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OPPONENT WATCH: SPAIN

The 2010 winners are hoping to stand on top of the world once more with former Under-21 boss Julen Lopetegui now at the helm

Winners in 2010 but dumped out of the group stage four years later, there’s no question about which of their previous two World Cup campaigns Spain will be hoping to replicate.

Long-time boss Vicente del Bosque stayed on too long, but now a side of serial winners that had perhaps begun to look a little long in the tooth has been refreshed under former Under-21 boss Julen Lopetegui.

The ex-Porto coach had been set to join Wolves as manager in 2016, but when his country came calling, the 51-year-old couldn’t say no.

Since then he has reinvigorated the side, building on the long-standing base of Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and David Silva, by adding freshness in the shape of a number of his former youth charges, including Real Madrid star Isco and Saul Niguez.

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui during training
Spain coach Julen Lopetegui (Image: Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers)
Will Morata be in the starting XI this summer? (Image: Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

 

La Roja are still La Roja and crashing out at the group stage in Brazil 2014 and the disappointment of France 2016 were not at all cathartic in the end. At the age of 51, and without much experience as a coach at elite level, Julen Lopetegui has managed to conserve the essence of what made Spain so successful. The backbone of the team who qualified brilliantly for Russia 2018 are the same as those who failed in France a year and a half ago. Eight of the team who lost against Italy in Paris would start in Russia if the World Cup started now: David De Gea, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva and Álvaro Morata. In addition, the wonderful Isco has found his feet with the senior squad, as have several of the under-21s who won the Euros with Spain and Lopetegui in 2013.

The big question regards – as it has since David Villa’s international exit – who will play up front? Alvaro Morata has top-scored for Spain during Lopetegui’s time in charge with seven goals, but there’s also Diego Costa, Aritz Aduriz, Iago Aspas and a host of others.

They head to Russia among the leading contenders and will hope to stamp an early mark when they meet Portugal in their opener on June 15.

Form guide

There were no problems for the Spanish in World Cup qualifying, as they sauntered through a group containing Italy, with nine wins and one draw – in Turin – in their 10 games.

Lopetegui’s men scored 36 times and conceded on just three occasions as they booked their spot in the finals; the last time they tasted defeat in a competitive fixture was against the Azzurri at Euro 2016.

Thrashed Costa Rica and drew 3-3 with hosts Russia in November, giving up the lead three times against the host nation.

 

Star player

Isco

Isco has been shining brightly for Lopetegui (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Andres Iniesta is (arguably) the greatest player Spain has ever produced, and while the Barcelona star remains key, there can be no denying that he isn’t the player he once was.

As such, the man to whom Spain will turn to make the cutting runs and passes which have been so key in recent year will be Isco, who will be 26 when the finals get under way and heading into his prime.

The playmaker has proven his value to Real Madrid in three Champions League finals and is now thriving at the Santiago Bernabeu; his devastating display against Italy last September – in which he scored twice – was perhaps the best individual performance from anyone not named Lionel Messi in Europe this season.

Rising star

Marco Asensio

Real Madrid starlet Asensio will hope to impress at the finals (Image: AFP)

Marco Asensio’s burgeoning reputation continues to grow, with the 22-year-old shining for Real Madrid and emerging as the future of Spanish football.

Supremely-talented, quick, with an eye for goal or a killer pass, the Mallorca-born starlet already boasts a Champions League final goal to his name and actively appears to seek responsibility in big games.

He can prove a real game-changer for La Roja in Russia.

 

How they qualified: Winners of European Group G ahead of Italy 

Preferred system:  4-5-1

Star players: Isco (Real Madrid) , David Silva (Manchester City)

One to watch:  Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)

Manager Julen Lopetegui

Odds 15-2

 

Head 2 Head

Spain and Iran have never met. Iran was invited to the 75th Anniversary of Real Madrid club , but did not play the host in a 4 team tournament in March 1977.

Ivankovic doubts the possibility of cooperation between Queiroz and Domestic club coaches

Carlos Queiroz statements about the sub-standard of the Iranian domestic league players , has been creating all sort of ripples, debates and anger.

The most effected people have been the coaches of major clubs like Esteghlal, Persepolis, Saipa whose coaches reacted and questioned the motives of Team Melli coach and his undermining of their hard work at club levels. 

Branco Ivankovic , the Head Coach of Persepolis club, reacted yesterday and commented on the liaison and cooperation between Team Melli and Club coaches and hope of better communication for the benefit of Iran’s football. “if there was any hope of a meeting or interaction. I believe it does not exist anymore”  He said: “No, I do not think we will get this engagement and arrange such meetings. I’ve been here for three years now. During this time, only once, a representative from Team Melli coaching staff turned up to offer some help in our practice session. With such interest level, I do not think the work will reach the meeting and discussion stage!”

The Croat head coach of Persepolis also spoke about the domestic player and whether their standards & quality is so weak that they need to be more in the service of the national team? ” Certainly not, I think the opposite, “he said. “It has been proven in many games as well. I do not know how is this idea about domestic players have originated from initially , but I beg to differ.”

Branko commented on why Esteghlal and Saipa used with their Team Melli players in the league this round which was concluded, but Persepolis refused to utilize them for their match against Saipa Alborz which they lost 2-1. He emphasized ” I did not use the national team players because I did not know what situation and conditions are they coming from after their two matches. They were in the service of the national team for more than 10 days and I did not know what the situation would be. Mohammad Ansari is still in pain after the national team trips, and I did not want to risk this player.

Queiroz Domestic League contempt

Queiroz’s verbal arson and laying into the Domestic Persian Gulf League in such cruel, public fashion in front of the Europeans journalists is yet another proof that nothing has changed with this self-serving head coach

True to the form book, he lashed out about the poor standards of Iran’s Persian Gulf League players, their coaches and the system of training deployed.

Queiroz has always had contempt for the league in Iran. He hardly attends league matches, preferring to watch the Legionnaires in Europe. It is a good break for him too, of course. For domestic league the lower ranks in Team Melli training Cadre do the mundane job of watching potential talents and future Team Melli players.

His justification for the low grade of the domestic league and players goes beyond technicalities too as there is some personal issues in it. It started more than 4 years ago when the league coaches vehemently rejected his grandeur plans of suspending the Persian Gulf League and focusing on Team Melli as the ideal preparation  for FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.

He even warned or at least insinuated that if his plans are not implemented, Team Melli will be humiliated in Brazil against the might of Argentina! The whole of Iran and particularly the government must listen to him and abide to his wishes or else!

 

Apparently only the ‘idealists coaches and idiots’ in the local media dismissed his threats or doomsday scenario as a hoax. Many considered it yet another Queiroz’s “I know- better- than- you- all” rhetoric !  

In reality, Team Melli played one of its matches in the World Cup against Argentina. It was only the magnificence of one Lionel Messi, with his last gasp goal, that spoiled the party. It was nothing like the Saudi’s 8-0 drubbing by the hands of the German in 2002 or even the 7-1 humiliation of the host Brazil against the Champions Germany in the same World Cup 2014.

Queiroz was at it again during the post-match press conference after the Algeria win in Graz.

When Queiroz starts talking down the country’s assets and domestic players in such cruel, discourteous manner in public, he knows very well that he is untouchable. There is no culpability, no accountability and he certainly will not be questioned by the feeble Head of IRIFF, Mehdi Taj.

The Paradox of Queiroz claims are mind boggling too. Although he has little regards for the domestic league player, not a secret by a long shot, claiming their standards are way too low for the World Cup, he still demands that the league should be abandoned so that players are released fully for Team Melli!

Now, if they are not good enough to play in World Cup or have a long way to go, and everyone knows, even the Imam Juma of Sanandaj , that the nucleus of his team in Russia will be the Legionnaires, why deprive the clubs from revenue, players from competitions and fans from enjoying watching football matches?

Luckily, Carlos Queiroz is not the only experienced European coach making a living in Iran. Winfried “Winnie” Schäfer ,  who won the African Nations Cup in 2002 with Cameroon and now coaching Esteghlal, and Branko Ivankovic the famous coach of Persepolis and former Team Melli head coach, have both dismissed Queiroz claims. The German took a swipe at Queiroz today after a fine win by Esteghlal in the league against Naft Tehran 2-1. The winner was a last minute goal ironically scored by the rising star of Iranian football Omid Noorafakn, a product of the domestic league.

“All Esteghlal players members of Team Melli played very well and proved how good they are. Esteghlal players are quite ready to play in the World Cup, no doubts” Schäfer said in the post-match press conference.

 

 

Carlos Queiroz: Domestic league players  are not ready !

 

Carlos Queiroz The Iranian national team manager says the players in the Iranian players in Persian Gulf league teams are not ready to play in the World Cup and should be prepared for their specific training. Carlos Queiroz said at a press conference after Iran’s match against Algiers, “It was a great test for the Iranian national team against this team,” AFP reported. Algeria has very good players who think fast and play the game fast. They have powerful players. It was a great opportunity to learn. I would like to thank the Algerian Football Federation and Mr. Rabah Madjar for the opportunity given to us to play this game.

“As I said before, in international friendly matches against teams like Tunisia and Algeria, we get or get two results,” he said in response to a question that has come about after two matches against Tunisia and Algeria. Or learn. What we have learned is one thing, and I’m very clear about it, no matter how our domestic players performed, they  are not ready to play at the World Cup. Our domestic players need special preparation program in the next 40 days to reach this level. They are far from this level and need to be better prepared for duels. They need to be stronger and faster. They need to practice thinking and play fast so they need to work with me.”

Queiroz added that the two games clearly showed that we are far from what we want to be in the World Cup. There are people who do not like what I say, but it’s my job to tell them and give them the necessary warning. Now the decision is not with us. The decision is with those who manage Iranian football. The decision is made by the honorable president of the Federation of Mr. Taj, the heads of the clubs and the highest authority of the Ministry of Sports. We need special exercises for our domestic  players.

He said that “the striker of the Algerian team easily scored three goals against Persepolis, saying that the players should be stronger. He can win on all single scenes because he is strong and powerful. It is now when our federation and those responsible for our football have to make a decision. Now it’s time to either have everything or do not have anything so it’s imperative that players work and practice with me to prepare for the World Cup. Whether or not you like, domestic players are not ready to play in the World Cup. If they do not engage and undergo a good quality exercises until the World Cup, we will not have the chance.”

The national team manager added: “The key is to equip our players better and better prepared for this, and there is no way other than doing special exercises.” We have 40 days now. Now is the time to decide. Tomorrow is late Exercises and matches for our players are not enough. Any coach who says this is not true is lying and telling the truth to you. What is important for Iran now? Domestic league or world cup? It is my duty to draw attention to this and say that this is either everything or nothing. I have to be honest and say that.

In response to the question that tonight we saw so e rough play along with a number of injuries, he said: What do you expect from Morocco now? A great party? What do you expect from Portugal and Spain? Waltz or Opera? These games are rock and roll, fast and furious. We need players ready for this speed and fight. We can but be prepared for it. Countries like Portugal and Spain are 40, 50 years ahead of Iran in terms of football development. Can this big difference be compensated within a short time? No The only way we have is to prepare ourselves at least. Our players can jump to Ronaldo 10 times? No, not much luck! We came here to take or learn, and now we learned that we need to work. Now, those who are responsible must make a decision, dear chairman of the federation of football and the minister of sport. Saudi Arabia has made a decision; the players in the team are in the camp and do not play for their clubs. Can we make that decision? This is a question that exists.

 

“We are good friends for each other and we have worked together in FIFA,” said Queiroz, in response to the question of whether he was invited by a former head of the Algerian federation for co-operation. “That’s right, but I had a deal with the Iranian Football Federation and I was committed to this team and players and the goals we had for the World Cup.  “Algeria is a great team,” he said in response to the question of what he thinks of Algeria . In the previous World Cup they were the only team that could defeat Germany. They now rebuild their team. I’m sure Rabah Madjer with his personality would give the Algerian national team everything they deserves.

A fine win for Team Melli vs. Algeria

Team Melli defeated Algeria 2-1 in an international friendly held in Graz Austria on Saturday.

Iran goals were scored by their two top marksmen , Sardar Azmoun (11′) and Mehdi Taremi (19)

After a narrow loss to Tunisia, Queiroz was hoping to get their World Cup preparation back on track. This was done in style against a tough tackling and sometimes uncalled for rough play by the North African teams managed by the legendary Rabih Madjer.

Both of the top Algerian players featured in the match , Leicster City’s Riyad Mahrez and Newcastle’s Islam Soleimani 

  • 11‘Goal! Iran 1, Algeria 0. Sardar Azmoun (Iran) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
  • 19‘Goal! Iran 2, Algeria 0. Mehdi Taremi (Iran) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ehsan Haji Safi.

 

Farouk Chafai pulls one goal back in the second half.

Strong team to face Algeria

Queiroz selected his probable starting 11 and opted for a stronger team to play against Algeria:

Alireza Beiranvand, Vouria Ghafouri, Pejman Montazeri, Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh, Saeed Aghaei, Saeed Ezzatollahi, Karim Ansarifard, Ehsan Haj Safi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun, Mehdi Taremi

On the other side, Rabih Majar will lead Algeria on Tuesday, in his second friendly in four days. Having won their first friendly against Tanzania in 4-1 on July 5, 

The friendly match at the Graz stadium in Austria is the last match for both teams during March , in which Majer will seek to make as many changes as possible compared to the previous encounter against Tanzania. Players, like Ben Nasser, Ben Talib, Brahimi and Sulaimani, will be missing against the strongest opponent of Algeria so far. The match against the strength of the Iranian Team , a 2018 World Cup qualifier, seems to be a tough task for the Algerians despite the recent friendly loss by Iran to Tunisia.

It is feared that the many absences in Algeria will affect the performance of Majer’s team, especially under the strength of the competitor and the lack of options for the quality of the national selectors, who preferred to give greater opportunities for local players during this match. Algeria national team will play the game without a real defender and the defensive midfielder . Rabah Magar, does not want to lose this friendly in order to continue the victories and stay away from the intense criticism by the media at home, although he has not been defeated in three consecutive games.

For Carlos Queiroz , it is a win win situation for him. He will have a pretty good idea of whom he will take to the world cup but matches like that will give him even more confidence both in his style and his players reaction to game plan.

Team Melli will welcome the twins marksmen Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi. The former has not been the best of the season mainly due to injury while Taremi has been scoring goals with ease at all levels of competitions.

H2H

H / A / N Matches W D L Goals + / –
H 1 1 0 0 2 – 1 +1
A 1 0 0 1 0 – 1 -1
N 1 0 1 0 0 – 0 +0
Total 3 1 1 1 2 – 2 +0

 

Date Comp. H / A / N Final score Stadium Attendance
03.03.2002  LG CUP N 0 – 0 Mohammed V Stadium , Casablanca 1500
13.10.1991  ASI/AFR A 0 – 1 Algiers 30000
27.09.1991 ASI/AFR H 2 – 1 Azadi – Tehran 100000

Algeria Match Will Help Team Melli: Alireza Jahanbakhsh

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran national football team winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh says the upcoming friendly match against Algeria can be helpful for Team Melli in preparation for the 2018 World Cup.

Iran is scheduled to face Algeria in the warm-up match in Graz, Austria on Tuesday.

Carlos Queiroz’s team lost to Tunisia 1-0 on March 23 in Rades.

“(The) Tunisia match was a good warm-up for us and the match against Algeria is also important for Team Melli. These friendlies will improve our readiness for the match against Morocco in the World Cup opener,” Jahanbakhsh told Iran Football Federation’s website.

“Morocco is a strong team as it showed against Serbia in (a) friendly. I know some Moroccan players and it will be a difficult match for us,” the AZ Alkmaar winger added.

“We will have a difficult task in the World Cup because Spain and Portugal are among the best teams in the world. But I believe that the friendlies against Turkey and Greece will help us increase our readiness,” Jahanbakhsh stated.

Iran MP slams appearance of Shojaei & Hajsafi in Team Melli

By AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE FOOTBALL

Sunday March 25, 2018

TEHRAN, Iran, Mar 25 – A conservative lawmaker in Iran slammed the sports federation on Sunday for allowing star footballer Masoud Shojaei to return to the international squad despite appearing against an Israeli team last year.

Shojaei, the 33-year-old national team captain, and teammate Ehsan Haji Safi were criticised in Iran after they appeared for their Greek club Panionios last August in a Europa League qualifier against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Deputy Sports Minister Mohammad Reza Davarzani said at the time that the pair would be banned for life.

Iran does not recognise the Jewish state and bars its athletes from appearing against Israelis.

Confusion has reigned over the matter, however, with Haji Safi never banned from the international squad, while Shojaei has missed all the international fixtures until Friday’s match against Tunisia, which Iran lost 1-0.

“Re-inviting Masoud Shojaei to be present in the national football team — after competing against the Zionist regime — shows that the football federation has not taken serious action on this issue,” hardline lawmaker Mohammad Ali Poormokhtar said in an interview with the conservative Fars news agency.

He said the sports minister would be questioned after the current break for the Iranian new year.

A combination photo shows Iran’s Ehsan Haji Safi (L) playing during a 2014 World Cup qualifying football match and Iran’s Masoud Shojaei playing during a World Cup 2018 qualifying match © AFP / Behrouz MEHRI, Karim JAAFAR

In a press conference ahead of the Tunisia match, Shojaei said: “I am very happy to be a member of this team. Although the final list (for the World Cup squad) has not been announced yet, the fact that right now I am in this team means I am very happy and proud.”

Iran cannot admit it bans players for appearing against Israelis because there are strict international rules against political interference in sports.

The issue has come to the fore in recent weeks after wrestler Alireza Karimi Mashiani was given a six-month ban for deliberately losing a world championship match in Poland in November in order to avoid an Israeli opponent in the next round.

The head of Iran’s wrestling federation quit last month in disgust, saying young athletes were being forced to lie and the authorities were letting them pay the price for their policies.

“Forcing an athlete to accept defeat or run around all night looking for a doctor’s note is not right,” Rasoul Khadem, an Olympic gold medallist, told public radio ahead of his resignation.

Iran is due to play another friendly against Algeria in Tehran on Tuesday.

Narrow loss to Tunisia

TUNIS – A fortunate own goal handed Tunisia a 1-0 victory over Iran in their friendly clash on a waterlogged pitch in Tunis on Friday, in what was a morale boosting result for the World Cup-bound north Africans.

Wahbi Khazri proved the talisman for the home side and it was his dribbling run that led to the 71st minute winner. Khazri’s shot was parried by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand into the path of defender Milad Mohammadi, who could only turn the ball into his own net.

Carlos Queiroz started the match with 7 regular plays missing but welcoming back the veteran Captain Masoud Shojaei who played in the first half.

Despite the water-logged pitch , Team Melli played a fluent game with many passing moves into the host box. In fact , if it was not for that perennial problem that Iran seem to always have with Arab referees, Team Melli would have been awarded a penalty in what looked a like a very obvious foul in the penalty box on Karim Ansarifard. To the horror of the Olympiakos forward, the Egyptian referee played on. Several replays by the Tunisian referee only made the case of a penalty that much stronger.

The new defensive line up at the back stood well against the quick and agile Tunisian ,however , there was very few serious attempt at Biranvand goal.

The first half ended goal less.

In the second half and with many substitution, the game lost a bit of its excitement. Team Melli was the more organized in the middle of the field , but the problem was in the forward line. Absence of Taremi and Azmoun was quite noticeable up front ad neither Ansarifard nor Ghoocannejad managed to seriously threaten the Tunisia goal. Both forwards struggled to convince as an attacking force. Kaveh Rezaei did not fare much better either.
A glorious chance for Team Melli to score was wasted by substitute Mehdi Torabi when he hit the sky with the Tunisia keeper stranded.

Tunisia, who share the same World Cup group with Belgium, England and Panama, might have had a second soon after but Khazri’s powerful close range effort was well saved.

Iran were using the match to approximate the playing style of Morocco, who share their group in Russia with Portugal and Spain.

A dipping free kick from captain Ehsan Hajsafi in the 67th minute, saved by Tunisia’s Farouk Ben Mustapha, was the closest Iran came to scoring.

Vahid Amiri , so reliable on the flanks during the World Cup qualifiers lacked his normal agility and pace. Alireza Jahanbakhsh was introduced too late to make an impact.

Overall, the loss to Tunisia , gave Queiroz some good insight inb the capabilties of the second string team.

Team Melli’s take another north African country, Algeria, in Graz, Austria on Tuesday.

Squad for Tunisia and Algeria Match

 

Carlos Queiroz invited 28 players to the national football team in preparation for the two friendly matches against Tunisia and Algeria.

According to ISNA, Iran’s Team Melli, which defeated Sierra Leone last yesterday (Saturday) by a convincing 4-0 result, will continue the preparation for the  friendly matches against Tunisia and Algeria which should me a much more serious affair and will give the coach a pretty good idea about the north african style of football ahead on the opener Word Cup match against Morocco.

The surprise inclusion is the former capt of Team Melli , Masoud Shojaei who has been recalled to the team.

In this list, 6 players who were in the squad for the last game vs. Sierra Leone, have lost their places in the latest squad. Hamed Lak, Mohammad Ansari, Kamal Kamyiabinia, Ahmad Abdollahzadeh, Omid Noroufkan and Ali AliPour were all left put. Among these players, NoorAfkan , the young Esteghl;al player was the best performer in the last match..

The names of the players invited to the national team are as follows:

 

# Player Post Club Country
1 ABEDZADEH, Amir GK C.S. Marítimo Portugal
2 BIRANVAND, Alireza GK Persepolis Iran
3 HOSSEINI, Hossein GK Esteghlal Iran
4 MAZAHERI, Mohammad Rashid GK Zob Ahan Iran
         
5 AGHAEI, Saeed DF Sepahan Iran
6 CHESHMI, Rouzbeh DF Esteghlal Iran
7 GHAFOORI, Vourya DF Esteghlal Iran
8 HOSSEINI, Jalal DF Persepolis Iran
9 KHANZADEH, Mohammadreza DF Padidah Iran
10 MOHAMMADI, Milad DF Terek Grozny Russia
11 MONTAZERI, Pejman DF Esteghlal Iran
12 POURALIGANJI, Morteza DF Al Sadd Qatar
13 REZAEIAN, Ramin DF K.V. Oostende Belgium
         
14 AMIRI, Vahid MF Persepolis Iran
15 EBRAHIMI, Omid MF Esteghlal Iran
16 EZZATOLLAHI, Saeid MF Amkar Perm Russia
17 HAJSAFY, Ehsan MF Panionios FC Greece
18 KARIMI, Ali MF Sepahan Iran
19 SHOJAEI, Masoud MF AEK Athens Greece
20 TORABI, Mehdi MF Saipa Alborz Iran
         
21 ANSARIFARD, Karim FW Olympiacos F.C. Greece
22 AZMOUN, Sardar FW Rubin Kazan Russia
23 GHODDOS, Saman FW Östersunds FK  Sweden
24 GHOLIZADEH, Ali FW Saipa Alborz Iran
25 GHOOCHANNEJAD, Reza FW SC Heerenveen Holland
26 JAHANBAKHSH, AliReza FW AZ Alkmaar  Holland
27 REZAEI, Kaveh FW R. Charleroi Belgium
28 TAREMI, Mehdi FW Al Gharrafah Qatar