Optimism on World Cup chances

Iranian Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported today that according to Kicker Magazine Team Melli are “optimistic” about moving on to the second round.

This is all fine, because I would like to be optimistic too. But my question is why quote Kicker? Doesn’t anyone writing for IRNA feel the optimism?

Perhaps not because they are much closer to the real thing than Kicker writers are and can clearly see the management ineptitude which is ruling the Iranian Football Federation.