Author: Editor

35 Players picked by Queiroz for the FIFA World Cup

The initial expanded list of 35 players of Team Melli has been announced by Carlos Queiroz.

The list includes Steven Beitashour the forgotten American Iranian player whose last inclusion was in the FIFA World Cup 2014.

 

# Player Post Club Country

GOALKEEPERS
1 ABEDZADEH, Amir GK C.S. Marítimo 
2 BIRANVAND, Alireza GK Persepolis
3 HOSSEINI, Hossein GK Esteghlal
4 MAZAHERI, Mohammad Rashid GK Zob Ahan

DEFENDERS
5 ANSARI, Mohammad DF Persepolis
6 AGHAEI, Saeed DF Sepahan
7 BEITASHOUR, Steven DF Los Angeles FC
8 CHESHMI, Rouzbeh DF Esteghlal
9 GHAFOORI, Vourya DF Esteghlal
10 HOSSEINI, Jalal DF Persepolis
11 HOSSEINI, Majeed DF Esteghlal
12 KHANZADEH, Mohammadreza DF Padidah
13 MOHAMMADI, Milad DF Terek Grozny
14 MONTAZERI, Pejman DF Esteghlal
15 POURALIGANJI, Morteza DF Al Sadd
16 REZAEIAN, Ramin DF K.V. Oostende

MIDFIELD
17 ABDOLLAHZADEH, Ahmed MF Foolad Khuzestan
18 AMIRI, Vahid MF Persepolis
19 DEJAGAH, Ashkan MF Nottingham Forest
20 EBRAHIMI, Omid MF Esteghlal
21 EZZATOLLAHI, Saeid MF Amkar Perm
22 GHODDOS, Saman FW Östersunds FK
23 HAJSAFY, Ehsan MF Panionios FC
24 KARIMI, Ali MF Sepahan
25 NOORAFKAN, Omid MF Esteghlal
26 RAFIEI , Sourosh MF Al Khor
27 SHOJAEI, Masoud MF AEK Athens
28 TORABI, Mehdi MF Saipa Alborz

FORWARDS
29 ANSARIFARD, Karim FW Olympiacos F.C.
30 AZMOUN, Sardar FW Rubin Kazan
31 GHOLIZADEH, Ali FW Saipa Alborz
32 GHOOCHANNEJAD, Reza FW SC Heerenveen
33 JAHANBAKHSH, AliReza FW AZ Alkmaar
34 REZAEI, Kaveh FW R. Charleroi
35 TAREMI, Mehdi FW Al Gharrafah

Queiroz target , Arzani called up by Australia.

Melbourne, May 7:

Melbourne City star Daniel Arzani was named in Australia’s preliminary squad for the World Cup, while veteran Tim Cahill was also included. Arzani, 19, enjoyed a fine A-League season, doing enough to impress coach Bert van Marwijk to be part of the 32-man squad.

The tricky winger scored two goals and provided three assists in the league this campaign, leading to suggestions Iran – his place of birth – could poach the teenager

Carlos Queiroz, Iran’s Portuguese head coach has been monitoring the Iranian born forward, how has always expressed his allegiance with Australia. However, lately Arzani has declared that if he can not find a spot in the soccoroos , he will opt for Iran if called up.

Biranvand’s poor form, a worry for Team Melli!

One would be excused to notice that the two goalkeepers that have performed so admirably in the AFC Asian Champions League matches yesterday are nowhere near being Team Melli’s first choice .  

The fact is that one Alireza Biranvand, a lackluster keeper with a questionable attitude and prone to errors, has been the number one choice for Carlos Queiroz and that is worrying.

Biranvand , the guardian of Persepolis has been quite poor this season. Single handedly he cost his team a precious win in Abu Dhabi last night conceding 3 goals, all of which could have been saved with some agility and better effort.  Young Goalkeepers like Biranvand at such age normally develop and reach their peak at a much later stage of their careers unlike other outfield players. Biranvand has played for Team Melli youth teams and forced himself to the senior team on sheer merits at the time that Iran had a dearth of goalkeeping talents.

However, Biranvand , seem to have stopped developing, but even worst , he is losing his touch too. There is a long list of shortcoming that has marred his performance particularly this season, from failure to judge the flight of crosses to poor reaction, to poor timings of coming out for a ball. Biranvand has cost his club many goals and lots of points, the type of which he had not experienced before at Persepolis.

Mehdi Rahmati

Admittedly, the problems he had with his club, had affected him. Contractual and financial issues, the lure of better contract at other clubs resulted in him requesting a transfer while he was tied by a contract. The club turned down his request, which resulted in Birnavand’s rebellion, absence from training and refusing to attend team meetings. He was the target of the boo-boys amongst the passionate Persepolis fans in Azadi. Branko Ivankovic was ready to kick him out of the team for his petulant attitude and discord he created in the team while they were fighting on two fronts, to win the league title and the AFC Champions league. Eventually, Biranvand came to his senses and returned, but traces of that episode are evident in his poor performances following that period.

On the other hand,  Zob Ahan goalkeeper and number 3 choice in Team Melli , Rashid Mazaheri was majestic in his performance against Esteghlal in the same stage of the AFC champions league match. Estaghlal lost to late penalty  for Zob Ahan to take a slender lead to Azadi. Despite that eye catching performance in goal for Zob Ahan, It would be very difficult to name Mazaheri as the best goalkeeper in Iran, because right in the opposite end of the field was none other than Seyed Mehdi Rahmati whose saves and reflexes was world class. An outcast in Team Melli, his skills and experience has saved Esteghlal time after time in that match. It was a sterling performance from the veteran keeper and Rahmati was at his best.

Two great performances from two Iranian keepers in the same match, was the highlight of this round of AFC Champions league. Two exceptional performances that has brought back some of the confidence lost in Iranian keepers and their qualities. Queiroz has no more than 3 games to check on his choice of goalkeeper for the World Cup. Birnavand has served him well and the Portuguese head coach is known to be loyal to his troops. But he has also shown that he can be demanding and would not hesitate to make drastic changes or drop star players if their performances and forms are not up to his standard.

Every player makes mistakes, and with goalkeepers by their nature being the last line of defence, theirs will be the costliest. Queiroz has one serious problem on his hand at that end.

Daei “Iran will win the AFC Asian Cup”

The legendary Ali Daei has explained his confidence over Iran winning the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 title.

“Iran has been Asia’s top team for the last few years for a reason: the consistency of the technical team,” Daei said in an interview with AFC.

“There have been very few changes in the technical team’s setup and the stability has allowed coach Carlos Queiroz to focus on building a formidable squad. Queiroz has also looked far and wide for the best players and this has had a positive effect on the national team,” the former Iran captain added.

Iran is Asia’s top side in the FIFA World Ranking and was also the first team from the continent to seal a place in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, confirming its place last June.

The team finished the World Cup qualifiers unbeaten and Daei, 49, is expecting the form to be carried into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, with Iran lifting the trophy.

The last of Iran’s three triumphs in the AFC Asian Cup was in 1976, meaning that it will be 43 years since Team Melli last won the title by the time the action in UAE 2019 kicks off next January.

“I am confident that Iran will win this time around. We have always been a force to be reckoned with in the AFC Asian Cup but the recent results give me confidence that we will win the title for the fourth time,” said Daei.

 

The AFC Asian Cup may have eluded Daei as a player but it is a tournament which is dear to his heart, as it paved the way for his big move to Germany in 1996.

In emerging top scorer in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, also hosted by the UAE, Daei hit four of his tournament haul of eight goals in the 6-2 win over South Korea in the quarterfinals.

“There was a Korean player who was playing in Germany at that time and he convinced several coaches to scout for players during the 1996 AFC Asian Cup. The four goals I scored in that match played a pivotal role for me signing with Arminia Bielefeld.”

His stay in Germany also saw stints with Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC.

Plying his trade in Europe brought much success to one of Iran’s footballing sons and Daei is hoping that come the AFC Asian Cup 2019, not only will more of his compatriots secure moves to the big European leagues but Iran lift a long overdue title.

“I missed a penalty in the semifinal against Saudi Arabia and we lost, but I know that it can be different this time around,” he added.

Daei holds the record for the most goals in international football with a total of 109 goals he scored in 149 games for Team Melli (from 1993-2006).

Afshin Peyrovani suspended for 5 years

The former Captain of Team Melli Afshin Peyrovani has been suspended from all football activities for a period of five years by the disciplinary committee of the Iranian Football Federation IRIFF

In September 2015, Peyrovani was appointed as football director of Team Melli. He was included in Carlos Queiroz staff for FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifying rounds. After a few months, Peyrovani tendered his resignation from his post in Team Melli.

Peyrovani who is currently Persepolis’s Football Director was accused of  financial irregularities while he was acting as Team Melli Football Director. It is believed that he accepted kick backs from one of the Team Melli sponsors.

Peyrovani played in the 1998 World Cup ,as well as the team that finished third In the 1996 Asian Cup

Persepolis Club has immediately replaced Peyrovani as Team Director and replaced him with Hossein Khabiri for their trip to Abu Dhabi where Persepolis will face Aljazeera Club in the quarter finals of AFC Champions League.

Iran to face Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam in AFC Asian Cup 2019

The draw for the AFC Asian Cup was held In a grand spectacle at the United Arab Emirates Burj Khalifa,

Team Melli , Asia’s best ranked side, who are looking to secure their fourth title and their first since 1976, were drawn in Group D alongside 2007 winners Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen, who will be appearing in their first tournament since their unification.

 Hosts UAE, who were positioned in first place in Group A, will kick-off Asia’s most prestigious tournament against Bahrain at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on January 5, 2019.

The host nation will be looking to improve on their second place finish the last time the competition was held in the UAE in 1996, but will face formidable opponents in India and Thailand who complete the cast in Group A.

Meanwhile defending champions Australia were drawn in Group B with 2004 and 2011 quarter-finalists Jordan, Palestine, and Syria, who return to the competition following their absence in Australia 2015.

Continent powerhouses and 2015 finalists Korea Republic, who are on the hunt for their first title since 1960, were drawn in Group C with two-time runners-up China PR as well as two debutants in the UAE 2019 – Kyrgyz Republic and Philippines.

In Group E, two-time champions Saudi Arabia were drawn with 2011 hosts Qatar, Lebanon, who will be returning to the competition for only the second time after a 19 year absence as well as DPR Korea.

The tournament’s most successful side with four titles, Japan are in Group F and will face Uzbekistan, who have progressed past the group stage for the last four editions of the competition as well as Oman and Turkmenistan.

In an action-packed night graced by some of the biggest names in Asian football, the final draw also introduced a USD$14.8 million total prize money, the unveiling of a stunning new trophy, a cutting-edge Molten match ball and the launch of the tournament’s official mascots – Mansour and Jarrah.

The Zayed Sports City Stadium will also host the final on February 1, 2019 after 28 days of enthralling action with the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium and Al Nahyan Stadium hosting the remaining matches in Abu Dhabi.

Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium will host the matches in Al Ain and Sharjah Stadium in the Emirate of Sharjah. Al Maktoum Stadium and Al Rashid Stadium are the two venues in Dubai.

Opponent watch: Portugal

Having won a first major tournament at Euro 2016, can Cristiano Ronaldo now inspire the Seleccao again?

Portugal stunned Europe in 2016 after winning the European Championships despite rarely looking like potential winners until the semi-final.

Under pragmatic boss Fernando Santos, the Seleccao claimed a first ever major tournament success in France, despite drawing all three group games and managing just one win inside 90 minutes.

Now ranked No.3 in the world by FIFA, a side full full of experience, including Pepe (35), Rui Patricio (30), Joao Moutinho (31), Nani (31) and, of course, all-time record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo (33), will have one final fling at the World Cup.

Santos has shown loyalty to his veterans – and been repaid – while also bringing through younger stars such as Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Raphael Guerreiro and Andre Silva, giving the side a mixture of youth and experience, nous and speed.

“Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany and France are the favourites to win the World Cup,” says the Portugal coach, Fernando Santos, before adding: “Then we have other candidates, who want to get as far as possible, and win the tournament if possible, and Portugal are in this second group.” Santos is cautious, despite winning Euro 2016 but he is looking forward to the World Cup with optimism and does so with good reason: Portugal seem stronger now than a year and a half ago, having added creativity to the defensive organisation that underpinned the 2016 title. Bernardo Silva and André Silva have been important factors in this attacking upgrade and in general the team have more depth. The one area which is perhaps weaker is the defence, where it has been hard to find replacements for Pepe (who will be 35 next summer), José Fonte (34) and Bruno Alves (36).

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal lifts the European Championship trophy after his side win 1-0 against France
Portugal celebrate their Euro 2016 triumph (Image: Getty)
Portugal boss Fernando Santos (Image: Matthias Hangst)

The big question regards whether Ronaldo can shine on the world stage and light up the major finals with his goalscoring; dumped out at the group stage in 2014, he has a much stronger support cast backing him up this time. Andre Silva has proven an excellent foil also, but has endured a difficult season at AC Milan after a big-money move.

Their opener against Spain offers an early test, but they’ll expect to get past Morocco and Iran, before heading into the knockout stages…a road they proved two years ago that they know how to travel.

 

Form guide

The Seleccao lost their opening World Cup qualifier in Switzerland, but won the following nine – including a must-win decider against the previously unbeaten Swiss – to book their finals spot.

That initial defeat to the Swiss apart, Portugal have lost just one friendly in the past 18 months – 3-2 at home to Sweden last March – while they finished third in the Confederations Cup last summer, having been beaten on penalties by Chile in the semi-final.

 

Star player

Cristiano Ronaldo

As crucial as ever (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Cristiano Ronaldo remains absolutely pivotal to the Seleccao, their biggest star and chief supplier of goals.

He doesn’t run down the flank as much as he did in his youth, and the step-overs are far more infrequent, but there simply isn’t a better big-game goalscorer on the planet.

His relationship with pragmatic coach Fernando Santos remains crucial, and this is, almost certainly, his last chance to win a World Cup.

 

Rising Star

Bernardo Silva

Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring against Arsenal in March (Image: Shaun Botterill)

The former Benfica and Monaco playmaker Bernardo Silva experienced a slow start to his Manchester City career due to injury and the form of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, but the fleet-footed star has become increasingly important at the Etihad.

Extremely skillful, clever with his use of the ball and cutting in the final third, the 23-year-old missed out on Euro 2016 due to injury; he’ll be looking to make up for lost time in Russia.

How they qualified Winners of European Group B ahead of Switzerland 

Preferred system 4-4-2

Star player Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

One to watch Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Manager Fernando Santos

Odds 20-1

Head 2 Head

Iran & Portugal met twice. The first meeting in Brazil was 36 years ago in Brazil Centenary tournament. Portugal was one of the best teams in the World at that time with the great Eusebio leading the attack. Iran was the top team in Asia but with an aging golden generation players such as Kalani, Iranpak, Halvaei and Arab.

The next meeting was in the World Cup 2006,where the  two teams have met in the group stage. It was a tough match for both team. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the only survivor from that match. He also scored a goal against Mirzapour. Portugal included two legendary players Luis Figo and Deck in that team.

Portugal had the upper hand in both the matches with 5 goals scored and none conceded.

 

Date Comp. H / A / N Final score Stadium Attendance
17.Jun.2006 FIFA World Cup / Group D N 0 – 2 Waldstadion , Frankfurt 48,000
14.Jun.1972 Brazil Independance Cup N 0 – 3 Santa Cruz Stadium, RECIFE 115,000

Opponents watch: Morocco

The Atlas Lions are roaring again. Twenty years after a heartbreaking elimination from the group stage at France ’98, the first African team to reach the last 16 are back at the World Cup. Morocco, the only African team to qualify for Russia without conceding a goal, have built their game on solid defence and hard work. The experience of Karim El Ahmadi, M’barek Boussoufa and Juventus’s Mehdi Benatia fits well with the intelligence of Hakim Ziyech and the strength of Nordin Amrabat. Hervé Renard is in charge but the advice coming from one of his assistants, Patrice Beaumelle, is vital. The former Coventry City midfielder Mustapha Hadji is also key in the setup, sharing his experiences and acting as a role model for this generation. The team’s main weakness used to be on the left but Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi has filled the gap admirably since September.

However, under the guiding hand of Herve Renard, the Atlas Lions emerged unbeaten in their six matches – without conceding a single goal and scoring 11 in the process – to book their first finals spot in 20 years.

The 42nd best side on the planet according to FIFA’s rankings, they’ll need something special to match their 1986 achievement of getting through the group stage, having been paired with Iberian duo Spain and Portugal.

But a defence marshalled by Juventus’ Medhi Benatia and Wolves’ Romain Saiss has proven itself tough to break down, while an attack containing Ajax star Hakim Ziyech and Southampton’s Sofiane Boufal is full of (albeit inconsistent) talent.

They open up against the similarly durable Iran; win that, and they could prove themselves a real nightmare for Portugal in their second game.

Herve Renard is hoping to make a splash 

Form guide

With three wins and three draws – including a 2-0 win in Ivory Coast in their must-not-lose finale – Morocco made their way to Russia, navigating a potentially tricky group.

Reached last year’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final – losing to finalists Egypt.

Star player

Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech (Image: 2017 Getty Images)

A former Netherlands Under-21 international, Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech has become an increasingly important cog in the Moroccan midfield under Renard.

Talented and strong – not unlike Spurs’ Mousa Dembele – he has flourished with the Dutch giants since moving into a deeper role.

At 25, he has 13 caps and seven goals to his name. As he enters his prime, he can make this his team.

Hakimi has impressed when called upon at the Bernabeu (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Achraf Hakimi made his senior Real Madrid debut earlier this season and has proven himself a more than able deputy for Dani Carvajal when the Spaniard has been absent.

Born in Madrid to parents of Moroccan descent, Hakimi joined Los Blancos as an eight year old and now, at 19, is beginning to make an impact.

Made his full international debut in 2016 and will vie for a place with veteran Fenerbahce full-back Nabil Dirar for a starting spot.

How they qualified Winners African Group C (round three) ahead of Ivory Coast

Preferred system 4-5-1

Star player Hakim Ziyech (Ajax)

One to watch Sofiane Boufal (Southampton)

Manager Hervé Renard

Odds 250-1

 

Head 2 Head

The two teams have not met recently. Only once previously the team played against each other that was 16 years back with different generations of footballers. That match has no bearings on the encounter in St. Petersburg

 

Date Comp. H / A / N Final score Stadium Attendance
17.Sep.2002 LG CUP H 1 – 1 Takhti Stadium ,Tabriz 20,000

AFC Asian Cup 2019 seeding

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Kuala Lumpur: The group-stage draw for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 UAE takes place on May 4. We know the identities of 24 teams and it’s time to turn our attentions to the permutations on offer.

As it stands, here is the current seeding with one nation from each pot to be drawn to make six groups of four teams, with the top two and four best third-placed teams advancing into the final 16 of the competition.

Pot 1: United Arab Emirates, Iran, Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia

Pot 2: China PR, Syria, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Qatar, Thailand

Pot 3: Krygyz Republic, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, India, Vietnam

Pot 4: DPR Korea, Philippines, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Turkmenistan

 

FIFA’s Top Ranked

IFA’s Top Ranked

IR Iran (#1), China PR (#5), Kyrgyz Republic (#6), DPR Korea (#18)

A contentious one but, according to the latest FIFA Ranking (the numbers in brackets represent their standing amongst AFC Member Associations), these five comprise the strongest possible outcome from the draw and therefore present the toughest group on paper.

Defending champions Australia surprisingly miss out due to their lower FIFA Ranking, second amongst AFC MAs.

AFC Asian Cup Wins

IR Iran (37 wins), China PR (20 wins), Oman (2 wins), Bahrain (4 wins)

Rankings are all very well, but when it comes to the history of the tournament, these five teams represent the most successful group draw in terms of matches won at the continental championship.

They are also the combination of teams with the most goals scored, with a cumulative 232 AFC Asian Cup strikes to their name.

 

Is Jahanbakhsh the next one that generates AZ millions?

With a hat-trick in his most recent game against Vitesse, Alireza Jahanbakhsh (24) not only took a giant step to the top scorer title. The Iranian is increasingly launching itself as one of the hottest transfer objects of the premier league this summer.

By Nik Kok

That is also the view of technical director Max Huiberts of AZ. In Alkmaar, the telephone does not ring for his star, but the list of foreign scouts that attends matches of the proud cup finalist rises almost every home gamel. “I would prefer Alireza to stay with us for a very long time,” says Huiberts, as does trainer John van den Brom, who voiced that desire shortly after the game against Vitesse. “I hope we can still enjoy him for a long time to enjoy.”

Unknown

If I were an interested club, I would also do business before the World Cup

Max Huiberts

But at AZ they also know well that scoring wingers like Jahanbakhsh are extremely popular. “A good winger in the league scores, in my opinion , between eight to twelve goals in a season and delivers about as many assists. Alireza is already at eighteen goals. That is really unprecedented. More than Lozano, for example, but also more than the wingers of Ajax. ”

Anyone who wants to do business at AZ next summer does not have to argue in Alkmaar that an AZ player should cost less than that of a traditional top club. If you argue that way I would say that it should be more, because here at AZ he is already able to score more than the players of those clubs. “

Who knows, there is a transfer à la Vincent Janssen ahead of Jahanbakhsh. He transfered from AZ to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2016 for more than twenty million euros. Janssen failed in London but Huiberts suspects that a transfer from Jahanbakhsh will not play any part. “Even if you had to ask those foreign clubs. Of course, I do not know exactly how they think. And I honestly do not worry too much about that. Alireza has a contract with us until the summer of 2020. “

Next summer

What may also play a part later are the performances of Jahanbakhsh at the World Cup next summer. He plays with his country Iran against, among others, Iniesta and Ronaldo. Iran is a with Spain and Portugal (and Morocco) and knows that he will be watched by the whole world in the coming summer. ” If I was an interested club, I would also do business before the World Cup “, says Huiberts with a smile.

The category of clubs that will be attractive for Jahanbakhsh will not be scared for its non-EU salary. In recent months he hinted to prefer the Bundesliga, where many of his countrymen caused a furore. It was because of Ali Daei and Vahid Hashemian that the little Jahanbakhsh once started playing football. The club that later will give him a footballer in return will be loved in the players group and adapts quickly. “Alireza comes from a completely different culture, but he has proven that he can keep his position in Europe”, says Huiberts, “But do not be fooled, he is no longer that likeable boy in the field. Her is there to win.”