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IRAN is looking to improve their standing in the group by beating their stubborn and resolute northern neighbors in the FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers match to be held in Azadi on Thursday.
After their disappointing draw at the start of the competition against Turkmenistan, Team Melli is determined to make amends and grab all the 3 points at home. Turkmenistan itself is still in the running with a chance to qualify and genuinely believe that their team has as good chance as both Oman and Iran to book a ticket to the next round. A win in Tehran, although not a guarantee for qualification, will ensure Turkmenistan stands firm in the table and look forward to get the maximum points of the home games in order to qualify.
Iran, surprisingly, never found it easy to beat Turkmenistan. Despite the huge difference in the status of the two countries football, with Iran being champion at all levels with historic achievements, Turkmenistan has not reached anywhere near what Iran has achieved. Yet , all that aside, the Turkmen have always put up a good fight against the Persians as if it is a matter of national pride. The last time the two teams met in Turkmenistan, the host could have come out as winners after starting poorly and conceding an early goal by Sardar Azmoun.
Although Team Melli played well that day and started very strongly, the performance faded away as the match went on. As a result of that , the defence line were caught napping right at the stroke of half time as Ruslan Mingazov punished Iran when he scored passed the hapless Haghighi. The goal was due to poor marking and feeble goalkeeping. It was a disappointing draw for Team Melli. This time Queiroz is determined to change the game plan and take advantage of the home crowd support to go forward with sustain offensive pressure while limiting the guest team’s infiltration into the Iranian box. The game plan is dependent on a strong showing by the midfield feeding the front line while the flanks causing disturbances through those crosses for the forwards.
The absence of Sardar Azmoun is disappointing, however, Reza Ghoochannejad and Karim Ansarifard are back in the squad and should be more than capable to fill the gap left by Azamoun’s absence. Despite Ansarifard’s disappointing season and lack of playing time in Spain, he is a capable forward who can easily bounce back. Ansarifard is enjoying playing football in the Greek league and could turn out to be a game changer given a chance against Turkmenistan.
Team Melli must get it right this time against the tough Turkmen team, a slip up will be costly.
No major changes in the team is expected apart from the non-availability of the 3 injured players.
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[tab title=”Ranking”]
FIFA Rankings
Iran: 43
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Turkmenistan: 121
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Form Guide
FIFA World Cup 2018
Asian Zone Qualifiers
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Iran: W-D-W-D-W
TURKMENISTAN – IRAN 
IRAN – GUAM 
INDIA – IRAN 
OMAN – IRAN 
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Turkmenistan: W–W–L-D-L
GUAM – TURKMENISTAN TURKMENISTAN – IRAN OMAN – TURKMENISTAN TURKMENISTAN – INDIA TURKMENISTAN — GUAM [/tab]
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Head-to-head record
Dead Even between the two teams.
| Date | Comp. | H / A / N | Final score | Stadium | Attendance |
| 16.06.2015 | World Cup Qualifier | A | 1 – 1 | Garaşsyzlyk Stadium , Dashoguz | 10000 |
| 25.11.1996 | Friendly | H | 0 – 1 | Azadi – Tehran | 15000 |
| 28.04.1996 | Friendly | A | 0 – 1 | Ishq Abad | 30000 |
| 26.04.1996 | Friendly | A | 1 – 1 | Ishq Abad | 10000 |
| 05.10.1994 | Asian Games | N | 1 – 1 | Hiroshima | 7000 |
| 14.06.1993 | ACO Cup | H | 2 – 1 | Azadi – Tehran | 15000 |
| 08.06.1993 | ACO Cup | H | 2 – 1 | Azadi – Tehran | 15000 |
| IRAN | TURKMENISTAN | ||
| P | 7 | 7 | |
| W | 2 | 2 | |
| D | 3 | 3 | |
| L | 2 | 2 | |
| GF | 7 | 7 | |
| GA | 7 | 7 | |
| GD | 0 | 0 | |
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IRAN
THE SQUAD
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TURKMENSITAN
Goalkeepers:
- Mämmet Orazmuhammedow – «Altyn Asyr»
- Sergeý Kuznesow – «Aşgabat»
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Defense
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- Serdar Annaorazow – «Altyn Asyr»
- Bahtiýar Hojaahmedow – «Altyn Asyr»
- Şöhrat Söyünow – «Altyn Asyr»
- Mekan Saparow – «Balkan»
- Ýagmyrmyrat Annamyradow – «Balkan»
- Zafar Babajanow – «Ahal»
- Akmyrat Jumanazarow – HTTU
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Midfielders:
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- Ahmet Ataýew – «Altyn Asyr»
- Umidjan Astanow – «Altyn Asyr»
- Guwanç Abylow – «Hazyna»
- Suleýman Orazow – «Ahal»
- Amir Gurbani – «Balkan»
- Serdar Geldiýew – «Altyn Asyr»
- Arslanmyrat Amanow – «Almalyk» (Uzbekistan)
- Suleýman Muhadow – «Altyn Asyr»
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Forwards
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- Serdarali Ataýew – «Balkan»
- Didar Durdyýew – «Hazyna»
- Berdi Şamyradow – «Aşgabat»
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[tab title=”Coaches”]
Coaches
Iran: Carlos QUEIROZ
Despite his almost regular battles with everyone around, Queiroz remains focused on Team Melli and has enjoyed the support of his players. The fan’s support seems to be fluctuating and if the attendances at Azadi is a thermometer for the team and the coach ,then it is disappointing. Queiroz has taken Iran to the World Cup finals in 2014 and the Asian Cup 2015 but did not manage to guide the team beyond the first round in Brazil while loosing in a penalty shootout against Iraq in the Asian Cup quarter finals.
Queiroz seems to be well versed with his player’s abilities and has given the team a boost in selecting young and aspiring players after the Asian Cup 2014. Queiroz has a tendency to stick to names rather than performance. The two major shortcomings in this capable coach is, technically where he seems to be unable of turning a bad team performance around as witnessed in the Turkmenistan and Oman matches, while behavior wise, his outbursts and demeanour could be unsettling to the players on the pitch.
In all, Carlos Queiroz has what it takes to win this match.
Turkmenistan: Amangylych KOCHUMOV
This local coach has enjoyed success at juniors level. He was the coach of the U-16 team to nearly 10 years. Under the coaching of Koçumow in the International Youth Games of the CIS and Baltic States in 2002 in Moscow, he guided Turkmenistan, into the quarter finals. It was considered as an achievement and Koçumow was appointed as head coach of Turkmenistan national team.
He does not lack any confidence and is tactically an astute coach. He believes in solid defense from the days of his Soviet playing years. He has built Turkmenistan around that philosophy and thus it has worked for him as the opponents find penetrating that Turkmen defence to be hard.
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| Officials |
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Referee: KIM Dong Jin (KOR) |
| Assistant Referee 1: CHOI Min Byoung (KOR) |
| Assistant Referee 2: BANG Gi Yeol (KOR) |
| Fourth Official: Aziz ASIMOV (UZB) |
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