Author: admin

18/06/2017

Team Melli to play Russia

Team-Melli , the second team to qualify for the World Cup is schedule to play in a friendly match against 2018 FIFA World Cup host, Russia on October 10th, 2017.

Carlos Queiroz announced the news during Iran-Uzbekistan post-match conference. The two teams last met in Abu Dhabi in 2011 just before Queiroz took the job as Head coach.

Team-Melli secured their qualifications to Russia 2018 with a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Iran remains on top of Group A in Asian qualifiers with 20 points, following by South Korea and Uzbekistan. Team Melli has also been dominating FIFA Ranking for Asia for the last 4 years.

18/06/2017

"We Will Not Go to Russia as Tourists" Carlos Queiroz

John Duerden

Carlos Queiroz has been making history this week with Iran, and he wants to do so again next summer.

On June 12, Team Melli, as the national team is known, qualified for the World Cup -- the first time they'll be in back-to-back competitions -- and now their sights are set on a debut appearance in the knockout stages.

Not long before midnight at the iconic Azadi Stadium in Tehran, the Mozambique-born manager was thrown into the air by his squad of Iranian players after they had defeated Uzbekistan 2-0. It was in recognition of a perfect World Cup qualification campaign and their being second only to Brazil in booking a berth in Russia.

"The atmosphere and excitement of the fans were great. They deserve this," Queiroz told ESPN FC.

Iran deserve it too, and have been dominant in the third round of qualification, doing the job with two of the ten games still to play. Not only are Iran unbeaten, but not once has the defence been breached. Perhaps most impressive was that all knew a win at home to Uzbekistan would be enough for a ticket to Russia, and all expected exactly that would happen. This is a team that delivers.

"We tried not to think about the World Cup, not to play two games in the same game," said Queiroz who was appointed in 2011. "We just wanted to focus on Uzbekistan, just win the game and collect the points. No doubt we were the best team on the pitch and fortunately we won. Someone needs to win in football, and it was us."

After four years in which Iran was Asia's highest-ranked team according to FIFA, few would argue that this team is the best on the pitch, the only one of any of the traditional continental powerhouses to shine consistently in qualification.

Despite that, Queiroz believes Iran still has work to do.

"I think that, honestly, there are two competitions in Asia," said the former Real Madrid and Portugal boss. "The stats and the real competition. From a data point of view, the numbers show that we are the No. 1 and there is no doubt about that. We did not concede one goal, did not lose and qualified with two games left.

"But overall, we are far away from the international level. In that sense, I believe that South Korea and Japan are one step ahead of us. They have more experience and football closer to European standards. This is the gap we need to close during our preparation."

Carlos Queiroz's Iran became the second team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, after Brazil.

Preparation is key. There is a year until it all starts. In the past, Iran have struggled to arrange training camps and friendlies, watching with envy as Asian rivals play all around the world.

"Not many [understand] as to the right amount of credit we deserve for this qualification," he said. "It is hard to explain to the world our problems and that it is hard to find a place to train or teams to play."

Queiroz has had numerous run-ins with bosses at the Iranian Football Federation and various clubs in his six years in the position. Now he wants total support in the 12 months leading to Russia.

"I will try to make a statement similar to a famous statement made by a famous old and great president: The question is not what Team Melli can do for Iran, but what Iran can do for Team Melli.

"In order to progress, we need better infrastructure and financial support for camps and friendly games.If we don't do that, the result will be stagnation. This is not the expectation for Iran fans and not what they deserve.

"It is time to say that the national team has been doing everything for Iranian football, now it is time for the authorities to step up. The passion is there and we need to implement a different program in order for different players to progress. In Portugal we were producing good players 26 or 30 years ago, but in Portugal we did not sleep and kept producing players. This is what Iran misses -- a master plan with an infrastructure and individual support."

If all goes well, the next stage of the plan is within reach. Iran has appeared in four World Cups but has yet to survive the group stage.

Iran performed well in 2014, but this is a different team now -- more cosmopolitan, confident and consistent. Young stars like striker Sardar Azmoun and midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi are already in Russia but ready to make the jump to the big leagues and expand further the country's growing pool of players who are active and impressing in Europe.

"We have built a team and a squad of 26 and more players and I have more options," he said. "I have three goalkeepers, three right-backs and so on. At the next World Cup, I can rest people and keep them fresh for the games while keeping the same standard.

"This is due to our players being brilliant. I have never saw in my life players who made such sacrifices."

Now is not the time to stop.

"My goal and dream is to get to the knockout stage at the 2018 World Cup. I am fighting against this satisfaction disease. We should not be satisfied with the first round. We need to be ambitious. We need to think big. We will not go to Russia as tourists."

John Duerden covers Asian football for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @JohnnyDuerden.

13/06/2017

Celebrations across Iran

13/06/2017

Second consecutive FIFA World Cup for Team Melli

Iran reach second consecutive FIFA World Cup™
Team Melli defeat Uzbekistan to join Brazil and Russia at the finals
Carlos Queiroz's side have yet to concede in Group B, after eight games

The scenes in Tehran were jubilant. Coaching staff and players streamed onto the pitch and celebrated in unison. Giant flags were waved, prayers were undertaken and bear hugs handed out by team-mates. Iran had done it: they had reached the promised land of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Team Melli's 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan was enough for Carlos Queiroz's side to secure their seat on the plane to Russia next year.

"I want to thank all the fans for their support during the qualification campaign," talismanic midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh said, speaking to the AFC after the game. "The results we have achieved are for you and I hope we can now win the last two games. We all have happiness in our hearts."

The second goal in the match that sealed qualification was scored by Mehdi Taremi, who bagged his eighth World Cup qualifying strike on the road to Russia.

"I am very happy that we have qualified for the World Cup for the second time in a row and that we have brought happiness to the Iranian people," Mehdi Taremi, said speaking to the AFC after the victory. "I feel so happy that I was able to score a goal and that my goal was able to help us win the match. We are very happy and it shows the great progress we are making in Asia. I hope we continue to perform like this in the future and qualify for the World Cup every four years."

Despite some question marks over whether the Portuguese would remain in the role after Brazil 2014, Carlos Queiroz has masterminded a majestic march back to the global finals, with the side going almost 1000 minutes without conceding - their defence unbreached in the third round so far.

"Carlos Queiroz and his colleagues have done so much for Team Melli,” Iran's striking legend Ali Daei said. "One of the most important things he’s done is bringing in so many young players and changed the major players of the team. We are now one of the best sides in Asia, along with Australia, because we haven’t lost against any Asian teams in recent years."

Fans will be hoping that it is fifth time lucky for the Iranians, who will be looking to progress beyond the first round at the World Cup for the first time in Russia.

13/06/2017

Iran qualifies for 2018 World Cup, in sharp contrast to ‘embarrassing’ Israel

Monday’s win over Uzbekistan is celebrated in the streets of Tehran; Israel’s team was booed from the stadium in Haifa after losing to Albania on Sunday

BY TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF AND AFP June 13, 2017, 2:02 pm

Monday’s win was Iran’s sixth from eight matches in Group A and took the table-toppers to 20 points, with South Korea in second on 13 ahead of its game against Qatar on Tuesday.

Iran is unbeaten in the group stage and remarkably has not conceded a single goal during the campaign, underlining its credentials as one of Asia’s football giants. On Monday, it recorded its second win over Uzbekistan on the road to the 2018 tournament in Russia, with Rostov forward Sarder Azmoun first finding the net in the 23rd minute with a right-footed shot from the left of the box following a through ball from Alireza Jahanbaksh.

Iranian players celebrate after winning the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 12, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / ATTA KENARE)

The Uzbeks struggled for momentum and failed to break down the famed Iranian defense, eventually conceding their second goal of the match in the 88th minute with Mehdi Taremi finishing from Azmoun’s pass. Iran, which has seen its ranking rise from 108th in the world in 1995 to its current 30th, has played in the World Cup finals four times in the past – in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014.

Iranians celebrate on the streets of Tehran early on June 13, 2017, after their national football team won the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Uzbekistan. (AFP PHOTO)

So successful has Iran proved in the qualifying games that it has become only the second team to secure its place in the finals, after five-time World Cup champions Brazil. Russia, as host of the tournament from June 14 to July 15, 2018, is given an automatic spot.

Supporters of the Iranian national football team cheer during the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 12, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / ATTA KENARE)

Iran’s remarkable progress to the 2018 finals contrasts sharply with Israel’s form. Sunday’s defeat in Haifa by Albania leaves Israel in joint third place in Group G, with no prospect of making it to Russia, and a battle now merely to finish in third place and thus secure a more favorable qualifying path for the 2022 tournament.

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz of the Iranian national football team celebrates with players after winning the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 12, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / ATTA KENARE)

Ranked 55th in the world, Israel has qualified for the World Cup finals only once, in 1970.

The Israeli team came into Sunday’s game having beaten Albania 3-0 in their last encounter. It was the hot favorite to win the home game, but fell to a heavy defeat in its poorest performance of the qualifying campaign to date.

While Iran’s victory prompted celebrations in the streets of Tehran, the Israeli team was booed off the field by its own fans, and newspaper headlines on Monday morning called its performance a “Disgrace,” an “embarrassment,” and “one of the biggest humiliations” in national soccer history.

Albanian forward Armando Sadiku (C) celebrates after scoring during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Israel and Albania in Haifa on June 11, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX)

Israel had the first shot on goal, with Bibras Nacho’s shot tipped over the bar by Albanian goalkeeper Thoma Strakosha. But Armando Sadiku managed to put the ball past Israeli goalie David Goresh in the 22nd minute. Sadiku scored again a minute from half time with a shot from 25 yards out.

12/06/2017

Kudos to Team Melli. Iran to the World Cup 2018

A glorious goal by Mehdi Taremi in the dying minutes of the match put the icing on the cake for Team Melli after Sardar Azmoun scored midway in the first half. Taremi finished it in style for Team Melli to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. Team Melli defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in a near capacity Azadi stadium in a historic day for Iranian football. The match was historic in several ways. It is the first time in history Iran has qualified to the FIFA World Cup back to back since 1974 edition.

It is also the first time that a coach has taken Team Melli to two World Cup finals twice. After 8 match in the qualifiers Team Melli is yet to concede a goal. It is the earliest ever , one full year , for Team Melli to qualify for the World Cup. There are still two matches left, the final one at home against Syria in September.

Iran's Sardar Azmoun celebrates his goal with fans during their Asian Cup quarter-final soccer match against Iraq at the Canberra stadium in Canberra January 23, 2015. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SOCCER SPORT)
Picture Supplied by Action Images

11/06/2017

Alireza Jahanbakhsh closing

Jahanbakhsh came off the bench in all three of his side’s Group F games but a scoreless draw with Nigeria was followed by a last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Argentina and a 3-1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina as Team Melli exited at the first hurdle.

The experience, though, proved invaluable for the forward, who has since go on to become one of the leading lights in a side that is now only a home win against Uzbekistan on Monday away from qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. “It was unbelievably great, I went to the World Cup and I was the youngest player in the Iran squad,” recalled AZ Alkmaar player Jahanbakhsh, who joined Dutch Eredivisie outfit NEC prior to the Brazil tournament when he was just 19-years-old.

Jahanbakhsh on development in Holland

“I was really happy to be there because I could learn a lot and see what the big players did against Argentina. I was looking at their movement and all the things they were doing so I could bring it to my game. “It was a great experience to play at the World Cup after training for six months with the national team, it couldn’t be better than that as it was an opportunity to show my skills and potential.”

Almost three years on since making their fourth appearance at the global showpiece, Iran stand on the brink of advancing to successive FIFA World Cups for the first time in their history.

Four points ahead of Korea Republic at the top of Group A and five ahead of Monday’s opponents with three games to play, Team Melli will secure their place at next year’s tournament if they claim all three points in front of a packed Azadi Stadium.

And, under the stewardship of long-term coach Carlos Queiroz, Jahanbakhsh is keen to point out the influence the Portuguese has had on a squad that is looking to lead their country to a fifth FIFA World Cup. “He plays the main role in our team and his experience is unbelievably good,” said Jahanbakhsh.

“When you see the results we have got in the last couple of games, of course all the people in Iran are happy with him. The players also have a really good relationship with him and he makes things easy for us.

“These are the things that make him different from other coaches; we are very happy to work for him and hopefully we will keep him for a longer time.”

After starting his senior career with Parseh Tehran, Jahanbakhsh was spotted early and signed for NEC in the summer of 2013, a year after leading his country to the last eight of the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship in China, a tournament where he starred alongside Russia-based forward Sardar Azmoun.

Two successful seasons with NEC followed before, amid reported interest from clubs across Europe, the midfielder opted to stay in the Netherlands and joined AZ Alkmaar. Four years on since making the move to Europe, Jahanbakhsh is integral for both club and country in a career that is undoubtedly on an upward trajectory. “Holland is a country where you can grow up as a footballer,” noted Jahanbakhsh. “The focus they have on the players and the way they work with the players, especially young talented ones, is unbelievably good.

“They have everything to help you achieve your goals, so when I got the offer from NEC I didn’t think, I just moved there and tried to integrate myself into the country and culture.

“Two years ago I moved to AZ Alkmaar. It’s such a good club, always in the top four or five in Holland, so for developing as a young player it’s great. “When you have goals and you have people around who help you to achieve your ambitions that makes you really happy.”

Jahanbakhsh has played in six of Iran’s seven qualifying games to date, scoring the second in a 2-0 victory over Qatar last September, as his country have remained unbeaten and yet to concede.

And while goals have been hard to come by – Team Melli have scored just six in seven games – the threat upfront is undeniable with Persepolis hitman Mehdi Taremi and Rostov’s Azmoun, who moved to Europe just a few months before Jahanbakhsh.

“I’ve known him for five or six years, we played together for the under-19s and have always been good friends, close friends,” he added. “We are always chilling together, having fun with the national team. We grew up together as players and the last few years we have been in the first team of the national team. “He’s been doing very well; he moved to Russia and has scored important goals for his club, even in the UEFA Champions League.

“We have a really young squad with a combination of experienced players and that is what makes the Iran national team and why we are one of the strongest in Asia.”

10/06/2017

Iran vs. Uzbekistan : Match review

The match on Monday against Uzbekistan will be the stepping stone for Qualification to FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. Team Melli needs the 3 points to qualify with two matches in hand however; it will be facing a tough and none-yielding opponent who has aspirations of their own.

Since the independence of Uzbekistan from the Soviet Union back in 1991 , Iran and Uzbekistan played 7 matches with Iran winning 5 and the Uzbek one only. Ironically, that solitary win for Uzbekistan was registered in Azadi stadium.

Apart from the first ever encounter between the two teams during the Asian Games 1998 in Bangkok, where Iran trounced Uzbekistan 4-0 , the rest of the matches were mostly quite close affairs with one goal difference. In the current qualification rounds of World Cup, both teams started strongly with Uzbekistan being perfect after 2 matches, Iran stuttering against China. The teams then met in Tashkent on matchday 3

Jalal Hosseini scored the only goal of the match and thus Iran never looked back with Uzbekistan playing catch up in the next 4 rounds.

In Matchday 8, even if Uzbekistan wins, it cannot catch Iran up but it will be a tremendous boost for the central Asian nation towards clinching on of the spots for the qualifiers.

Team News Iran

Iran played a friendly game away to Montenegro at the end of a 10 days training camp held in Austria. Despite the host nation’s control on majority of the possession , Team Melli managed to defeat the European opponent 2-1 with a brace from the resurgent Sardar Azmoun. It is important to mention that half of Team Melli players were not available or not used for that match.

Injury List Iran With all the players available, Queiroz continued the camp in Tehran with his full contingent. The only scare was Ashkab Dejagah , but now he is fully recoverd from Injury.

Team news Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan preparation culminated in a friendly match against Thailand in Bunyodkor stadium ", Tashkent. With Iranian analyst in presence to note the Uzbek team game plan, the Head coach of Uzbekistan Samvel Babayan fielded a weakened team in the hope of misleading the Iranian analysts. However, Uzbekistan played poorly and the crowds were disappointed by the form of their team while Thailand was simply content with clearing the ball.

Despite that , the most best chances of scoring were created by the guests who are in foot of the table in their qualifying group and has lost all chances of qualifying.

Much changed after the break after substitutions were made. Samvel Babayan returned the team to full strength and finally won that match 2-0. There was causality in this match as midfielder Marat Bikmaev was injured and was forced to leave in the 52nd minute of the game

Injury List Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Attacking midfielder Marat Bikmaev will miss the match due to injury. The "Locomotive" midfielder sustain injury in a friendly match versus Thailand (2-0), the player was forced to leave in the 52nd minute of the game

According to the preliminary results of the medical examination, Marat Bikmaev will not have time to recover to the qualifying round match against Iran. In addition, another player Davron Hashimov, will also miss the match in Iran due to injury.

Earlier it was reported that due to injuries, the following players could not be available for matches against Thailand and Iran : Vitali Denisov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Islom Tukhtakhodzhaev (Lokomotiv Tashkent) and Alexander Merzlyakov (Kokand-1912).

It is not clear if any of the above will recover in time for the Monday Match.

[frame]IRAN vs. UZBEKISTAN[/frame]

Venue	Matches	W	D	L	Goals	+ / -
Home	1	0	0	1	0 - 1	-1
Away	4	3	1	0	3 - 0	+3
Neutral	2	2	0	0	6 - 1	+5
Total	7	5	1	1	9 - 2	+7

Injury List

Date	Comp.	venue	Final score	Stadium	Attendance
06.10.2016	WC Qualifier	A	1 - 0	Stadion Bunyodkor (Tashkent)	34,000
11.06.2015	Friendly	A	1 - 0	Metropolitan Stadium, Tashkent
14.11.2012	WC Qualifier	H	0 - 1	Azadi Stadium , Tehran	40,000
03.06.2012	WC Qualifier	A	1 - 0	JAR Stadium -Tashkent	9,000
05.09.2009	Friendly	A	0 - 0	Tashkent / Pakhtakor	9,500
11.07.2007	Asian Cup	N	2 - 1	National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur	3,000
14.12.1998	Asian Games	N	4 - 0	Suphachalasai, Bangkok

10/06/201710/06/2017

Team Melli on track for the Uzbekistan match

Team Melli is on course in preparation for the crucial match against Uzbekistan on Monday.

FIFA announced the name of the referees for the match. Ahmad Abu Baker Said Al Kaf from Oman will be assisted by Hamed Suleiman and Abu Baker Saleem. The fourth referee is Omar Mubarak all from the Sultanate of Oman.

The Omani referee was the fourth official in 4 matches in the recent FIFA World Cup U-20 championship 2017 in South Korea. He was not assigned any matches to referee. His last international match was in Sydney on 27th March 2017 refereeing the match between Australia and UAE which the host won 2-0.

Meanwhile, the FFIRI has encouraged the fans not to go to Azadi Stadium in matchday unless they carry a ticket on hand. The ticket sales for the match against Uzbekistan is all on-line through a dedicated website. No tickets will be sold on the match day from kiosks.

FIFA was given assurance by the FFIRI and the security authorities that strict measures and tight security will be implemented on match day following the terrorist attacks Parliament and the Ayatollah Khomeini mausoleum a few days back.

Carlos Queiroz is relying on his team's solid defence with a perfect defensive record of not conceding a goal since the opening match, while he will be deploying a powerful offensive line up front to unsettle the Uzbek defenses. Azmoun has been in top form , while both Ansarifard and Ghoochannejad had their best ever forms playing in Europe. domestically , Mehdi Taremi has been the best Iranian forward and the league's top scorer.

To supplement the forwards, Jahanbakhsh and Vahid Amiri will be feeding the attackers with their runs and crosses on the flanks , leaving Dejagah and Ezzatollahie to cover the middle of the field.

There are no injuries worries to report in the squad , however , Ashkan Dejagah is short of match practise and made a short appearance for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga following a long injury. Ramin Rezaeian is without a club after he was sacked from Persepolis , nevertheless the defender form was quite good against Montenegro in the recent 2-1 win.

06/06/201707/06/2017

Another IRIFF blunder on the way!

The Iranian football federation once again is planning to appoint low or no experience coaches for Youth Teams.

After elimination from the group stages of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2017 in Korea Rep. and failure of coach Peyrovani to get the best out of one of the most promising youth teams in decades , FFIRI is looking to renew the team and select another coach.

The list of the candidates is headed by no other than the failed coach Amir Hossein Peyrovani, Ex-Team Melli Captain Javad Nekounam , Omid Ravankhah and Hossein Cahmanian.

For FFIRI, teams at youth level do not warrant employing high caliber experience coaches. It has been a stepping stone for wannabe coaches a policy which has resulted in Iranian teams failures at most youth levels.