“We learned a lot of things from the previous World Cup and we know how to play the next game,” he said.

“We know how to fight now and we have, really, the best coach in the world. He has helped us and we have learned so many things and, in the next game, we’re going to qualify. Believe me.”

Iran battled throughout the 90 minutes withthe 2010 champions and, after Costa’s opener, went close on several occasions to claiming an equaliser.

Ansarifard thought he had pulled his team level in the 62nd minute when his shot from 12 yards out beat David de Gea, only to go the wrong side of the post and fly into the side netting.

“I was going to celebrate, I was that sure,” he said of the near-miss. “I think it was 10 centimetres on the wrong side, but it’s OK.

“We had our plan and after we conceded the goal we started to play and created chances, and as you saw we had great chances to score and it didn’t happen.

“I think we were so unlucky because we deserved at least to make a draw in this game because we had the opportunity to score the goal and take a point. We were unlucky but we tried until the end of the game, we gave our best and we will continue like this and fight for our country.

“Believe me, we’re going to give everything to qualify from this group.”

Iran matched a Spain side that featured four players in the starting line-up that won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid last month and four of Barcelona’s La Liga-winning team.

But their dogged defending was matched by an impressive offensive performance after Costa’s goal and, in the end, they were unfortunate not to secure a point, with Saeid Ezatolahi’s attempt ruled out for offside after being referred to the Video Assistant Referee.

“You can’t compare us with the Spain players because they are playing in the top clubs in the world and they are really fantastic players, but we as a team are really fantastic and we try everything as a team,” said Ansarifard.

“This is modern football now, you see this in all the games at the World Cup...every team makes organisation in defence and then to counterattack. If you give space against Spain you know what’s going to happen.

“We made a plan and we tried our best and I think in one moment we lost our concentration and it wasn’t really a clear chance for them to score, but it’s OK.”

Sources: AFP, FIFA via Getty Images