Tag: Daniel Davari

16/06/201416/06/2014

Team Melli players all praise for Queiroz.

fifa.com

Carlos Queiroz took charge of Iran in April 2011 with one goal in mind: to return them to the FIFA World Cup™ after they missed out on South Africa 2010. The 61-year-old rose to the challenge in style. Iran finished top of Group A in Asia’s fifth qualifying round, beating section favourites Korea Republic on home turf in the final match to ensure their spot in Brazil.

As a result, Queiroz has become one of the most well-liked personalities in Iran. Joyous fans hailed the Portuguese and his team at a celebration held at the legendary Azadi Stadium in Tehran, and gave them an ecstatic send-off when they left for South America.

Team Melli supporters have high expectations for this World Cup, where Iran face Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nigeria in Group F. The three-time Asian champions kick off their campaign on Monday against the African side at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba.

Buoyed by the confidence of their fans, the players are convinced that Queiroz’s guidance will lead them to success. Indeed, since picking up the reins, the former Real Madrid boss has brought through several previously unknown European-based talents.

Goalkeeper Daniel Davari, who signed for the Swiss club Grasshopper just two weeks ago, is one such find. Talking to FIFA.com, he could not speak highly enough of Queiroz: “When Queiroz first called me up, I accepted straight away. It is a huge honour to be brought into the national set-up by such a great coach.

“Queiroz gives off positive vibes. I’ve worked with many different coaches in Germany, and I’ve seen a lot of things, but I’ve really benefitted from Queiroz’s experience.”

Davari is not alone in recognising how important Queiroz is for Iran. Ashkan Dejagah, who scored two decisive goals in the qualifier against Qatar, spoke to us about the squad’s improvement over the last few years.

“The team has really come on since Queiroz came into the fold,” said the Fulham forward. “We are playing football at a much higher level. The coach has a lot of experience and has worked with some top teams. He has tried to pass on his know-how to the players and I think we’ve been working well together up until now. We just need to stay on the right track.”

European-based stars Queiroz has not only brought European-based players into the fold – he has also shown his faith in several home-grown talents and forged a balanced line-up. The results have been impressive. The Middle Easterners have chalked up 20 wins in 38 games, their best run since 2006, the year of their previous World Cup appearance when Croatian tactician Branko Ivankovic was at the helm.

Also singing the coach’s praises is right-back Khosro Heydari, who believes that Iran’s qualification for Brazil 2014 is largely down to Queiroz, especially in view of the fact that they failed to reach South Africa 2010 with an equally strong side.

“Queiroz is central to our success,” said the fullback. “He coaches the team in such an incredible way. He is a brilliant coach who has pulled off a real feat in taking us to the World Cup. Since he arrived, the standard of our game has just kept on improving.”

Midfielder Bakhtiar Rahmani added: “I’ve captained the side at Foolad for the last three years but whenever I train with Queiroz, I pick up loads of interesting things on the training ground and in matches. He is a coach like no other. There is a huge difference between someone who has coached at Real Madrid and Manchester United and someone who hasn’t. I can say is Queiroz is a fantastic manager.”

One thing is for sure: Queiroz will be all the more loved in Iran if Team Melli put on a good show in the World Cup.

30/05/2014

Davari signs for Grasshoppers

Kicker Online

Goalkeeper Daniel Davari (26) of the Bundesliga relegated club Eintracht Braunschweig has a found a new club: Starting next season the goalkeeper for in the Iranian World Cup squad, will join the Swiss first division club Grasshoppers of Zurich.

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Changes in the Swiss Super League: Daniel Davari.

Davari on a free transfer to the Zurich club occurs as the Swiss succession of Roman Bürki , who will stand in the coming season at the Bundesliga SC Freiburg in goal. The Grasshoppers Davari has signed a two-year contract. “With Daniel Davari we are a stable but the team has a viable goalkeeper” said coach Skibbe.

The Iranian goalkeeper had already decided in April to leave Brunswick. At that time, Davari, who was changed from 1 FSV Mainz 05 concord 2009, rejected an offer of Lower Saxony on an extension of his existing contract.

24/05/2014

Football instead of politics

Arian Faal

Iran national football team prepares for the World Cup in Stegersbach – a site inspection of the “Wiener Zeitung”.

Steger Bach. No one wants to talk about politics here, only about football, the World Cup in Brazil and the “honor of Persia”. The slogan that unites national pride and hope to bring the Iranian soccer team luck and will also be featured on the World Cup bus.

Information

Iranian national football Team (Team Melli)

(af) Team Melli is next to Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea one of the strongest Asian football teams. Qualified three times to the finale of AFC Asian Cup (1968, 1972, 1976), all of which were won and became champions. Five times (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2004) in the semi-finals of Asian Cup , three games of them involved penalty shoot-out losses (1984, 1996, 2004). In addition to four World Cup participation (1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014), the national team qualified three times for the Olympic Summer Games (1964, 1972, 1976).

Even if the Islamic Republic was present in the past few years more by the nuclear issue news headline and the former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the European media, The Iranians wants their national football team (Team Melli), which has gathered in May for three weeks in Austria for training, to be in the news.

The daily routine of the 28 nominated players is minutely regulated. In addition to a strict diet and fixed workouts, there are always intermediate dates such as the FIFA doping test or one or the other interview. There are only a few who dare to speak to Western media. Tricky questions by reporters swarming around the camp automatically creates cautious and reserves responses. Apparently no one wants to be put into hot water by discussing controversial issues at home and answer questions by the authorities.

“Football has nothing to do with politics,” is what the 31-year-old regular player Andranik Teymourian believes when engaged in a scarce conversation with the “Wiener Zeitung” . “But football can create a bridge of friendship,” he adds.

That was a few days ago. About the lack of jerseys of the team that received much exposure by the world ptress and the shrinking after wash. “The issue with the jersey is finished. We have plenty of them here and hope that they will be of better quality in the future,” said Teymourian a key player in the World Cup qualifiers.

“It is difficult,”
“We have been training really hard in this one and a half months, and I believe there never was in the past few years as a national team as now. Nevertheless, we know that it is difficult,” admits the professional. Three friendlies are in those three weeks of the program, one of them being, namely Belarus, already took place and ended in a draw. In this match at Kapfenberg before 1500 spectators, the Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz almost used his entire squad. Only Daniel Davari and Ashkan Dejagah, who has previously played in the German Bundesliga were not used.

Several hundred of the approximately 30,000 people living in Austria Austro Persians traveled for the first game to support their team Melli. One of them was Arash K. “We have to be present at the games, so that the world sees that Iran has to offer other than the nuclear issue. Iranian national football team is one of the best and strongest teams in Asia. It is therefore self-evident that we qualified for the World Cup in Brazil. On the Fifa ranking of May 2014, we are ranked with 750 points 37th place, “he says with obvious pride. Why the training camp held in Austria, has several reasons. There are good relations between Vienna and Tehran, and it is a good opportunity to force the sports exchanges with Europe.

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15/05/201415/05/2014

The dilemma of Iran goalkeeping selection.

The most taxing selection for Carlos Queiroz must be the goalkeeper. Even if Team Melli coach does not admit it in public, the 4 goalkeepers that have accompanied him to Austria training camp are far from optimum in experience, current form , dependability, and/or reliability.

Starting with Sousha Makani , with a grand total of two caps both in meaningless friendly games, Makani has an acute lack of experience at international level. However, Foolad Khuzestan keeper’s eccentric character and temperament can be a serious liability for the team. Only yesterday , Makani conceded two goals in the quarter finals of the AFC League Champion , both of which were due to elementary mistakes that has no place in a stage like the World Cup.

Daniel Davari , is another young goalkeeper who has just been relegated to the second division of the German Bundesliga. The young German/Iranian keeper has 3 caps so far which is paltry for any player to be given a major role in his team in the World Cup. Like Makani , Davari has yet to show a strong performance to ease the worries of the fans. His two soft goal conceded in Azadi against Guinea in Iran’s last friendly international. left the local Iranian fans awe struck as they were under impression that they were witnessing another legend in the class of Nasser Hejazi. Davari’s poor form was again witnessed in the match against Bayer Munich in the Bundesliga, a game which was televised in Iran for the fans to see yet another disappointing performance from the young promising keeper. So , neither the experience , nor his current form gives the fans the confidence in Daniel Davari’s ability to deliver. It will take anything between an insane person or a very brave coach to start with Davari in the goal comes June the 16^th.

Reza Haghighi , is another mysterious selection for Queiroz. A selection that defies the coaches text book.Hardly anyone in Iran can claim that they have seen Haghghi actually play competitive football match for a longtime. He was transferred to Rubin Kazan in the Russiain league in 2012 were he never managed to win a regular place and was a reserve goalkeeper for the whole season. Next season the Russian club loaned him to his original Club Persepolis. Yet again, Haghighi was second fiddle to the superb Brazilin keeper, Nelson. Alireza Haghighi’s frustration with being reserve created a few headaches in the team which forced Ali Daei , Persepolis coach to send him back to Russia. Rubin Kazan already had their quota of goalkeepers for the season so they searched around but could not find him anything better than a loan to a second division Portuguese club Sporting da Covilhã. And wallla, Alireza Haghghi is immediately picked for Team Melli by Queiroz to the astonishment of the critics and the media!.

Neither the form of Haghighi , (admittedly he did play 14 games for his club !) , the method of his selection or his experience at international level (4 caps) , can qualify him for being the regular starter for Team Melli.

That leaves the last one in Rahman Ahmadi. This goalkeeper was always in the fringes of team Melli for years. However, he was sparingly selected but his real break came with Mehdi Rahmati’s un-ceremonial farewell last year. When Queiroz called upon him at a crucial stage of World Cup qualifiers, the Sepahan goalkeeper did not disappoint. He has 10 caps, 8 of it won as recent as 2013-14 season, however he remains undoubtedly the best choice in experience and form. His age and demeanor of being a calm character can also play a vital role in commanding his defense line.

Nonetheless, the no 1 goalkeeper for Sepahan & Team Melli, suddenly found himself on the bench in the last few matches of the season for his club , giving way to the second fiddle an ex-Team Melli keeper Shehab Gordan !

With one experienced goalkeeper, even though he has 10 caps which is meagre at international level, this position is one major headache for Carlos Queiroz. The Portuguese coach has always been a guarded person and a staunch believer in solid defense. Between the woodwork, his options are limited at this stage. Queiroz might rue the fact that he overlooked the most experienced goalkeeper in Iran, Mehdi Rahmati at such crucial stage. Perhaps diplomacy and leniency added to a bit of tolerance and forgiveness would have gone a long way to ease some of the goalkeeping worries for the World Cup.

Only time will tell.

08/03/2014

Davari under cyber-attack from Iranian fans.

The personal facebook page of Daniel Davari , Team Melli’s goalkeeper , has been littered with attacks on the German-Iranian keeper after his feeble display against Guinea.

Some over-zealous Iranian fans have resorted to the personal facebook page of Davari to display their anger and disapproval of Queiroz selection of this young keeper and target Davari to some verbal abuse. After some personal problem developed between Queiroz and Rahmati , believed to be originally initiated by Queiroz attempts to recruit Davari , the Esteghlal Keeper quit Team Melli in protest considering Queiroz approach to Davari as a vote of no confidence in his ability. Such move by Esteghlal &Team Melli veteran goalkeeper , conveniently played into Queiroz hands as the Portuguese coach finally managed to get Davari into Team Melli as a possible long term replacement to Rahmati and Ahmadi, while refusing to name Rahmati in the team’s squad again.

Davari’s poor handling of two shots against Guinea leading to 2 goals, the first was a mild one that slipped under his arm, raised many question’s about Davari’s suitability for the World Cup and international arena, especially since the opposition was nothing like the powerful teams in Iran’s group in the World Cup. Many experts expressed their concern in the media , some believing that Davari’s selection criteria was due to Queiroz obsession with any players of Iranian origins or ancestry , who plays in Europe . That Davari plays in the Bundesliga, was good enough of a reason for Queiroz, some experts claim.

However , some fans went beyond the norm and etiquette. Unable to get to Queiroz , the person who is culpable for the selection of Davari, the wrath of some fans were directed at Davari personally the same way that these over-zealous fans have targeted Messi after Argentina was grouped with Iran in the World Cup draws.

That is not a good omen for Davari , who might find it difficult to come to terms with such events. Although many fans defended the German-Iranian keeper on his facebook page, it is remained to be seen if Davari can get over this unscathed.

Davari has made his debut against Thailand in the qualification rounds of the AFC Asian Cup last November, where he successfully managed a shut-out. He conceded 3 goals in his next two games including the Guinea match.

12/02/2014

Braunschweig’s Davari chasing Iran dream

(FIFA.com)

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Braunschweig's Davari chasing Iran dream

Of all the curious tales that football spawns across the globe, there can only be few players experiencing a more bittersweet moment in their careers than Daniel Davari at present. While the Eintracht Braunschweig goalkeeper is helping his club fight for Bundesliga survival, the 26-year-old also has one eye on participating at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

After making his debut for the Iranian national team just a few months ago, Davari is now a regular member of the squad. “Going to the World Cup would definitely be the highlight of my career,” he told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “So far getting promoted to the Bundesliga was the best thing, but an invitation to go to the World Cup would be incredible, it’s what everyone dreams about. I’d be happy and proud and my family would be delighted.”

World Cup dream
Davari may only have two international appearances to his name thus far, but his competition for the No1 jersey, Rahman Ahmadi and Hamed Lak – with just eight and one caps respectively – hardly boast more experience. The race to be first-choice in Brazil is, therefore, still wide open.

“The coach doesn’t have to decide just yet,” Davari continued. “I’m sure he’ll wait and see what happens during our preparations. It’s up to me to do my best in training and in our warm-up matches and to play as well as I can. I’d be really happy to be in the squad, whether it be as first, second or third choice. I always try to give everything when I get called up.”

I had goosebumps when the national anthem was played. It was by far the best experience I’ve had in football.

Daniel Davari on his international debut

Iran went undefeated in the two matches Davari played, and the custodian fondly recalls his international debut, a 3-0 victory over Thailand on 15 November 2013: “It was an indescribable experience. I’d imagined what it might be like, but when it actually happened it surpassed my wildest dreams.

“I was really nervous, which was unusual because I’m normally very calm before games. I had goosebumps when the national anthem was played. It was by far the best experience I’ve had in football. I’m really happy to play for Iran.”

At the beginning of next month Davari will join up with the national team once more, with friendlies scheduled against Kuwait on 3 March and Guinea two days later. It is then that Davari, who took inspiration from both his grandfather and former Germany international Jens Lehmann to become a goalkeeper, could discover his chances of being No1 in Brazil.

Challenges ahead
After being drawn against Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria in Group F, Iran’s path to the knockout rounds is anything but straightforward. “Argentina are the clear favourites in our group,” Davari said. “Bosnia also have a great team with a lot of good players, many of whom play in the Bundesliga or elsewhere abroad. And then there’s Nigeria. On the whole, African teams are very strong, especially physically. It’s a massive challenge and I’m glad we have three really tough games.”

Davari, who was born and raised in Germany by his Iranian father and Polish mother, has not looked back since making his breakthrough at Braunschweig in 2009. However, the club are in a precarious position at the foot of the Bundesliga standings, with just 12 points to show from their 20 league outings this season.

“We’re still very optimistic,” Davari continued. “You shouldn’t give up as long as it’s still mathematically possible, and we won’t. We believe we’ve got a good chance, especially as we’ve improved a lot coming into the second half of the season. We need to keep going into our next games ready to give everything.”

This weekend Braunschweig face a relegation six-pointer at home to 17th-placed Hamburg. “You have to make your own luck,” said Davari. “People tend to say that you’re out of luck when things are going badly, but last year we discovered that that’s not necessarily the case.“

The Lions’ pursuit of a fourth victory this term will not be easy, especially as their visitors have history on their side: Hamburg were one of the Bundesliga’s founding members and are the only club never to have been relegated.

With so much at stake for both club and country in the coming months, Davari will no doubt experience a wide range of emotions between now and Brazil 2014. Yet if all goes to plan, the towering custodian will be able to look back on this period of uncertainty with a smile, safe in the knowledge that Bundesliga survival, and a starting place at the World Cup, are assured.