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    XtraTime Web desk:  Striker Sardar Amzoun has retired from international football, aged just 23 after swirls of abuse from the Iranian supporters that made his mother seriously ill. A lot was expected from the “Iranian Messi”, as he netted 23 goals in 33 games in national colors including 11 goals in the qualifying campaign. But he didn’t leave up to his expectations as he failed to find the back of the net and Iran was sent back home from the group stage despite a decent team performance. Iran snatched a late 1-0 win over Morocco in their opener, lost to mighty Spain by a solitary goal and fought well enough to hold current European Champions, Portugal in a 1-1 stalemate. Azmoun complained that the personal insults have become so bad that eventually made her mother fell sick. “My mother had overcome a serious illness and I was happy,” said the Rubin Kazan frontman. “Unfortunately because of the unkindness of some people, and the insults that me and my team-mates in no way deserved, her illness has become severe. “This has put me in a difficult position where I must pick one or the other – and as a result I pick my mother.”