Year: 2018

Omid Team will face Syria in Kish.

The Manager of the Iran U23 national team, (Omid Team) , announced the forthcoming plan for the team which includes a training camp in which the team will play  two friendly matches against the Syrian national U23 team.

in an interview with Hamid Estili published in the official website of the Football Federation, Omid Team Manager said: “The new round of Iranian U23 National Football team training begins on Dec. 15th. A day later, the squad will fly to Kish Island to play two friendly preparations matches.”

The director of the Omid team also said: “According to the schedule , the first match will be held on 18th December in Kish, we will face Syria in the first game. Syria is a powerful opponent and can be a very useful game. On December 21st, we will hold the second game in Kish also against the same team (Syria), and then we will return back to Tehran to conclude the camp.”

Estili added: “It’s very important for us to hold preparation games to compete against the best opponents possible. The coaching & technical staff has emphasized this. Fortunately, we played a very good match against Oman, and the two scheduled matches against Syria should be very useful indeed. Also, luckily, we have had good results in negotiating with some other Asian teams for more matches. The result of these will be announced in dues time after agreeing terms. The ultimate goal is to be prepared for a tough competition by playing valuable matches with different teams to prepare for the preliminary qualifiers for the Asian U23 and the Olympics. We shall achieve our objectives, God willing, with the support of the Federation. To this day, it has been excellent, which I see as prudent to mention that publicly. We are encouraged by the interest and support given to the team’s program and the backing of all parties concerned from the federation executives to the clubs.”

Team Omid (Iran U23) , which is coached by the Croat coach Zlatko Kranjcar,  is preparing for the AFC Asian Championship qualifiers and the preliminary Olympics Games football competition qualifiers.

Team Melli Final Training Schedule for AFC Asian Cup announced.

Iran’s football federation announced the schedule for the final Team Melli training camp up to the AFC Asian Cup 2019  in UAE.

the federation’s official website mentioned that after the approval of the President of the FFIRI, the training plan will be held in Qatar and will last until the AFC Asian Cup.

The squad will utilize Camp Aspire facilities that was provided by the Qatari Football Federation. Most training session will be held in Camp Aspire while official matches will be held at designated stadiums. The camp will start on  December 17th  and conclude on January 2nd  2019. The squad will fly to Abu Dhabi on January 2nd, ahead of its first game on December 7th against Yemen  in Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

During the training Camp in Doha, Team Melli will play 2 friendly matches and possibly a third against Lebanon which is yet to be confirmed.

The first match will be against Palestine on the 24th December, and a week later , Team Melli will face Qatar..

Meanwhile, the final roster for the Asian Cup will be announced on December 26th.

Iran Omid team defeats Oman 2-1

Iran’s Omid Team (U-23) defeated its host Oman 2-1 in the friendly match played at Sultan Qaboos Stadium, in Muscat Oman.

Zlatko Krancjar started the match with Shahab Adeli, Omid Darreh, Omid Noorafkan, Abolfazl Razzagpour, Mohammad Aghajanpour, Ali Taheran, Mohammad Khodabandelo, Mehdi Ghaedi, Reza Bachari, Mehdi MehdiKhani and Allahyar Sayadmanish.

The first half ended 1-0 for the host after Oman scored on the 40th minute of the match.

Iran’s Omid Team had many good scoring opportunities but the Omani goalkeeper saved them all, at times with heroics.

In the second half, Krancjar sent on Abolfazl Jalali, Amir Roustahi, Hamid Taherkhani, Hassan Saki and Isma’ili to the field. In the 52th minute, Ali Taheran scored the equalizer from a perfect cross by Taherkhani. Two minutes later, Mehdi Ghaedi scored the winner from a set piece.

Iran draws Venezuela

Team Melli drew 1 – 1 with Venezuela as part of the preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2019. The friendly international match was played in Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar today (Tuesday).

The Venezuelan scored first through Darwin Machis on the half hour. Ali Gholizadeh equalized just before Half time for Iran.

First half:

The best chance to score was wasted by Iran as early as the 10th minute by Sardar Azmoun, after some brilliant work on the right flank by Ali Gholizadeh. Azmoun hit the ball which was nicely delivered to him by Gholizadeh at the Venezuelan keeper who blocked its path and deflected over it the bar for a corner thus depriving Azmoun from scoring a certain goal.

The first goal was scored in the 35th minute by Machies for Venezuela as the player easily dribbled passed the out of form Rezaeian and shoot passed him. A weak reflex  by Abedzadeh in goal allowed the ball to pass underneath his body to announce the first goal of the match. It was an awful goal to concede and a blunder by the defender and the keeper..

In the 43rd minute, Ali Gholizade, who was the star of the Iranian national team in the first half, with a series of skillful moves and dribbling of two opponents, shot a diagonal ball that beat the keeper to score level the score.

Second half:

in the 49th minute, Mehdi Taremi robbed the ball from a defender just outside the box. While he had two players in much better position than him to score, decided to go a lone a shoot weakly outside the post.

In the 53rd minute, the referee announced a penalty kick after Taremi was tripped in the box. but after referring to the VAR system, the Qatari referee changed his mind and reversed the penalty call.

The Venezuelan player manged to put the ball into Team Melli’s net in the 65th minute, but the referee disallowed it fo roffside. In the next few minutes, the two teams committed far too many fouls as the game turned into a physical battle, as it normally does with South American opposition.

There was yet another penalty call for Iran this time for handball inside the box. Once again the referee decided to check the VAR and once again he cancelled the penalty although the replays from many angles shows a definite and clear contact of the ball with Venezuelan defender.

With 15 minutes left, the substitutions started by both team and like it always does, the momentum and the excitement of the match was lost on both sets of players.

Team Melli lineup:

Amir Abedzadeh, Ramin Rezaian (Sadegh Moharrami), Omid Ebrahimi, Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh, Hossein Kanan-Zadegan, Milad Mohammadi, Vahid Amiri (Mehdi Torabi), Ali Gholizadeh (Ashkan Dejagah), Sardar Azmoun (Karim Ansarifrd), Mehdi Taremi (Kaveh Rezaei ) and Saman Ghodoos (Masoud Shojaei)

 

 

Key Iraq player out of AFC Asian Cup 2019

Iraq, grouped with Team Melli in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 has lost a key player through injury

The Iraqi national football team is the main opponents of Team Melli in Group D UAE which also includes Vietnam and Yemen. Justin Hikmat Meram, has been declared unfit and will be on the injury list for a few weeks. He is doubtful for the Asian Cup as it seems to be a long recovery path for the midfielder. It is bad news for the Iraqi team losing one of the important players who was assured of a spot if he was fit for Asian Cup,

The 29 years old, American born Meram spoke of the severity of his injuries by posting in the social media and emphasized that he could not make it to the Asian Cup The Iraqi Football Association also confirmed this news. Justin Meram plays for the Columbus Crew SC  in the American league and his absence in the Iraqi national football team could have an impact.

Iraq and Iran will meet on 16th January in the final match of Group D in Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai. It is expected of both teams to qualify for the next round.

Omid Team list for Oman match is announced.

Zlatko Kranjcar has announced the list of 22 players who will join the U23 team for the friendly match against Oman on 20th November.  The match will be held in the Omani Capital Muscat and is a part of the preparation for the upcoming challenge at continental level and the qualifying for the Olympics.

 

the squad

 

Abol Fazl Jalali (Saipa)

Abolfazl Razzaghpour, (Peykan)

Ali Taheran (Tractoration Tabriz)

Allahyar Sayadmanesh (Esteghlal Tehran)

Amir Roustaei, (Peykan)

Aref Aghasi (Foolad Khouzestan)

Hamid Reza Taherkhani (Persepolis)

Hossein Saki (Sanat Naft Abadan)

Mehdi Ghaedi (Esteghlal Tehran)

Meiraj Ismaili (Zob Ahan)

Mohammad Aghajanpour (Padideh Mashhad)

Mohammad Khodabandehlo  (Peykan)

Mohammad Mehdi Mehdikhani (Padideh Mashhad)

Mohammad Reza Azadi (Tractoration Tabriz)

Nader Mohammadi (Peykan)

Omid Darreh (Saipa)

Omid Noorafkan  (Chareloi )

Reza Jebeireh  (Sanat Naft Abadan)

Reza Karimi (Esteghlal Tehran)

Reza Shakari (Rubin Kazan)

Shahab Adeli (Sepahan),

Sina Zamehran (Padideh Mashhad)

Major crises averted in Iran’s football.

Finally, the potential major crises and suspension of Iranian FFIRI was defused, after a government spoke person confirmed that the Football federation is a special case under the international governing Body and is except from parliament or government orders.

Therefore, Mehdi Taj will remain as the President of Iran’s football federation and can only be replaced by the processes governing elections after the end of term. The retirement laws will not apply to Mehdi Taj who has repeatedly declared that he will follow government or parliament laws, but in private, he has informed both AFC and FIFA of the prevailing situation and the impact of the ruling on him prompting AFC to issue a hands-off warning to Iranian authorities.

However, the rest of the personnel of FFIRI who are on government pension scheme but also members of FFIRI various committees are not as lucky as Mehdi Taj. Mohammad Reza Saket, Secretary General of the Football Federation, Abdol-Kazem Taleghani, Haidar Baharvand, Mahmoud Islamiyan, Fereydoun Esfahanian and Ali Kaffashian  must resign because of their retirement. These people are supposed to announce their resignation at the Football Federation Assembly in order to identify their successors.
The 58 years old Mehdi Taj has replaced Ali Kaffashian on 7th May 2016. The latter is serving as his deputy in a role reversal!

Venezuela match to be played in Doha

According to IRIFF’s official website, the Iranian national team will fly to Doha, Qatar right after the match against Trinidad and Tobago, in preparation for another international friendly on the 20th November 2018 day at Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium against Venezuela.

This match was supposed to be played in Tehran, but the Venezuelan federation had a change of mind and refused to travel to Tehran.  Negotiations between the two resulted in a midway solution as the match venue was changed to Doha.

Venezuela is ranked twenty-ninth and in FIFA Ranking one above Iran. The match will be held Tuesday, November 29, 18 (local time) in Doha.

AFC warns Iran on government interference!

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is closely monitoring the current issues faced by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) with regard to the announcement of a Law by the Republic Parliament designating the FFIRI as a Non Government public body and prohibiting the engagement of retired personnel.

The FFIRI stresses that it is a non governmental Organisation and the AFC state that all Member Associations must fulfil their duties without any third-party interference either from the Government or the Parliament.

The AFC is closely working with the FFIRI, whose current board was elected for four years in May 2016, to prevent any outside interference.

The AFC has a zero tolerance policy towards any third-party interference in their Member Associations and hopes that, with less than two months to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, the FFIRI can maintain its independence and avoid any sanctions.

Trinidad and Tobago trains under unusually cold weather for the Caribbean players

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Football Team underwent its first training session in wet and chilly conditions on Monday morning in Tehran as head coach Dennis Lawrence conducted a one-hour session at the Iran Football Federation headquarters training pitch. Lawrence and members of the squad arrived in Tehran on Sunday night following the 14-hour journey to Dubai from Fort Lauderdale before the one hour, 45 minute flight to Tehran.

It rained for much of the day and temperatures reached 15 degrees during the midday session and dropped to a further 11 degrees by 6pm.  The Iran national team, coached by Carlos Quieroz also trained at the facility prior to T&T’s session ahead of Thursday’s international friendly at the Azadi Stadium,

On Saturday it was a historic moment for the female football fans of Iran as hundreds of them, separated from male supporters, watched home team Persepolis going down to Japan’s Kashima Antlers after putting up a tough fight in the Asian Champions League. Women were allowed 300 seats at the 90-000-seater venue and it is left to be seen how many will show up at Thursday’s friendly.Some 100 women attended last month’s friendly against Bolivia at the national stadium here. Women have been barred from attending matches since the 1979 Islamic revolution, with authorities saying they must be protected from the masculine atmosphere. But  female fans were permitted to cheer on their team  versus Bolivia with horns and national flags from a separate stand inside the stadium.

Queiroz named a 24-man squad on the weekend to prepare for the two upcoming friendlies with T&T and Venezuela. The squad includes star forward Karim Ansarifard, who played at the 2018 World Cup.

The striker, who scored the equaliser for his country in their 1-1 draw with Portugal at the World Cup, recently joined Nottingham Forest from Olympiacos. Club Brugge forward Kaveh Razaei, experienced 34-year-old captain Masoud Shojaei and Kazan-based striker Sardar Azmoun who has 23 goals from 37 matches have all been included in the home team’s roster.

T&T will be captained by Khaleem Hyland, Charleston Battery’s US-based midfielder Ataulla Guerra and German-based winger Joevin Jones and Kazakhstan-based defender Sheldon Bateau are in the T&T line-up along with Saudi Arabia-based duo Daneil Cyrus and Lester Peltier who is back in the team after a three-year absence.

Hyland said it was clear that  game against Iran would be one of T&T’s biggest assignment in some time.

“We know the quality that Iran has. They have a huge coach and they are just coming off a strong showing at the World Cup” Hyland told TTFA Media at the Parsian International hotel in Tehran on Monday.

“We played against them before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and I think this is a huge game for us to see what level we are at and where have to go. I expect a tough game and the conditions changes just the same as Saudi Arabia. One minute it can be very humid and then very cold. We are over here to get a job done and we’ll try to stay focused and go out and do what we are here for and try to get a positive result on Thursday,” Hyland added.

With T&T preparing for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League, the former Belgium-based midfielder  stated, “These are important games and you can only get better playing teams like these because they play in World Cup every four years and I think it’s a great opportunity to finally get ready for the Gold Cup and Nations League next year by playing teams of this high quality.

“We knew when Dennis took over the team it was a very difficult period. He was trying to patch up things and it was not the easiest of positions for any coach to come in under. Right now we are at a great level since then. We had to take it step by step since to fix things and so far we are getting there. Everyone has taken Dennis on board and he he is trying to implement what he wants us to do and how he wants us to carry about ourselves. I think he is a role model for a lot of the guys. He scored to take us to the 2006 World Cup and he has a lot of experience coaching under huge coaches. I think he can only help us and hopefully we can put every puzzle together and get ready for the upcoming tournaments,” Hyland added.