MEXICO CITY, June 12: A grieving goalkeeper still reeling from his father's death was hailed on Monday by Mexican newspapers who also heaped praise on the country's team for beating Iran 3-1 in the opening World Cup Group D game.

Aside the Iran goal for which he was partly at fault, Oswaldo Sanchez's performance was exceptional, including a full length save from a goal-bound header just over 24 hours after returning from his father's funeral in Guadalajara.

Sanchez burst into tears with emotion at the end of the match and he was hugged by several players, not least two-goal scorer Omar Bravo and captain Rafael Marquez, who won the Champions League with Barcelona last month.

“Sing, don't cry” was the headline in Reforma newspaper alongside a picture of tear-filled Sanchez. The phrase is a famous line in a traditional Mexican ballad.

“Now we can start dreaming,” read El Universal daily. —Reuters