rio [Ferdinand], [Paul] Scholes, [David] Beckham, all those guys.
"But this national team is really, really different because they have a realistic approach to any single game which makes them very, very dangerous."
Queiroz went on to add that this game is of the utmost importance to himself and the players.
Read: Belgium coach sends warning to stars ahead of World Cup
"It is the most important game of our lives, first of all because it is the next one, and the next game is always most important for the life of coaches and players," the former Real Madrid boss continued.
"But also it is a unique opportunity, even for me, and I have 200-and-something international games.
"It is the first time I have the opportunity to play against the England national team."
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: IRAN'S WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY