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[tabs class=”my-custom-tabs”]
[tab title=”Final rounds – Matches”]
| 03 JUN 1978 – 16:45 Local time
GROUP D |
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San Martin Stadium
Mendoza
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NETHERLANDS | 3 – 0 | IRAN |  |
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07 JUN 1978 – 15:00 Local time
GROUP D
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Estadio Olimpico Chateau Carreras ,
Cordoba
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IRAN | 1 – 1 | SCOTLAND |  |
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11 JUN 1978 – 16:45 Local time
GROUP D
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Estadio Olímpico Chateau Carreras
Cordoba
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IRAN | 1 – 4 | PERU |  |
[/tab]
[tab title=”Qualification Round 1″]
ROUND 1
The matches list
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Iran | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 |
| 2 |  |
Saudi Arabia | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 |
| 3 |  |
Syria | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 |
| — |  |
Iraq | withdrew | |||||||
| 12. Nov.76 |  |
Saudi Arabia | 2-0 | Syria | |
Jeddah | |
| 26. Nov.76 | |
Syria | 2-1 | Saudi Arabia | |
Damascus | |
| 07. Jan.77 | |
Saudi Arabia | 3-0 | Iran | |
Riyadh | |
Gholamhossein MAZLOOMI  (16),Hassan ROWSHAN (62), Gholamhossein MAZLOOMI (78). |
|||||||
| 28. Jan.77 | |
Syria | 0-1 | Iran | |
Damascus | |
| 06. Apr.77 | |
Iran | 2-0 | Syria | |
Shiraz | |
| 22. Apr.77 | |
Iran | 2-0 | Saudi Arabia | |
Shiraz | |
[/tab]
[tab title=”Qualification Round 2″]
Matches
HONG KONG vs. IRAN 
KOREA REP vs. IRAN IRAN vs. KOREA REP IRAN vs. HONG KONG 
KUWAIT vs. IRAN 
| Pos | Team | |
|
|
 |
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iran | IRN | 2 – 2 | 1 – 0 | 1 – 0 | 3 – 0 | ||
| 2 | Korea Rep | 0 – 0 | KOR | 1 – 0 | 0 – 0 | 4 – 0 | ||
| 3 | Kuwait | 1 – 2 | 2 – 2 | KWI | 1 – 0 | 4 – 0 | ||
| 4 | Australia | 0 – 1 | 2 – 1 | 1- 2 | AUS | 3 -0 | ||
| 5 | Hong Kong | 0 – 2 | 0 – 1 | 1 – 3 | 2 – 5 | HKG |
Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Iran | |
8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 14 |
| 2 | Korea Rep | |
8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 10 |
| 3 | Kuwait | |
8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 | Australia | |
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 7 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | |
8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 26 | -21 | 0 |
[/tab]
[tab title=”Players”]
Players appearances
| No | Player | Club | Posn | D.O.B | Age | Games | Goals | |
| 1 |  |
Shahbaz | DF | 02.Oct.1950 | 28 | 11 | ||
| 2 |  |
Taj | MF | 13.Feb.47 | 31 | 4 | ||
| 3 |
|
Homa | MF | 11-Mar-56 | 22 | 2 | ||
| 4 |
|
Homa | MF | 14.Jun.49 | 29 | 1 | ||
| 5 |
|
Taj | MF | 19.Mar.1951 | 27 | 7 | 1 | |
| 6 |
|
Pas | DF | 12.Mar.55 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 7 |
|
Taj | DF | 16.Sep.1951 | 27 | 10 | ||
| 8 |
|
Pas | FW | 19.Apr.1956 | 22 | 6 | ||
| 9 |
|
Pas | FW | 11.Feb.55 | 23 | 2 | 1 | |
| 10 |
|
Daraei | MF | 31.Dec.56 | 22 | 1 | ||
| 11 |
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Bargh Shiraz | DF | 27.Feb.54 | 24 | 1 | ||
| 12 |
|
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Shahbaz | MF | 24.Aug.56 | 22 | 12 | |
| 13 |
|
Pas | MF | 15.Dec.54 | 24 | 2 | ||
| 14 | Nasser HEJAZI
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Shahbaz | GK | 14.Dec.49 | 29 | 11 | |
| 15 |
|
1 | ||||||
| 16 |
|
Abo Moslem | 1 | |||||
| 17 |
|
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Malavan | FW | 18.Jun.50 | 28 | 11 | 4 |
| 18 |
|
|
Pas | DF | 13.Apr.47 | 31 | 12 | 2 |
| 19 |
|
Homa | DF | 31.Dec.52 | 26 | 3 | 1 | |
| 20 |
|
1 | ||||||
| 21 |
|
Homa | FW | 16.May.51 | 27 | 3 | ||
| 22 |
|
Sepahan | GK | 30.Jan.50 | 28 | 1 | ||
| 23 |
|
Shahbaz | FW | 24.Sep.49 | 29 | 3 | 2 | |
| 24 |
|
Homa | DF | 15-Apr-50 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 25 |
|
Pas | MF | 31-Dec-55 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 26 |
Mostafa MUSALLAMI |
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Taj | MF | 2 | |||
| 27 |
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Daraei | MF | 03.Dec.55 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 28 | GK | 1 | ||||||
| 29 |
|
Homa | DF | 17.Sep.1950 | 28 | 6 | ||
| 30 |
|
Taj | DF | 19.Aug.1955 | 23 | 13 | ||
| 31 | Ali PARVIN |
|
Persepolis | MF | 12.Oct.1946 | 32 | 12 | 1 |
| 32 |  |
Taj | GK | 12.Nov.47 | 31 | 1 | ||
| 33 | Hassan ROWSHAN
|
|
Taj | FW | 02.Jun.1955 | 23 | 9 | 5 |
| 34 |  |
Pas | MF | 17.Mar.1951 | 11 | 1 | ||
| 35 |
|
Pas | MF | 1 | 1 | |||
| 36 |
|
Zob Ahan | DF | 23.Mar.53 | 25 | 2 | ||
| 37 |
Ali Akbar YOUSIFI |
|
Pas | DF | 1 | 1 |
[/tab]
[tab title=”WC Squad”]
| 1 | Nasser HEJAZI14-Dec-1949 28 years Shahbaz Goalkeeper |  |
| 2 | Iraj DANAEIFARD19-Mar-1951 27 years Midfield Taj |  |
| 3 | Behtash FARIBA11-Feb-1955 23 years Pas Forward |  |
| 4 | Majid BISHKAR6-Aug-1956 21 years Shahbaz Forward |  |
| 5 | Javad ALLAHVERDI16-Jul-1954 23 years Persepolis Defender |  |
| 6 | Hassan NAYEBAGHA17-Sep-1950 27 years Guard Midfield |  |
| 7 | Ali PARVIN12-Oct-1946 31 years Persepolis Midfielder |  |
| 8 | Ebrahim GHASEMPOUR24 -Aug-1956 21 years Shahbaz Midfield |  |
| 9 | Mohammad SADEGHI17-Mar-1951 27 years Pas Midfield |  |
| 10 | Hassan ROWSHAN02-Jun-1955 22 years Taj Forward |  |
| 11 | Ali Reza GHESHGHAYAN27-Feb-1954 24 years Bargh Shiraz Defender |  |
| 12 | Bahram MAVADAT30-Jan-1950 28 years Sepahan Goalkeeper |  |
| 13 | Hamid MAJD TEYMOURI03-Jun-1953 24 years Shahbaz Forward |  |
| 14 | Hassan NAZARI19-Aug-1955 22 years Taj Defender |  |
| 15 | Andranik ESKANDARIAN31-Dec-1951 26 years Taj Defender |  |
| 16 | Nasser NOURAEI09-Jul-1956 21 years Guard FC |  |
| 17 | Ghafour JAHANI18-Jun-1950 27 years Malavan Forward |  |
| 18 | Hossein FARAKI19-Apr-1956 22 years Pas Forward |  |
| 19 | Ali SHOJAEI23-Mar-1953 25 years Sepahan Defender |  |
| 20 | Nasrollah ABDOLLAHI02-Sep-1951 26 years Shahbaz Defender |  |
| 21 | Hossein KAZERANI13-Apr-1947 31 years Pas Defender |  |
| 22 | Rasoul KORBEKANDI27-Jan-1953 25 years Zob Ahan Goalkeeper |  |
[/tab]
[tab title=”Stats”]
| Matches won | 10 |
| Matches Drawn | 2 |
| Number of Matches Lost | 0 |
| Goals Scored | 20 |
| Goals per game | 1.42 |
| Goals conceded | 11 |
| Spectators total | 601,080 |
| Spectators average | 42,934 |
| Total players used | 38 |
| Players Used during finals | 14 |
most appearances
[divider size=”5″ margin=”20″]
Hassan NAZARI
TAJ
 |
Played: 13 matches
D.O.B: 19.Aug.56 |
[divider size=”5″ margin=”20″]
most goals scored
[divider size=”5″ margin=”20″]
Hassan ROWSHAN
 |
GOALS: 5
Played: 9 matches D.O.B: 02.AJun.55 |
[/tab]
[tab title=”Coaches”]
Coaches :
HESHMAT MOHAJERANI
[/tab]
[/tab]
[tab title=”Media”]
Statistics
JOHN MOTSON
Article about Iran’s 1978 World Cup
Following the debacle of Don Revie’s reign, England were again absent from the next World Cup in Argentina. But again Scotland qualified and were drawn in a group that included the then hardly known footballers of Iran.
Bob Abrahams and I were sent to Tehran to film a preview – not the easiest of assignment. It was the year before the Iranian revolution, and though the Shah was still on his peacock throne, tension was rising in the capital, and we really had no idea what to expect. So, we co-opted Frank O’Farrell, the former Manchester United manager, to come with us. Frank had coached in Iran and knew a lot about the country and the players.
When we arrived in Tehran, The BBC had failed to book us a hotel. We went to the best we could find. With Frank acting as an interpreter, Bob had to bribe the receptionist to give us a room. The three of us had to share. Frank volunteered to sleep on the floor. It did not seem to worry him. He snored all night.
Iran were about to play a friendly against Wales, which we were filming, but the centerpiece of our trip was a visit to the Royal Palace to interview Crown Prince Reza, the Shah’s son, who was a keen footballer. He had his own football pitch, and Frank took him through a few functional practice routines while Bob directed the film crew. I was more worried about the number of firearms in the hands of the surrounding soldiers.
When we arrived at the stadium for the match against Wales, we were introduced to the Iranian team. One player who spoke good English was the midfielder Hassan Nayebagha, who later came to university in England and whom I helped to find a local non-league club.
“They are quite good footballers” Said Frank” but their heads go down very easily. They have not acquired any mental toughness”
Wales beat Iran 1-0 in front of a 45,000 crowd, but the Iranians must have learned something. They had a shock in store for Scotland when the teams met in Argentina.
On paper. it Was a talented Scotland team that went to the 1978 World Cup. It included not just Archie Gemmill but Lou Macan, Asa Hartford, Kenny Dalglish, Joe Jordan and John Robertson.
Graeme Souness and Bruce Rioch were also in the squad. Their first match in Argentina was against Peru in Córdoba. David Coleman was commentating as Joe Jordan put them ahead, but Don Masson missed a penalty and Peru came back to win 3—1 with two goals from Teofilo Cubillas.
Holland. meanwhile, had comfortably seen off Iran with a 3—0 win in Mendoza. Scotland’s next match, against Iran, therefore, was going to be crucial if they were going to progress. But before the game, their West Bromwich Albion winger, Willie Johnston, was sent home after a drugs test revealed he had taken an illegal stimulant. The scene in the Scottish camp was chaotic. It was similar at Heathrow Airport when Johnston arrived to be whisked away by his club manager, Ron Atkinson, for an interview with Frank Bough at BBC Television Centre.
England manager Ron Greenwood was my co-commentator and constant companion in the early part of the tournament. I suggested we went to meet the Iran coach and his players before they faced Scotland. When I introduced Ron, they could not wait to pick his brains. ‘What do we do to contain Archie Gemmill?’ the coach demanded.
Greenwood was one of the most generous football people you could wish to meet. He felt the simple truths about the game were there to be shared, but he did admit to me, after his hour—long chat with the Iranians, that he might have been a shade disloyal to Scotland.
Frankly, Scottish morale was so low it wouldn’t have made a great deal of difference. An own goal by Andranik Eskandarian put them in front just before half-time, but on the hour Iraj Danaeifar equalized for Iran. Scotland made a brave attempt to rescue their campaign when they beat Holland 3—2 in their third match but it came too late. Archie Gemmill scored one of the best individual goals seen in the World Cup to show what might have been.
The Dutch team for the 1978 World Cup was missing Johan Cruyff, who had elected not to travel. But despite his absence, and the defeat by Scotland, they were good value in reaching their second successive World Cup final. I was in the River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires for their second-round group match against Italy, which would determine which of the two nations reached the final.
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First game of Iran in the World Cup
Missing three of their top players Parviz Ghleechkhani, GholamHossein Mazloomi (injured) and Mohammad Reza Adelkhani (injured), the first one for political reasons, and in an environment of distress and fear while the country was in turmoil following disturbances and riots back home that eventually lead to the Islamic revolution, Iran had a momentous task against the World Cup Finalists.
Holland, missing the great Johan Cruyff who refused to play in Argentina in protest against the Military Regime , began their bid for a second attempt in lifting the World Cup with an efficient if not majestic performance against the rookies of Iran in Mendoza.
Despite what looked like a well-organized defense and midfield, Heshmat Mohajerani’s men suffered from moments of cold feet as it was clear in many situations that the Iranians were overwhelmed by the name and reputation of the opposition. Haste and confusion in Iran’s players threatened a big margin win by the World Cup finalist.
A hat-trick by Rob Rensenbrink, two of them from dubious penalties, confirmed the considerable gulf in class between themselves and the Asian qualifiers.
Iran played neat, controlled football in midfield and their defence was uncompromising in the tackles. But they lacked pace and numbers up front and all too quickly they found their attacks ‘stifled and the action back in their own half. They seemed to me more comfortable defending especially since their whole offensive line of Mazloomi, Adelkhani and Rowshan were missing, the later was still not 100% fit but on the bench.
Without the agility and safe handling of goalkeeper Nasser Hejazi they might have been more comprehensively beaten.
Mohajerani eventually introduced Rowshan, still not fully recovered from a knee ligament injury, into the attack in the second half but he found support rare and insufficient. Holland, sluggish at the start, had two narrow escapes in the first 16 minutes.
Sadeghi’s long range shot was deflected and Jongbloed had to scamper across his line to save at the foot of a post.
Then, with the Dutch appealing in vain for offside Faraki raced clear on the right and this time a slight deflection carried his cross-shot behind for a corner.
Holland shrugged off those scrapes, began to piece together their game and Iran found themselves under siege. But for all the pressure it was a break from defence which set up the opening goal in the 40th minute. Reinier Van de Kerkhof ran away on the right and Abdollahi brought him down in the area.
Rensenbrink, untroubled by the whistles of the crowd, calmly placed the ball inside the left post.
Rensenbrink effectively clinched the match after 62 minutes when he climbed high at the far post to head the second.
He completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute with another penalty after a trip ended Rep’s meandering run.
The result reflected lack of ambition by Mohajerani and certain fear factor in their first ever World Cup appearance. The mighty Dutch had several defensive vulnerabilities that Iran could not take advantage of.
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