Unsettled Iran search for elusive win in qualifying




BANGKOK, March 24 (Reuters) - Troubled Iran may have finally put their house in order off the field, but on it things are not looking good for the three-times World Cup qualifiers.


Despite having untangled themselves from months of mess, including persistent political problems and a drawn-out coaching crisis, Iran are without a win since July and have not scored in six matches ahead of this week's World Cup qualifiers.
They travel to Kuwait on Wednesday desperate for victory to make amends for a string of uninspiring performances, including a humiliating goalless draw at home to part-timers Syria in their opening Group 5 qualifier.


Now that all-time top goalscorer and former Asian player of the year Ali Daei is in charge, Iran's players can no longer complain of a lack of leadership and their impatient fans will expect nothing less than three points.
However, according to Kuwait's Croatian coach Radion Gacanin, that may not be so easy.


'Iran are the stronger team, they have a lot of European-based players, but it will be difficult for them,' said Gacanin, who like Daei coaches both club and country.
'In football, anyone can beat anyone. We are at home, we have to win and they have not played well lately, it's been bad for them,' he told Reuters.