The organizing committee of the AFC Asian Championship 2015 which is scheduled to be held in Australia , has announced the schedule of the competition qualifying matches that will start from February 2013.

Iran is grouped with Kuwait , Lebanon and Thailand. Team Melli will play its first match against Lebanon on the 5th February in Azadi stadium.

The rest of the schedule:

Iran        vs.  Lebanon   Wed. 5th Feb 2013
Kuwait    vs.  Iran         Fri.  22nd Mar 2013
Iran       vs.  Thailand   Tue. 15th Oct 2013
Thailand vs. Iran          Fri 15th Nov 2013
Lebanon vs. Iran         Tue. 19th Nov 2013
Iran       vs. Kuwait     Wed. 5th Mar 2014

Tehran.

Team Melli began its training sessions in earnest this Tuesday morning under the supervision of Carlos Queiroz at No. 2 Training Ground of Azadi Sports Complex. The practice sessions, which was mainly focused on the physical fitness was attended by all the 24 players.  Ashkan Dejagah , Reza Ghoochanejad, Omid Nazari, Andranik Teymourian and Masoud Shojaei , the 5 legionnaire players have joined the camp and were after arriving from outside the country.

After the completion of the training session , In statements to the press in regards to the upcoming match next week against Korea Republic , Ali Kaffashian has said that “It is not much use for Team Melli to qualify for the World Cup while playing weak games and struggling to make the finals. We need to show our grit and play a high standard of football to makes us proud.” The Head of the Iranian football federation admitted that the team could have played much better football in the last three months and if that was achieved , they would not have been in such a precarious position right now  where a win against South Korea is really vital for the Team Melli. However , Kaffashian stressed that “we should not lose hope or be despondent about what has occurred in the past and we must support Team Melli without any reservations”

He also defended the coaching staff of Team Melli and stressed that regardless to the result of the match against Korea Republic, Carlos Queiroz will remain at the helm of Iran’s national team until his contracts expires .

In a separate statement to the press, Masoud Shojaei , the Osasuna player has stressed that “We must beat both Korea Republic and Uzbekistan in order for us to have a good chance of qualifying to the World Cup.” Shojaei , who has a suffered many injuries since the Asian Cup 2011 in Qatar and has been out of football action for a whole season as result of operations, said that the conditions at the team camp is ideal and hoped that by the time they face Korea Republic in six days time, the fitness and physical conditions of all the players reaches the optimum level.

Commenting on his club status, Shojaei said that he has not played for his club, which is lingering at the bottom of the league, this season. He admitted that he lost a good friend when Javad Nekounam left Osasuna to join Esteghlal back home. Shojaei, who played against Lebanon but was not effective in the match, said that the presence of the foreign based Team Melli players gives the other players some great motivation; otherwise the standards between all the players are close. He praised the way that Nazari and Ghoochanejad have been received by the rest of the players despite the duo being new to Team Melli and living outside of Iran for almost their entire lives.

Shojaei refused to predict the result of the coming match but said “it is always going to be difficult to play against the Koreans and we really need to beat them and Uzbekistan in order to have a fair shot at qualifying to the World Cup. We must not lose any points at home from now on.”

Mohammad Nosrati , who has been added to Queiroz list after being away from Team Melli for some times, also emphasized the importance of a victory against Korea Republic and declared that it will be the catalyst for qualifying to the World Cup. He said “I believe that this match against Korea Republic is the most important match of the whole campaign. I truly hope that everyone realizes that. We are hoping for 100.000 fans supporting us in Azadi “

“The game against Korea Republic is a decider for us. If we beat them, it will go a long way in our quest for qualifying. Of course if we have beaten Qatar at home and Lebanon, we would have been at a much comfortable position now.” Nosrati added.

Asked about Ghoochanejad and Nazri , the two Europe based players , Nosrati said the he believes that there are many players who are  capable in playing for Team Melli. It was the coach decision to include  players with European experience in the team.

Melbourne: Renewal of rivalries will be the main feature of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015™ qualifiers after the preliminary draw for Asia’s flagship national team tournament was held here on Tuesday.

In another renewal of rivalry, Iran who beat Kuwait in the 1976 final to emerge as the champions have again been put together with the Al Azraq in Group B where they face off against Lebanon and 2007 co-hosts and group stage contestants Thailand.

Team Melli has faced Kuwait in record number of 35 times since their first meeting in 1972, while they have had an immaculate record against Lebanon until the recent shock defeat in Beirut in the Qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil. The fourth team , Thailand has faced Iran on 12 occasions but has failed to record any wins since the first meeting in Bangkok in 1972 , where Iran won the Asian Cup for the second time in a row.

The twenty teams were divided into five groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group and the best third-placed team among all the groups will qualify for the tournament proper to be held in Australia in 2015.

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ champions Japan, hosts and runners-up Australia, third-placed Korea Republic, AFC Challenge Cup 2012 winners DPR Korea and the champions of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will get direct berths in the final competition.

Syria were together with Jordan in Group B of the last edition in Doha 2011 but the former crashed out while the Al Nashama advanced to the quarter-finals after finishing second in the group behind eventual champions Japan. This time, the Syrian Eagles, Jordan, Oman, and Singapore who last appeared in 1994, complete Group A.

Iraq are to shake hands with Saudi Arabia again in Group C, having emerged champions in 2007 after defeating the Green Falcons. China PR, who were runners-up in 2004, and 2007 co-hosts Indonesia will keep them company.

In Group E, Central Asians Uzbekistan will meet Hong Kong, the hosts and third place winners of the inaugural edition in 1956. The section is rounded off by 2007 quarter-finalists Vietnam and 1996 runners-up the UAE.

Group D is home to 2011 hosts and quarter-finalists Qatar, who have appeared in the AFC Asian Cup seven times, their neighbours Bahrain, Yemen, and 2007 co-hosts and group stage contestants Malaysia.

The qualifiers will commence in February 2013.

The Groupings:

Group A
Jordan
Syria
Oman
Singapore

Group B
Iran
Kuwait
Thailand
Lebanon

Group C
Iraq
China
Saudi Arabia
Indonesia

Group D
Qatar
Bahrain
Yemen
Malaysia

Group E
Uzbekistan
UAE
Vietnam
Hong Kong

Reza Ghoocanejad has been finally cleared to play for Iran after all the documents were scrutinized and approved by FIFA. Carlos Queiroz who has invited the Dutch-Iranian player for the summer camp in Hungary , was disappointed when he heard that Ghoochanejad would not be available for the Lebanon match as his papers were not cleared in time.

With Ghoochanejad being available, Queiroz finally completed the jigsaw of European based players that he was seeking from the beginning of his reign with Team Melli. Both , Omid Nazari and Ashkan Dejagah are also included in the 24 man squad.

Ali Karimi , who is an outcast with his club and has been fired from Perspolis , is included in the squad , despite the fact that Perspolis captain has not played competitively or trained with his team for over two weeks.

The other new player for the squad , is Mes Kerman player . Iran based Ahmad Hassanzadeh, else Queiroz has selected his strongest squad with Andranik “Ando” Teymourian once again being available after he was suspended for the Lebanon game. Hadi Aghili is the only player who is not available due to injury.

The 24 players list

 

1	Rahman AHMADI	G
2	Mehdi RAHMATI	G
3	Sousha Makani	G
4	Ehsan HAJSAFY	D
5	Khosrow HEYDARI	D
6	Jalal HOSSEINI	D
7	Hossein MAHINI,	D
8	Maziar ZARE	D
9	Mohammad NOSRATI	D
10	Pejman MONTAZERI	D
11	Mehrdad POOLADI	D
12	Ashkan DEJAGAH	M
13	Ali KARIMI	M
14	Omid NAZARI	M
15	Javad NEKOUNAM,	M
16	Mohammad NOURI	M
17	Pejman NOURI	M
18	Andranik TEYMOURIAN	M
19	Karim ANSARIFARD	F
20	MohamadReza KHALATBARY	F
21	Mohammad Ghazi NAJAFABADI	F
22	Reza GHOOCHANEJAD	F
23	Masoud SHOJAEI	F
24	Ahmad HASSANZADEH	F

the-afc.com

Tehran: Uzbekistan booked their place

in the final of the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship after coming from a goal down to defea

t tournament hosts Iran 3-2 in a pulsating semi-final encounter at the PAS Stadium on Wednesday.

Iran started the game briskly and took the lead after just four minutes through a deflected free-kick from Seyed majid Hosseini but goals from Doctonbek Khamadov (13th), Izzatilla Abdullaev (35th) and Otabek Shukurov (42nd) gave Uzbekistan a 3-1 lead at the interval.

Uzbekistan defended stoutly in the second-half and although Amirmohammad Mazloum gave Iran a glimmer of hope with two minutes remaining it was too little too late for the hosts.

After putting in arguably the finest performance of the competition so far in the 5-1 annihilation of Australia that booked Iran’s place in the final four, head coach Ali Doustimehr kept faith with the majority of the starting 11 that put the Joeys to the sword in the quarter-finals.

The only change for Doustimehr was an enforced one with Erfan Vejdani being replaced by Komeil Haghzadeh, who came on for Vejdani when he was taken off injured 26 minutes into the Australia victory.

Doustimehr’s counterpart Dilshod Nuraliyev also made just one alteration to his line-up from that one that started the penalty shootout win over Korea Republic, with Mukhiddin Odilov dropping to the bench to make way for Ravshanbek Khursanov, who missed the quarter-final through suspension.

Iran made the perfect start with the hosts taking the lead with just four minutes at the PAS Stadium played.

Saeid Ezatolahi was sandwiched between two Uzbek players and bundled to the ground in shooting range for Iran skipper Seyedmajid Hosseini, who had displayed his power and accuracy from distance with his stunning free-kick in the 2-1 victory over Kuwait.

And while Hosseini’s low drive lacked his usual power it took a telling deflection off of Khursanov, wrong-footing Uzbek keeper Sarvar Karimov for the strapping central defender’s third goal of the campaign.

Iran’s lead lasted barely ten minutes with Doctonbek Khamadov slotting the ball through the legs of Iran keeper Danial Kazemnia after latching onto a precise pass from Akobir Turaev, scorer of Uzbekistan’s opener in their quarter-final with the Koreans.

With ten minutes of the first-half still to play, the Uzbeks took the lead courtesy of a superb right-foot volley from the apex of the Iranian penalty box from Izzatilla Abdullaev.

But the Uzbeks hadn’t finished there with Otabek Shukurov surging forward from midfield before coolly sweeping the ball past Kazemnia in the 42nd minute with the Iranian keeper and backtracking defenders expecting the Uzbek skipper to pass to a supporting team-mate.

The hosts had no choice to press forward in the second half and after Karimov had made a couple of routine catches from Iran’s early forays into opposition territory Amirmohammad Mazloum was just too high with his 51st minute lob over the Uzbek keeper.

Five minutes after the hour Karimov was called into action again with a fine fingertip save from Hosseini’s blistering long range drive and while Iran continued to dominate possession they struggled to find the key that would unlock the Uzbek defence.

With a quarter-of-an-hour left on the clock Hosseini went down in the Uzbek penalty box but all the Iran skipper earned was a yellow card from Kuwaiti referee Yousef Al Marzouq as the hosts desperately tried to find a way back into the semi-final.

Karimov had to be on his guard to prevent Ali Hazmi’s 80th minute cross from creeping in under the crossbar as Iran’s pressure continued and their efforts paid off with two minutes remaining when Mazloum reduced the deficit.

It was too little too late for the Iranians however, as the Uzbeks held firm in the remainder of the match to claim their place in Saturday’s final.

Iran’s U-16 Team suffered a heart break after they went down 3-2 against Uzbekistan’s U-16 team in the first of the two semi-finals of the AFC U-16 Championship.

Iran had a dream start when Seyed Majied Hosseini’s free kick was deflected into the Uzbek goal in the 4th minute. However  the Uzbek quickly equalized before they stunned the host with another two goals from quick counter attacks to finish the first half 3-1 ahead of the hosts and the favorites.

In the second half , a determined and resolute Iran was in control of the field for most of the time, he Uzbek however always looked dangerous on the counter and their numeric advantage and pace on the counters made life very difficult for Iranian defenders. Despite all the Iranian attacks, the defense and some brilliant saves by Uzbek goalkeeper, kept Iran at bay, until a late strike by Amir Mazloum a nice curling ball just inside the box, made for an exciting finish.  Uzbekistan, however ,  withstood the pressure and managed to win this match and make it to the final.

It was a very disappointing result for Ali Doustimehr players , whose occasional brilliant display of football was marred by pathetic and vulnerable defense , which at the end , cost them the championship.

Iran U16 already qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in the UAE in 2013.

Hosts staying grounded after Aussie annihilation

Tuesday, 02 October 2012 17:07
the-afc.com

Tehran: Iran coach Ali Doustimehr is warning his side not to become complacent in Wednesday’s AFC U-16 Championship semi-final against Uzbekistan after putting in the most impressive display in the tournament so far when they defeated Australia 5-1 in the last-eight.

The tournament hosts were in emphatic form in Sunday’s one-side quarter-final with the prolific Persians’ high-pressure strategy paying dividends against an out-of-sorts Australia, as a Reza Karmollachaab double (35th and 90+3) and goals from Saeid Ezatolahi (31st pen), Mohhadreza Bazaj (61st) and Ali Rigi (81st) outlined Iran’s status as the clear favourites in Wednesday’s semi-final with the Uzbeks.

But Doustimehr, who led Iran to glory at the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship, is far too an experienced campaigner to let complacency creep into his side.

“We played very well against Australia but we must not get too proud of ourselves and we will prepare ourselves well for the game against Uzbekistan,” said the 47-year-old, who is coaching at this tournament for the fourth time following campaigns in 2010, 2008 and 2004 when the competition was at under 17 level.

“We will prepare well and we will do what it takes to win this championship in our own country.

Victory on home soil will be a great source of pride for Doustimehr and his young charges, who, the coach explained, are focussing firmly on achieving something for the country rather than the potential individual benefits success would bring.

“We have spoken many times with the players and we said that there might be the possibility of some reward or some money from the Federation if we win. But like all Iranians the players are passionate about their country and they said they are not playing for money but for Iran.”

Iran’s semi-final against Uzbekistan kicks-off at 1700 Tehran time at the PAS Stadium on Wednesday.

Uzbeks undaunted by imperious Iran

3×2 IRN UZB gfxTehran: Uzbekistan coach Dilshod Nuraliyev has said that it doesn’t matter who they meet in the semi-finals as their opponent is it out of their hands, with a tough encounter against tournament hosts Iran standing between them and a place in the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship final.

“At this stage of the competition you can’t have a preference of who you get to play,” said Nuraliyev ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final against an Iran side that is in ominous form, having annihilated Australia 5-1 to book their place in semis and take their scoring tally for the tournament to 14 goals from four matches.

“Iran is playing very well and I am certain will get strong support from the home crowd but I am sure my team’s performance in the semi-final will be much better than our performance in the quarter-final with Korea.”

Uzbekistan, runners-up to DPR Korea at the last AFC U-16 Championship, have rode their luck in the 15th edition of the continental youth tournament with Nuraliyev’s side needing a stoppage-time equaliser from India to advance to the last eight as Group D runners-up at the expense of China before booking their semi-final ticket (and place in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup) via the lottery of the penalty shootout against the Koreans.

Akobir Turaev’s 64th minute strike in Sunday’s quarter-final at the Rah Ahan Stadium looked to have been enough to take the Uzbek’s through but an equaliser from Hwang Hee-chan four minutes into stoppage time sent the tie into a penalty shootout.

Ironically it was Hwang, the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, whose penalty miss proved decisive as the Uzbeks scraped through in a match that Nuraliyev believed the Central Asians should have won more comfortably.

“We wanted to win it in regulation time and we could have buried the match if we had converted the string of chances we had in the second half but in the end we won the match.

“I am very happy that we have qualified for the World Cup but now we must focus on our next target which is to win this tournament.”

Ravshanbek Khursanov is now eligible to take part in Wednesday semi-final at the PAS Stadium after the Uzbek midfielder was suspended for the game against Korea Republic following yellow cards in the group stage matches against India and Syria.

the-afc.com

Tehran: Jubilant Iran coach Ali Doustimehr has said that his side’s emphatic 5-1 hammering of Australia that qualified the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship hosts to next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup was the end product of the involvement of many people from grassroots level to the very top of the country’s football administration.

Doustimehr’s young charges played the starring role in a surprisingly one-sided quarter-final clash at the PAS Stadium as Australia looked second-best in every department to the imperious Iranians.

Iran took the lead through Saeid Ezatolahi’s 30th minute penalty before Reza Karmollachaab gave the hosts a two-goal cushion four minutes later.

Mohammadreza Bazaj extended Iran’s advantage after being set up by Ali Rigi in the 63rd minute and then Rigi went from provider to scorer with a superb individual effort with ten minutes remaining.

Australia Substitute Bai Antniou scored an 88th minute consolation that appeared to give the scoreline a more flattering perspective only for Karmollachaab to score his second and Iran’s fifth in stoppage-time.

“I would like to thank the players, the coaching staff, the Federation, the media and the youth level coaches at clubs throughout the country as this victory of Iranian football,” declared Doustimehr.

“Without the help of everyone we could not do our job. Everything was wonderful today and we are happy to give the gift of World Cup qualification to the Iranian people.

“I know hope that the Iranian fans continue to follow our team and help us go on to become the top side in Asia.”

Iran’s victory sets up a semi-final showdown with Uzbekistan, who ended the 100% record of Korea Republic with a 5-3 penalty shootout victory after regulation time ended 1-1.

And Doustimehr was in the stands at the Rah Ahan Stadium to watch the Uzbek’s surprise victory as he plots how to win the AFC U-16 Championship for the second time after masterminding Iran’s first title at this level in 2008.

“Before this game I watched the quarter-final between Uzbekistan and Korea and I know that the Uzbeks are a very good team and that it will be a tough semi-final,” he continued.

“But we will prepare well and we will do what it takes to win this championship in our own country. Today we played very well but we must not get too proud of ourselves and we must prepare well for the game against Uzbekistan.

“We have spoken many times with the players about this game and we said that there might be the possibility of some reward or some money from the Federation if we win. But like all Iranians the players are passionate about their country and they said they are not playing for money but for Iran.”

Vanquished Australian coach Alistair Edwards tempered his disappointment with the fact that on the day the Iranians were simply too strong.

“Congratulations to Iran for qualifying to the World Cup and on their much deserved victory,” said the former Australia international.

“Of course we had hoped we would qualify and we didn’t expect such a result but Iran played a high-pressure game and didn’t allow us to get into our rhythm. We made too many mistakes at times but again this was mainly down to Iran’s pressure.”

Edwards was asked at the post-match press conference if he regretted not fielding a stronger side in the last group stage match against Iraq which, had they won, would have given them a relatively easier quarter-final.

“All games in the tournament have been difficult and on another day we could have won the penalty shootout against Iraq.

“But it would have been tough playing Kuwait as well. At the end of the day Iran played much better than us and deserved their victory.

“I am happy for Iran but also proud of my players. Apart from the match today I think we had a good tournament.”

Tehran: AFC U-16 Championship hosts Iran outlined their championship credentials with an impressive 5-1 quarter-final win over Australia on Sunday that booked their place in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Iran totally dominated proceedings and after being frustrated on numerous occasions by Australia keeper Andre Jannese the hosts took the lead through Saeid Ezatolahi’s 30th minute penalty before a fortuitous Reza Karmollachaab effort four minutes later gave the hosts a two-goal cushion to take into the interval.

Mohammadreza Bazaj extended Iran’s advantage after being set up by Ali Rigi in the 63rd minute and then Rigi went from provider to scorer with a superb individual effort with ten minutes at the PAS Stadium left to play.

Substitute Bai Antniou scored an 88th minute consolation that appeared to give the scoreline a more flattering perspective only for Karmollachaab to score his second and Iran’s fifth in stoppage-time.

Iran’s victory sets up a semi-final showdown with Uzbekistan, who ended the 100% record of Korea Republic with a 5-3 penalty shootout victory after regulation time ended 1-1.

Australia coach Alistair Edwards, who made eight changes to the starting 11 which began the Joeys’ last group stage match that ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Iraq, had predicted Sunday’s quarter-final clash would be a contrast in styles, with his possession-based strategy going up against the direct approach of the tournament hosts.

But it was a moment of individuality that almost gave Iran the lead with a blistering long-range free-kick from Seyed Majid Hosseini flying just over Andre Jannese’s crossbar in the third minute before Amirmohammad Mazloum should have made more of Reza Karmollachaab’s pinpoint pass four minutes later.

At the ten minute mark Jannese came to the Joeys’ rescue with a timely double save from Karmollachaab, first with his left leg and then with the right as the Iran forward tried hook in the rebound, before the Australian Institute of Sport stopper did well to keep out Mohammadreza Bazaj’s diving header three minutes later.

Iran’s direct approach was dictating the game with the Aussies seeing little in the way of possession in the opening period of the first-half with the action centred mainly in and around Jannese’s area.

The young keeper was having an inspired game, as showed in the 22nd minute with a superb one-handed save from Mazloum’s powerful low shot but Jannese was finally beaten on the half-hour mark when Saeid Ezatolahi sent him the wrong way from the penalty spot after Aaron Calver had fouled Mazloum in the area.

Mazloum played a key role when Iran doubled their lead four minutes later with the skilful forward’s trickery taking him to the byline before his cross was knocked home by Karmollachaab from close range.

The pattern of Iran dominance continued in the second-half and in the 63rd minute Mohammadreza Bazaj made it 3-0 with his last touch of the ball before being replaced by Sadegh Moharrami a minute later.

Ali Rigi, who set up Iran’s third, almost scored number four in the 65th minute but his shot deflected off an Aussie defender and then the crossbar before the danger was cleared.

Soon after Aussie coach Edwards made a double substitution as Alex Gersbach and Taylor Tombides made way for Jordan Pudler and Bai Antniou.

After a brief period of Australian ascendency the Iranians retook control of the game and the Joey’s needed skipper James Baldacchino to clear off the line to stop the going further behind in the 76th minute.

But they couldn’t stem the Iranian tide for long as Rigi waltzed through the tiring Aussie defence and finished with aplomb three minutes later and although the Joey’s grabbed an 88th minute consolation through substitute Antniou scoring with two minutes left to play it was Iran that would have the final say with Karmollachaab grabbing his second and the hosts’ fifth in the last significant action of a surprisingly one-sided quarter-final.

IRAN   5 -1   AUSTRALIA

AFC U-16 Championship – Quarter Finals

Dastgerdi Stadium , Tehran

In a dazzling display of football , Iran’s U016 National Football team routed the powerful Australian team 5-1 in the quarter finals of the AFC U-16 Championship held in Dastgerdi Stadium on Sunday.

Iran lead 2-0 in the first half , from goals scored by Saeed Ezzatollahei from the penalty spot on the 31st minute , as result of a foul on Mazloom. then Keama chaab doubled the scored in the 35th minute.

The two thousands fans in the Dastegrdi stadium , including a few dignitaries and Esteghlal club players , were in for an entertaining second half where the young Iranians displayed some dazzling football. Iran started with a swift attacking run and it was the brilliance of the Aussie goalkeeper which kept the Iranians out,

The continuous barrage of attacks by Iran was eventually rewarded in the 64th minute when Mohammad Reza Bajaj made it 3-0 for the hosts, Iran kept the same rhythm and Ali Rigi scored one of the best goals of the tournament with exceptional individual skills as he slalomed through the Australian defense to score Iran;s 4th just 10 minutes before the end.

Australia managed to score a consolation goal to make it 4-1 right before the end of the regulation time , but it seems that the Iranians were not finished as KarmalaChaab scored his second and the team’s fifth in the dying seconds of the match on the 94th minute.

It was an emphatic win for Ali Doustimehr boys and the strongest display if football so far by Iran’s U-16 in this tournament. Iran remain the favorite to lift the trophy after the success of 2008 under the guidance of the same coach.