Tag: Incheon

Queiroz “We are not afraid of playing in front of big S. Korean crowd”

By Yonhap  Aug 29, 2017 

Iran’s national football team head coach Carlos Queiroz said Tuesday his side is not afraid of playing the World Cup qualifier this week at a stadium packed with South Korean fans.

Iran and South Korea will go head-to-head at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. Both teams are in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Korea Football Association earlier said it expects some 60,000 fans at the 66,704-seat stadium, and they will boost the energy for South Korean players on the pitch. Queiroz, however, said his team will not be influenced by a big home crowd since the players are familiar with such an environment.

“I think it will be a little bit easy for us to play,” Queiroz told South Korean reporters at a hotel in western Seoul. “Usually at home, we play with 100,000, so it’s easier for us to play with 60,000.”

With two matches remaining, Iran have already affirmed their presence in the 2018 FIFA World Cup by clinching the top spot in the group with 20 points. In addition, Iran have not lost their last four encounters with South Korea, winning all matches by the score of 1-0.

Queiroz, however, showed his respect to South Korea, saying it’s an “honor” and “privilege” to compete against the Taeguk Warriors.

“When we play against South Korea, it’s a great opportunity for us to learn and improve,” he said. “You have great players, great facilities and great coaches, so it’s an honor and privilege for us to be here.”

After arriving in South Korea on Saturday, Iran trained at an auxiliary football field near Incheon Asiad Stadium in Incheon on Sunday and moved to Paju Stadium in Paju, north of Seoul, on Monday to have another training session.

On Tuesday, Queiroz canceled the official training in Paju and had a simple exercise at a field near the team hotel. The coach is still waiting for two more players to join the national team. He has called up 24 players for their World Cup qualifiers.

“Sometimes, the best training is not training,” he said. “Our players are tired from traveling, so we decided the best thing for them is to relax and recover their energy.” (Yonhap)

Shojaei left out of Team Melli squad.

Team Melli arrived in Korea well ahead of the clash against South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday 31st August.

The Taeguk Warriors have a poor record against Iran of late, losing their last four meetings 1-0. For the Koreans this match is more than beating Iran as their qualification to the finals is in doubt if they lose.

Iran, who have already booked their berth in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, will also play Syria five days later in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

“South Korea are one of Asia’s most powerful teams. It will be a good opportunity for us to learn and to continue our progress,” Carlos Queiroz, the former Real Madrid coach told the reporters at Incheon International Airport.

“I’ve never lost a game to South Korea yet and we are going to keep our unbeaten record against them. We will do our best in this match,” Queiroz added.

“Iran will not defend against South Korea and we will display our best performance. Team Melli have already qualified for the 2018 World Cup but we are going to defeat South Korea because I believe that the best way for learning is victory,” he stated.

When asked about the ban on Team Melli Captain Masoud Shojaei and his club and country teammate Ehsan Hajsafy, the Portuguese head coach refrained from answering.

Vingda “I accept all the blame , I apologize but will not resign”

Nelo Vingada , the Portuguese head coach of Iran’s Olympic (U-23) team, accepted all the blame for his team’s disastrous performances and said “It is no one’s fault but mine. I accept all the blame , I apologize . I know that this is the worst result of Iran in the history of the Asian Games , but I will not resign!”

Vingada was talking to the Iranian news agency reporter ISNA  in Incheon after what seems to be a certain exit by Iran’s Football team from the Asian Games. Iran has one point from a draw against Kyrgyzstan and a humiliating 4-1 defeat by Vietnam. Iran’s only hope is for Vietnam to beat  Kyrgyzstan by a 4 goal margin.

When asked by the reporter about the shortfalls of the team, the head coach provided no better answer other than to say that “These things happen in football. This football is the only sport that such unexpected results can occur!”

Vingada , who according to his compatriot Carlos Queiroz statement after the heavy loss against Vietnam, “knows his  job very well” , mentioned nothing about his team’s diabolical defending , lack of teamwork and team spirit , poor finishing by star players , selfish player’s attitude who were playing for themselves rather than the team and loads of other factors that were so vividly lacking in this team.

“I have picked this squad myself. I was under the impression that we will be working with the U-21 team “ Vingada said. Since 1996 only 23 years old players with three over-23 players were allowed per squad in the Olympic Games and subsequently followed in the Asian Games as of after 1998 games . It is not clear how Vingada got this idea of the U21 team or whether it was intentional.

“I know that a lot of people are very upset by the team results , it was so clear from the reaction that we heard. I am quite shocked myself by these bad results. At least I can tell you that there are some good players in the squad who have a good future and people should be proud of them (…)!”

Asked to comment about the ugly scene at the end of the Vietnam match involving defender Khanzadeh after he was awarded the 2nd yellow card and a dismissal, Vingada’s response was   “I was so shocked by his attitude and had a long talk with him. He regretted his action. It is easy to talk about it outside the game, but when you are losing by such a margin and you hear the opposition ( a Vietnamese player) swear at you , one would lose his temper and do such things.”

This is the icing on the cake for this supposedly experienced coach. Instead of condemning that shameful act by Khanzadeh , he is justifying it. There is no remorse detected in his statement either!

Will Iran U23 be eliminated before the Asian Games start?

After the humiliating opening group game defeat against Vietnam, a 4-1 result that sent shock waves to many critics, experts and fans in Iran, the Olympic team is under the threat of elimination from the Asian Games , before even the game officially starts. This would be a milestone in Iran’s football, a one which is truly mortifying for a nation that claims to be at the top level of Asian football.

Iran has to beat Kyrgyzstan on Thursday and by a comprehensive margin to assure qualification in what was seen as an easy group.  The Asian Games Men’s football competition draw could not have been any kinder to Iran , as not only it has put it in 3 team group instead of 4 , it also  placed it with FIFA ranking 139 (Vietnam) and 144 (Kyrgyzstan) or no 21 and 22 in Asia. This time there are no Arab teams, who have really learned how to play against the Iranians, to disturb the U23 team progress. Apparently that huge advantage meant nothing as the little Vietnamese showed the mighty Iranians a few tricks of their own, specifically scoring.

Beating Kyrgyzstan at this level is not an easy task as Iran discovered in the last Olympic Qualifiers in 2011. Human Afazeli was the coach when Iran U23 struggled to beat Kyrgyzstan by the tightest of margins 1-0 in Tehran while they were lucky to get a goal-less draw in Bishkek and qualified by a single goal margin. Afazeli is currently working alongside Nelo Vingada as the U23 Team Manager in Incheon.

Vietnam player celebrates scoring against Iran

Defeats in football is part and parcel of the game, but the manner of defeat can make a world of difference and in many cases, it highlights the underlying problems of that football. Ali Kaffashian has been running the federation with his usual grin for 7 years and getting away with one poorly and disjointed organization. According to the respected Amir Haj Rezaei ” the system and the administration of football in Iran is the biggest culprit behind these humiliation of our football.  Time and again, the only victims are the coaches who lose their jobs while those who are really accountable or at least share  a large portion of the blame ,  maintain their power , repeatedly display their incompetence and inability to manage football , and continue repeating the same mistakes. Our football is at the mercy of politicians’ whims and being exploited by them. These are people who have seen a great opportunity in football to exploit it and benefit from its popularity. Without improvements at the top, chances of success are slim at field level.”

For Kaffashian , it is business as usual. Asked about this humiliating defeat in the press conference after signing the contract with Queiroz, the incumbent President of FFIRI claimed that there are no easy teams in the World Anymore! Down deep inside, he was probably wondering what all this fuss is about!

That response by Kaffashian , just about sums up this man’s standard and aspiration towards Iran’s football.  Driven by other behind the scenes, not much can be expected from this FFIRI administration.

Players and coaches, have to take all the burden of competitions in order to succeed.

Iran U23 meets Kyrgyzstan u23 at 12:30 Tehran time on Thursday 18th September.

 

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Asian Games 2014 football draw

The draws for the men’s and women’s football tournaments at the 2014 Asian Games, to be held in Incheon, South Korea, were made on Thursday . Iran’s U23 team was drawn with Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan in Group H . Iran is coached by Nelo Vingada .

In the men’s tournament all countries will be playing their U-23 sides with 3 over age players allowed for each team.

29 nations were divided into eight groups in the men’s event with five groups of four and three groups of three teams.

The women’s event has 11 teams with two groups of four and one group of three countries and unlike the men, every nation would be fielding their senior national team.

Men’s draw

Group A: Laos, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Korea Republic

Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan

Group C: Tajikistan, Singapore, Palestine, Oman

Group D: Nepal, Iraq, Kuwait, Japan

Group E: Indonesia, Timor Leste, Maldives, Thailand

Group F: Pakistan, China PR, DPR Korea

Group G: UAE, India, Jordan

Group H: Iran, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan

Women’s draw

Group A: South Korea, Thailand, India, Maldives

Group B: Japan, China, Jordan, Chinese Taipei

Group C: North Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong

Team Melli U-23 draws with Armenia.

Iran’s Olympic football team played a goalless draw against Armenia in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Team Melli Under 23 Football Team reached Yerevan on the 2nd of August and entered camp in Avan Academy Facilities to prepare for the two friendly games against the Armenian counterparts on Monday and Wedneasday.

On arraival and after a short rest ,  the squad started training in Avan Football Academy. Armenian  National Team manager Bernard Challandes was  on hand at the Academy. He welcomed the Iranian team and came to pitch and had chat with coaching staff. 

The Armenia trip is a part of the preparation for the upcoming Asian Games 2014 in Incheon , South Korea.

In the first match played on Monday 4th August , Armenia’s Taron Voskanyan U23 , scored an injury time winnere on the 90+2nd minute from a header after a cross by Aram Loretsyan. Armenia won 1:0. 

Nelo Vingada was not able to take the full squad with him for the usual reasons. Some players had Visa issues while a few were injured.

The squad will be flying back to Tehran today and the players will be joining their clubs for the league. The last part of the long-term preparation of the Olympic team will be carried out in China 10 days before the Asian Games starts in South Korea. The team will play several friendly games in China before heading directly to Incheon.

Human Afazeli , said “We are trying to arrange a couple of friendly games for the squad before flying to China for the training camp. That will be a good practise for the lads ” Armenia U23 vs Iran U23 action