Carlos Queiroz responding to some reporters query about the status of players not picked for the World Cup campaign, said “I have no personal issues with Mehdi Rahmati (Esteghlal Goalkeeper) , in fact I have lots of respect for him. He was one of the players in the squad and helped us reach the World Cup. I will not tolerate people talking badly about him in front of me. My decision to pick the players is purely technical and based on merits. At the moment , I have the best 3 goalkeepers in the squad, Ahmadi , Davari and Haghighi and my priorities is with them. If I continue with Iran after the World Cup . I have no problem selecting Mehdi Rahmati for the Team Again.”
“About Ali Karimi, he is one of the best Iranian football players who decided to bid farewell to Team Melli. He then changed his mind and wanted to be back . Personally , I like his style as he is one of the skilful players. I have a lot of respect for him and let us not forget that he also helped us in the reaching the world cup. I liked to have more players on the roster if I could, but…”
If the list of best goalkeeper in Iran includes Daniel Davari and Alireza Haghighi, discounting Mehdi Rahmati, is truly difficult to digest, in fact it is injustice. If the issue with Rahmati is disciplinary, then Queiroz has the full right to keep him off the list, but for the Portuguese coach to exclude Rahmati based on merits and ability, despite his occasional blunders, is purely deceptive and blatant twisting of facts. Rahmati , by far, is more experienced and in a higher class than the two reserve keepers. Similarly with exclusion of Karimi. Queiroz is raving about the Tractorsazi player’s skill and talent and calling him one of the best, which would have been an accurate statement a few years back, but as of today, Karimi is not as hot as Queiroz claims. Then again, if he ( Karimi ) is one of the best players in Iran according to Queiroz , and we give the coach the benefit of the doubt on that, then why he is not in the list?
Questions about Queiroz players’ selection has been making the rounds in football circles in Iran since the long anticipated list was announced. The rumors were strong that the lobbying behind the scenes, will work towards including the outcasts, likes Ali Karimi and Mehdi Rahmati. Queiroz stood his grounds about the two. But his reasoning is suspect and discrepancies exists which will further fuel the discussions about Queiroz motives. Notwithstanding these niggling criticisms, the majority must agree that this list produced by the Portuguese coach , is the best that Iran can produce. Individual exclusions like Karimi and Rahmati , plus that of Payam Sadeghian who has started to make waves and being hostile , should not dent the ability and the prospects of Team Melli in the World Cup.