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Iran drawn against Korea Rep. again.

Iran was drawn with Korea Rep. , Uzbekistan , Qatar , China and Syria in Group A of the FIFA World Cup 2018 Final qualification rounds. The draw was conducted by AFC General Secretary Dato Windsor John, with a helping hand from former Korea Republic star Park Ji-sung. Numerous personalities were in attendance, headed by the coaches of the teams that will contest the third round. The latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking was used to split the 12-country field into six pots. These were then drawn into two groups of six teams, who will do battle for direct qualification to Russia 2018 between 1 September 2016 and 5 September 2017. Both group winners and runners-up will go straight through to the 2018 World Cup. Meanwhile, the two teams that finish third will meet in a two-legged showdown on 5 and 10 October 2017. Whoever triumphs in this double-header will look to secure their spot at the finals in an intercontinental play-off – also to be played over two legs – against the fourth-placed country from CONCACAF qualifying. Australia , the AFC Asian Cup title holders is grouped with Japan , Saudi Arabia, UAE , Thailand, and Iraq in group B. The two teams Iran and Korea Rep. will renew their rivalry once again in the qualification for the World Cup. In the last encounter , the relationship between the coaches were making the headlines and as there was not love lost between Carlo Queiroz and the South Korean Choi KANG-HEE . The South Korean for all his rhetorics ended up in the losing side and eventually resigned his job, South Korea survived by the skin of their teeth after Uzbekistan failed to score one more goal to put them ahead on goal difference in the other group matches. The draw avoided a potential problem for FIFA and AFC after the Saudi's claimed they will refuse to play in Iran. Iran, Japan, Korea Rep.,  Australia and Qatar are the top seeds for qualification. The first round will commence on 1st September 2016.  

MATCHES SCHEDULE

Matchday One September 01, 2016 Thursday Iran vs. Qatar – H Matchday Two September 06, 2016 Tuesday China vs. Iran – A Matchday Three October 06, 2016 Thursday Uzbekistan vs. Iran – A Matchday Four October 11, 2016 Tuesday Iran vs.  South Korea – H Matchday Five November 15, 2016 Tuesday  Syria  vs. Iran – A Matchday Six March 23, 2017 Thursday Qatar vs. Iran – A Matchday Seven March 28, 2017 Tuesday Iran vs  China – H Matchday Eight June 13, 2017 Tuesday Iran vs. Uzbekistan – H Matchday Nine August 31, 2017 Thursday South Korea vs. Iran – A Matchday Ten September 5th, 2017 Iran vs. Syria – H

FIFA World Cup 2018 Final Round draw on Tuesday.

Kuala Lumpur: Twelve nations will learn their opponents for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Final Round when the official draw is held at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur at 1630hrs (Malaysia time) on Tuesday.

Eight AFC Member Associations have qualified for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Final Round by virtue of finishing as group winners from Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 with another four also qualifying as the four best second-placed teams.

They will be drawn into two groups of six teams to play home-and-away under the round-robin format.

The winner and runner-up of each group (four teams in total) will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia finals while the third-placed teams of each group (two teams in total) will advance to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Play-off Round.

The winner of the Asian Play-off Round (one team in total) will take on the side that finishes fourth in the fifth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers in a two-legged inter-confederation playoff.

The 12 nations, seeded based on the latest FIFA rankings which were released on April 7, will be drawn from six country pots as follows:

Pot 1: Iran (42nd), Australia (50th) Pot 2: Korea Republic (56th), Japan (57th) Pot 3: Saudi Arabia (60th), Uzbekistan (66th) Pot 4: United Arab Emirates (68th), China PR (81st) Pot 5: Qatar (83rd), Iraq (105th) Pot 6: Syria (110th), Thailand (119th)

SCHEDULE & DRAW SYSTEM

Matchday One September 01, 2016 Thursday Iran vs. 5th seed (Iraq or Qatar) - H Matchday Two September 06, 2016 Tuesday 4th seed (UAE or China) vs. Iran - A Matchday Three October 06, 2016 Thursday 3rd seed (KSA or Uzbekistan) vs. Iran - A Matchday Four October 11, 2016 Tuesday Iran vs. 2nd seed (Japan or South Korea) - H Matchday Five November 15, 2016 Tuesday 6th seed (Thailand or Syria)  vs. Iran - A Matchday Six March 23, 2017 Thursday 5th seed (Iraq or Qatar) vs. Iran - A Matchday Seven March 28, 2017 Tuesday Iran vs 4th seed (UAE or China) - H Matchday Eight June 13, 2017 Tuesday Iran vs. 3rd seed (KSA or Uzbekistan) - H Matchday Nine August 31, 2017 Thursday 2nd seed (Japan or South Korea) vs. Iran - A Matchday Ten September 5th, 2017 Iran vs. 6th seed (Thailand or Syria) - H

Iran up 2 places in FIFA ranking March 2016

 Team Melli maintained it top place in the Asian FIFA Ranking while climbing two steps up to number 42 in the world.
 
According to the latest FIFA ranking published today for the month of March in Zürich, Iran was ranked ahead of Senegal while one rank below Denmark.
In Asia , Iran was top with 672 points followed by Australia with 601, Korea Republic 579  and Japan 577.
2016 (100 %) 2015 (50 %) 2014 (30 %) 2013 (20 %)
Rank Team Total Points Previous Points +/- Positions Avg. AVG WGT Avg. AVG WGT Avg. AVG WGT Avg. AVG WGT
42 IRNIran 672(672.3) 627 2 321.98 321.98 336.87 168.43 439.32 131.80 250.48 50.10
50 AUSAustralia 601(600.64) 506 17 353.81 353.81 272.17 136.09 240.62 72.19 192.79 38.56
56 KORKorea Republic 579(579.33) 566 1 304.20 304.20 312.46 156.23 217.75 65.32 267.84 53.57
57 JPNJapan 577(577.02) 575 -1 266.44 266.44 335.96 167.98 213.61 64.08 392.56 78.51
60 KSASaudi Arabia 559(559.01) 562 0 380.91 380.91 118.20 59.10 297.06 89.12 149.41 29.88
66 UZBUzbekistan 549(548.8) 484 8 311.74 311.74 181.07 90.54 303.39 91.02 277.53 55.51
68 UAEUnited Arab Emirates 521(520.95) 517 -4 256.74 256.74 242.20 121.10 291.77 87.53 277.90 55.58
81 CHNChina PR 423(423.24) 351 15 234.48 234.48 245.50 122.75 132.40 39.72 131.43 26.29
82 JORJordan 418(418.02) 414 0 257.18 257.18 61.72 30.86 272.08 81.62 241.77 48.35
83 QATQatar 416(415.92) 441 -3 251.18 251.18 171.62 85.81 160.54 48.16 153.89 30.78
99 OMAOman 346(346.42) 342 -2 176.62 176.62 124.70 62.35 242.23 72.67 173.89 34.78
100 KGZKyrgyzstan 340(340.42) 324 5 255.80 255.80 66.96 33.48 41.48 12.44 193.50 38.70
105 IRQIraq 333(332.97) 371 -14 157.68 157.68 218.68 109.34 119.25 35.78 150.88 30.18
110 SYRSyria 316(316.38) 279 13 207.54 207.54 131.58 65.79 85.69 25.71 86.70 17.34

Sardar Azmoun's brace , a perfect finale for Team Melli

Team Melli defeated Oman 2-0 in Azadi stadium to clinch its berth in the third round of Asian Zone FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers. The prolific Sardar  Azmoun scored both goals from headers of corners in the first half.

Oman which had only one hope of qualifying and that is to beat Iran, was put under pressure early in the first half of the match. Sustained pressure from Team Melli resulted in creating several scoring chances by Dejagah , Azamoun and Jahanbakhsh only to be thwarted by the excellent Ali Al Habsi in Oman's goal.

The first goal from the corner came in the 16th minute when Azmoun raised above all and headed goal ward. Al Habsi managed to get hold of the ball but it was ruled to have passed the line.

7 minutes later . Azmoun repeated the feat with another clever header that cleanly beat Al Habsi this time.

The first half saw very little offensive moves from the Omani team which needed all the three points while Iran  were more energetic and forward going.

In the second half. Iran remained dominant and despite failing to score, Team Melli created many chances and played an eye pleasing football in front of 40,000 fans. Azadi stadium capacity is restricted to less than half of its capacity because of lack of seats!

In what seems to be the last match for Team Melli under the Portuguese coach, Queiroz maintained his desire of playing the younger players and urged them to perform at the highest levels in preparation for the tougher next round.

Queiroz has decided that he will walk away from Team Melli just before the general assembly of the football federation where his main supporter Kaffashian will not be standing for re-election.

With the completion of final day of second  round of the qualifiers, Iran joins Japan , South Korea , Qatar , Australia, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia as group winners to the next round. The four best 2nd placed teams are UAE, Iraq, China and Syria.

The third round of AFC matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification will be played from 1 September 2016 to 5 September 2017. The draw will be held in Kuala Lumpur on  12 April 2016

Statistics : Iran vs. Oman

Competition: FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualification Asia Date: 29th March 2016 Day: Tuesday Kick Off: 19:00 Iran Time (14:30 GMT)  Venue: Azadi Stadium (Tehrān (Teheran)

  Iran  IRAN                               OMAN Oman    
Games won: 4
Games drawn: 4
Games lost: 1
Date Match Result Score Competition
23 Jun 1993 Iran v Oman D 0-0 FIFA World Cup
02 Jul 1993 Oman v Iran W 0-1 FIFA World Cup
14 Jun 1996 Iran v Oman W 2-0 AFC Asian Cup
21 Jun 1996 Oman v Iran W 1-2 AFC Asian Cup
07 Dec 1998 Oman v Iran L 4-2 Asian Games
08 Aug 2001 Iran v Oman W 5-2 Tehran Tournament
24 Jul 2004 Oman v Iran D 2-2 AFC Asian Cup
28 Sep 2010 Oman v Iran D 2-2 International friendly
08 Oct 2015 Oman v Iran D 1-1 FIFA World Cup
     
  Team Statistics in Asia WC Qualification Asia  
     
Oman  Achievement Iran
2 Longest winning run 3
5  Longest run without loss 7
2  Longest run without win 1
3  Clean sheets 4
4  Matches over 2.25 goals 5
3  Matches under 2.25 goals 2
4  Matches odd 1
3  Matches even 6
1.57 Average goals scored 3.43
0.71 Average goals allowed 0.43
1  Failure to score 0
3 - 0  -  Biggest victory  - 6 - 0
2 - 1  -  Biggest defeat - -
0  Missed penalties 0
1  Penalty goals 5
0  Own goals 0
0  (%) Goalless draw at home match  (%) 0
1 (33%)  (%) Goalless draw at away match  (%) 0
0  Comeback win 0
A Al Muqbali Top Goal Scorer M. Taremi
 

Table standing

Group D

# Team MP W D L F A D P
1 Iran 7 5 2 0 24 3 +21 17
2 Oman 7 4 2 1 11 5 +6 14
3 Turkmenistan 7 3 1 3 8 10 -2 10
4 Guam 8 2 1 5 3 16 -13 7
5 India 7 1 0 6 4 16 -12 3
 

Tough test for Team Melli.

Team Melli will host Oman in the final round of Group D Asian zone FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers on Tuesday. The match is of a crucial importance to Oman while Team Melli will be entering in the match in a much calmer attitude.

With a superior goal difference by 15, Iran are almost certain to finish on top even if they lose their three-point lead with a defeat to second-placed Oman at the Azadi Stadium.

The Omanis are currently seventh in the rankings of the runners-up but, with only three points separating second from eighth, could make a final day surge by beating Iran.

Oman has always been a tough opponent for Team Melli. In the away match in Muscat , Team Melli managed a draw in a match that the Omani’s were the better team and exposed some vulnerabilities in Team Melli midfield and defense lines.

However, this match will be quite different.

Azadi is like no other venue for the guests, especially when it is filled with passionate Persian mass  fever. The biggest stadium in Asia can hold up to 110, 000 fans and the noise generated buy such mass can take the opponents apart before even the kick off. The Omani’s will find it that much harder to play their football under such environment. Although Azadi is not expected to be full, the fact that the match admission is free and many Iranians are still in Nowrooz holiday, the crowds numbers will be significant.

Carlos Queiroz embarked in another brave move by selecting what was virtually his second team last time against India, Despite some glitches the new look Team Melli managed to score four past India the weakest team of group D. It could have easily been double that figure, though.

Oman on the other hand did not find it so smooth against the resilient and vastly improved Guam in their last match in Muscat. They barely managed to score late in the game to keep their hope of qualification to the next round alive,

Oman is still the underdog in tomorrow’s match, but surprises are aplenty in football. The Wiley Queiroz , will be having a different team this time round as Dejagah , Teymourian and the rest of the first choice players will be back in the lineup to prevent any possible surprises by the Omani’s.

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Easy win for Team Melli against India

Team Melli defeated India 4-0 in the match played in Azadi stadium on Thursday as part of the qualifying rounds of FIFA World Cup 2018. Iran leads group D with 17 points and +21 goal difference ahead of Oman (14 points and GD of + 6 ) . The two teams will meet next Tuesday in the final match of the group competition.

Despite fielding a reserve team , Carlos Queiroz men did not find much difficulty in beating India 4-0 in Azadi Stadium this evening. The first half ended with a narrow 1-0 margin after the Captain Ehsan Hajsafy scored a penalty. Three more goals were scored in the second half with Hajsafy scoring another penalty as Azmoun and Jahanbakhsh added to the tally each side of the Hajsafy spot kick.

The experimental line up of Carlos Queiroz however did not function as he hoped. There were two debutants in today's match. In the goal, Mohammad Rashid Mazahari, Zob Ahan's keeper made his debut from the start. He was hardly tested, however.  While Dariush Shojaeian of Gostarish Foolad , a player who has certainly generated much attention in the league, made his debut as a substitute in the second half.

As expected from such line up , there were quite a few shortfalls and disappointments. Amiri , Ezatolahie and Taremi failed to match their previous good performances , while   Jahanbakhsh and Azmoun wer not linking well to make their team's superiority pay. Hordes of corner kicks won by Iran resulted in just one goal and that was a penalty. The yield was poor in that area which should have been a major source of goals. Some of the finishing and last ball lacked quality and in cases failed to reach the recipients by a wild margin.

India were galant in defending and there is no doubt that in their goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu , they have a quality custodian. The only player in India team who plays in Europe, Singh Sandhu single handedly kept Team Melli attackers at bay with some brilliant saves.  India, with the absence of Chhetri had very little to offer in the offense line, however , there were good attempts and in the ones with pace they managed to penetrate Iranian defenses but their finishing was short of the required to bother the strong Iranian defenders and Mazaheri in goal.

For Iran , topping the group is virtually assured and they will be in the pot for the next round. The last match against Oman is no more than a formality as even a narrow home defeat will be enough for heading the group ahead of Oman. For India, they need to once again try to establish a good national team. With the professional league in India going from strength to strength , India should have a good chance to establish a national team that can challenge the tops Asian teams.

In any case, Carlos Queiroz seems to be on the right course in his attempt to produce a new look team that can qualify for the next World Cup. His introduction of new players is creating a competition for places.

Man of the Match : Gurpreet Singh Sandhu  (India)

     

IRAN vs INDIA

4 - 0

Half-time 1 - 0 Competition: WC Qualification Asia Date: 24 March 2016   Game week : 9\ Kick-off: 17:3  Half-time 1 - 0  Full-time4 - 0 Venue : Azadi Stadium (Tehrān)

Attendance: 29,900 GOALS Ehsan Hajsafi (PG) 33' 1 - 0 Sardar Azmoun 61' 2 - 0 Ehsan Hajsafi (PG) 66' 3 - 0 Alireza Jahanbakhsh 78' 4 - 0

LINEUPS IRAN M. Mazaheri : P. Montazeri [83' J. Hosseini] , M. Pouraliganji , R. Rezaeian , E. Hajsafi (Capt.), O. Ebrahimi [68' D. Shojaeian] , V. Amiri , S. Ezatolahi, M. Taremi [ 66' K. Ansarifard], S. Azmoun , A. Jahanbakhsh Coach: Carlos Queiroz INDIA G. Singh Sandhu ; A. Khongjee [ 20' P. Kotal ], Augustin Fernandes , S. Jhingan, N. Das, P. Halder , R. Borges , B. Jairu 36' H. Khabra] , J. Lalpekhlua , H. Narzary [ 64' L. Fanai] , U. Singh Coach: S. Constantine SUBSTITUTES IRAN: K. Ansarifard , D. Shojaeian, J. Hosseini, E. Pourghaz, K. Kamyabinia, M. Akhbari, M. Shojaei, M. Torabi, Milad Mohammadi, R. Ghoochannejhad, V. Ghafouri INDIA: P. Kotal, H. Khabra, B. Jairu, L. Fanai, Arnab Mondal, C. Lobo, F. Fernandes, K. Singh, S. Pal, S. Passi, S. Singh, V. Rai  

Indian Skipper Sunil Chhetri ruled out of India’s World Cup qualifier vs Iran

Indian Skipper Sunil Chhetri has been ruled out of his team's World Cup qualifier games against Iran owing to a groin injury, dealing a body blow to the beleaguered outfit’s prospects of putting up a fight.

The match for the Russia 2018 World Cup Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 is slated to be played in Tehran on Thursday. A 22-member team left for the forthcoming game on Monday.

Six players from the list of 28 probables, including injured striker Chhetri, didn’t travel with the squad.

“We had to take some bold decisions and we have to travel to Tehran without our influential captain Sunil Chhetri,” national coach Stephen Constantine said. “He will be badly missed.”

Chhetri has been ruled out following a groin injury which he had picked up in the I-League. “The injury is such that it requires him to take necessary care and that requires him to stay back in India and get treated,” Constantine said.

A disappointed Chhetri couldn’t recall as to when he last missed an international match due to injury.

“I was sitting at my room trying to recall as to when I last missed a national team match for injury. It’s so disappointing. It’s such an important match for us and I still can’t believe that I would be missing it,” Chhetri said.

“The gaffer had a chat with Gigy sir (team physio Gigy George) and decided to leave me out of the squad to enable me time to get treated and get ready for the next game,” he said.

“At the moment it is obviously not a good feeling to have missed the bus but maybe in the long run, it will probably be for good.”

Meanwhile, Chhetri lauded Constantine’s initiative of summoning Dhanpal Ganesh and Robin Singh to get their rehabs assessed, monitored, checked and advised by the medical staff of the national team.  Besides Chhetri, T P Reheneesh, Rino Anto, Allwyn George, Malsawmzuala and Md. Rafique have been dropped for the match against Iran.

Constantine's concern

Indian football coach Stephen Constantine on Sunday expressed concern over the fitness of his players ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualification Round 2 match against a much higher-ranked Iran.

Iran are ranked 44th in the global rankings, 116 places above India at 160. India are at the bottom of the five-team Group D, having lost five of their six matches so far. Iran are at the top with four wins off six games.

"Playing in Iran will get as difficult as it can get. They have a history of playing in the World Cup and are the giants of Asia, presently placed at 44. It's like David versus Goliath on the field," Constantine said in an All India Football Federation (AIFF) release.

INDIA  squad

Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Karanjit Singh

Defenders: Aiborlang Khongjee, Augistine Fernandes, Arnab Mondal, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Narayan Das, Lalchhuanmawia

Midfielders: Pronay Halder, Bikash Jairu, Cavin Lobo, Rowlin Borges, Francis Fernandes, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Udanta Singh, Vineet Rai, Seityasen Singh

Forwards: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi, Halicharan Narzary.

Final list of 24 players announced for India and Oman matches.

Carlos Queiroz announced the final list of Team Melli players for the last two matches in Group D of Asian Zone FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers. All of the Legionnaire players who were not invited to the short training preparations camp , have been included in the final 24 players list. The hope that many older players will be rested for these two matches were quickly dashed after the list was finalized and most of the new faces were dropped. Only i made the final list. The most significant absentee in the final list is Andranik Teymourian , Team Melli Captain.     THE SQUAD 
1 Ali Reza Biranvand
2 Alireza Jahanbakhsh
3 Ashkan Dejagah
4 Dariush Shojaeian
5 Ehsan Haj Safy
6 Ezatollah Pourghaz
7 Jalal Hosseini
8 Kamal Kamyabinia
9 Karim Ansarifard
10 Mahdi Taremi
11 Masoud Shojaei
12 Mehdi Torabi
13 Milad Mohammadi
14 Mohammad Reza Akhbari
15 Morteza Pouraliganji
16 Omid Ebrahimi
17 Pejman Montazeri
18 Ramin Rezaeian
19 Rashid Mazaheri
20 Reza Ghoochannejad
21 Saeed Ezatollahei
22 Sardar Azmoun
23 Vahid Amiri
24 Vouriya Ghafoori

Goudarzi :No Iranian team will play with the Saudi's on Neutral grounds

The Minister of Youth and Sport of the Iranian government , Mr. Mahmoud  Goudarzi announced that Iranian team playing against Saudi teams in a neutral country as demanded by the Saudi government and approved by AFC, is out of question. This statement , by the highest authority in sport in the Iranian government  will create an unenviable situation for the Asian Federation.

Goudarzi criticized the AFC for bowing to the Saudi political pressure. In a short statement to the press said "Everyone knows by now that politics must not interfere with sports. Football governing bodies have been particularly very strict in this matter. FIFA has sanctioned and suspended many countries for violating the political interference rules . AFC has very obviously ignored the rules that they have created themselves by  bowing to political pressure from the Saudis. We will not play in any other country but ours, We have no issues with playing in Saudi Arabia either."

This short statement will put the AFC in a real dilemma. The Asian Federation has not provided any solid grounds for accepting the Saudi demands. In its feeble statement , it reasoned that the break in relationship between the two countries was behind such decision!!!. There is no secret that such demand by the Oil Rich Arab country is nothing to do with the security or safety of the players as claimed by their FA but very much to do with the political situation between the two countries. By accepting the Saudi demands , AFC has registered a precedent that it will regret in future and could open a floodgate of such requests in Asia in the future.

Mr Goudarzi like most of other Iranian officials have emphasized that Iran will take legal action against AFC and will seek compensations as the result of this ruling.

Three Iranian clubs are involved in this edition of the AFC Champions League. Sepahan, Zob Ahan  (Esfahan)and Tractorsazi (Tabriz). ALl stand a good chance of qualifying to the next round after half of tha matches have been played. Tractorsazi is leading its group C with 6 points from 3 matches., Zob Ahan is second in the Group B with 5 points (same points as Al Nasr of KSA on top with better goal difference) , and Finally Sepahan on third in group A with 3 points.