Category: Training

Shojaei on Team Melli shortlist

Masoud Shojaei has already been invited to Team Melli squad for the Thailand game even before the selectors announced the full list of the team; according to local Spanish press reports. Shojaei has joined the Segunda División Las Palmas and scored on his debut after rigorous effort to find a team for himself in Spain.

Because Las Palmas is playing in the second division, the League does not have the mandatory international or FIFA day break that is normally awarded to the first division Spanish teams and players.  In anticipation, it appears that correspondences have been made between Las Palmas and FFIRI in order to release Shojaei for the 15th of October match in Azadi Stadium.

By joining Team Melli squad,  Shojaei would possibly miss two crucial matches for the mid-table club. One Copa Del Rey match against Hércules and another against Sabadell in the league.

Masoud Shojaei who had a long layoff from football lasting a season and a half due to a dogged foot injury that required a couple of operations , was one of the least productive players in Team Melli’s last three crucial matches in the FIFA 2015 World Cup qualifiers. However, the midfielder is a favorite of Carlos Queiroz regardless to his form and is assured of a place in the team, perhaps due to his experience in the La Liga.

Confident Masoud after scoring in his debut

After  so much effort to find a suitable club , Masoud Shojae has eventually ended up in  UD Las Palmasclub.  Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands  it plays in Segunda División, the lower division of the Spanish La Liga .

Masoud made his debut and score a goal in the Cop Del Rey match. This report was filed by the local paper that interviewed Masoud after his return from the main land.

 

Eduardo Lopez

Las Palmas De Gran Canaria

09.12.2013 | 23:34

 

Debut , ninety minutes goal. The flamboyant midfielder UD Las Palmas Masoud Shojaei was “very pleased” with its premiere club ‘s shirt yellow in the Copa del Rey against Sabadell island was the first victory this season . “It’s very important for a player joining  a new team and a new group to start with a goal.” the Team Melli  midfielder said.

 

The first player in the history of Iranian football to play for UD Las Palmas hopes to ” be more offensive ” this season , participating and coming closer to the opponent’s area . ” The goals I’ve gotten over the years, in Spain , I know that most have been very nice. In the end, it is  numbers that talk and if you put more is better than a goal every year ” he acknowledged .

The Iranian international was fatigued after  the flight from Barcelona returned the team to the Island, but he was confident ” I have a better view  of the team and the teammates  in the squad”. After a week in yellow jersey , Masoud said he has found ” what he was looking for ” when he joined the UD Las Palmas . “Against Numancia not much was expected,  we did not play much one- touch, tiki -taka  football.  In the match against Sabadell we were a little better. Lobera in his talks with us the players, want us to play well , with confidence. We can improve over time with more matches played, we shall  reach our optimum  level  soon “he said .

 

Masoud Shojaei training with Las Palmas
Masoud Shojaei training with Las Palmas

 

Masoud Shojaei is clear that to show his best level he needs ” minutes and games ” with which he can catch up his form . “Last year I did not compete much and I need to gain confidence . Physically, I was a bit tired in the second half against Sabadell but I know I can give much more ,” he said .

On the game next Sunday at 17:00 in the Estadio de Gran Canaria against Real Jaen, Masoud feels that “we must win” . “I do not put pressure on the team but I think we have to overcome the win last week at Giron , it is one of the best teams in the class, but we have to get points in the first round, because in the second will be more complicated, “said the ex-Osasuna footballer. Also noted that there are teams in second ” to those who like to play well.”

A whirlwind start for defending AFC Futsal Champions, Iran.

Iran Futsal teamThe defending AFC Futsal Champions, Iran has started their campaign in whirlwind style when they defeated their main rival in the group , Korea Republic by a whopping 14-1 score line.

The first match of the two powerful Asian opponents played in Al Shabab arena to a full capacity mostly Iranian fans who did not stop supporting their team from way before kickoff. Apparently, many fans were unable to gain entry due to the limited space and seats available at this venue.

The first half ended with a 6-0 score line for Team Melli , but the floodgates really opened a few minutes into the second half.  Iran displayed some fantastic  team world and wonderful goals to keep the crowd entertained through the match.

Midway through the second half, Iran’s coach played virtually the reserve team , but that did not stop the Iranians notching goals one after another.

The irony of this match was that the Korean were quite strong and opponents who did not give up at any stage. Perhaps the gamble taken by the coach in playing the goalkeeper as a field player was behind the large number of late goals conceded in the second half , but apart form that the Koreans were  simply overpowered  by their nemesis the Iranians who were excellent in individual skills and teamwork.

Another odd occurrence was the failure of the world’s top futsal scorer Vahid Shamsaei and the Captain of the team , to score.

Iran will play Qatar , who lost their first match 3-1 , on Saturday before finishing their group  matches against Australia on Sunday.

 

Lineups

I.R. IRAN

4              DF           MOHAMMAD KESHAVARZ NASRABADI 23

7              MF         ALI ASGHAR HASSANZADEH         12,  33

9              FW         SHAMSAEE VAHID (C)

10           FP           TAHERI MOHAMMAD    11

12           GK          MOSTAFA NAZARI

Substitutes

1              GK          ALI REZA SAMIMI

5              DF           HAMID AHMADI

6              MF         JAVAD ASGHARIMOGHADDAM                29,  39

11           DF           MAJID LATIFI

14           FW         MAHDI JAVID    15,  17  27

15           MF         HOSSEIN TAYEBI               31

17           MF         AHMAD ESMAEILPOUR                  7

 

ALI  SANEI ARANI (Head Coach)