Tag: Argentina

Only 4,350 tickets sold to Iranians for 3 World Cup matches!

Marketing committee of the Football Federation announced that only 4,350 tickets has been sold for Iran matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup so far. The figures are from the official source of online ticket purchase system by FIFA and for the 3 matches against Nigeria, Bosnia and Argentina. Mohammad Derakhshan , the committee spokesman said that of the total of 4,350 tickets 1,400 was sold for the first match against Nigeria, 1,700 for Argentina and 1,250 for the last match versus Bosnia-Herzegovina. Derkhshan noted that these figures are for the matches where the ticket buyer has registered as being an Iranian nationality or purchased from electronic addresses in Iran. "There has to be lots of dual-nationality Iranians that have purchased tickets who registered their names and tickets according to their current country such as Canada and USA" FIFA has previously announced that the Iran vs Bosnia-Herzegovina was the least sold tickets in the entire World Cup matches program.  

Iran, Bosnia in fresh plot against Eagles

By John EGBOKHAN

Two of Nigeria’s Group F opponents at the 2014 World Cup, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina have started plotting afresh for the fall of the African champions at the Mundial.

Eagles get their World Cup campaign up and running against the Iranians on June 16 in Curitiba, in a match that observers have heavily tipped the west Africans to win.

Nigeria’s next match against Bosnia and Herzegovina holds on June 21 at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, while the pick of the ties is the grudge game between the Eagles and their old World Cup nemesis Argentina on June 25 at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre.

But while the emphasis for the Eagles have been on Argentina, who are firm favourites to qualify as group winners, their other group oppositions feel that they can capitalize on Eagles’ seeming concentration on the Lionel Messi captained Argentine side.

Speaking after steering his team to a morale-boosting 5-0 spanking of South Africa’s Moroka Swallows, Iran’s coach, Carlos Queiroz said it was good for his team that the Eagles were hardly paying attention to them as the World Cup approaches swiftly, adding that he plans to turn this to his side’s advantage when they clash with Eagles on June 16.

“I think it is a good thing that Nigeria are putting their eyes on us. From my own reckoning, they seem to be talking more of Argentina, believing that they will have it easy against us. But hey will not have it easy because we are planning for them”, Queiroz told Tehran Times.

Continuing, the Portuguese trainer added that “winning the first match is always very important in a competition like the World Cup and I believe that we can surprise the Nigerians, who like I said seem to be distracted by Argentina”.

Also speaking during the week, Bosnia-Herzegovina striker, Edin Dzeko said that they were primed to defeat Eagles when both sides go to battle on June 21 in Cuiaba.

“We are not taking any game lightly at the World Cup. It is going to be total war against all our opponents. Iran are good but we can handle them. I think the game against Nigeria is the key to qualifying and we are working hard to get the victory”, said the Manchester City forward.

 

Kenwyne Jones

Trinidad already thinking about Argentina, Iran

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago -- Trinidad & Tobago head coach Stephen Hart has already trained his sights on international friendlies against Word Cup-bound teams Argentina and Iran on June 4 and June 8, respectively. Despite the magnitude of the task facing the Soca Warriors, Hart believes the two games present a wonderful opportunity for the national side top gauge its development. “We are going into games against two international teams that are going to be fully prepared for the World Cup,” said Hart.  “It’s both teams’ last games before they enter the World Cup so you have to have realistic expectations and approach. “As far as I am concerned, the players have to understand that they are going into these games purely as a measurement of where we are at and where we need to be if you are going to play on the world stage.” The Trinidadians have not played since November of last year, when it defeated Jamaica twice in the span of five days without conceding a goal. Facing Argentina on its home turf, though, poses an entirely different set of challenges. “Arguably, you are going to play one of the favorites (Argentina) to win the World Cup, which in itself, playing them at home is a very comfortable situation for them and an uncomfortable situation for us,” Hart noted.  “But I think that is a healthy situation because as we build for the future, you have a potential scenario of qualification that you have to play a set amount of games away from home.” With the actual squad not expected to be chosen until late May, Hart is well aware that preparation for the fixtures would be crucial. “We haven’t played since November, so now we have to try and gather the team to make sure we are prepared to play against Argentina,” the 54-year-old explained.  “I would like ideally to have about ten days with the players, but we have to look at the fact that some players will still be playing in their leagues and others will be off for a quite awhile, which means we have to address their standards and basically get the team in some sort of preparation mode hopefully with an international game before Argentina.” Trinidad, which advanced to the quarterfinals of last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, is currently the number one ranked team in the Caribbean Football Union and is 76th in the FIFA rankings.

'We'll attack to get to World Cup last 16'

Bosnia-Herzegovina will stick to the formula that got them to the World Cup finals in Brazil and attack their rivals in a bid to get out of their qualifying group, coach Safet Susic said on Tuesday. The Bosnians, for whom Brazil is their first major tournament as an independent nation, scored 30 goals in 10 qualifiers and former Yugoslavia forward Susic believes their attacking approach is the best way to get out of Group F against Argentina, Nigeria and Iran. "We will play the way we have always played because it would be wrong to change our approach now, although we are aware that our style may be a tactical gamble," Susic told the national team's official website (www.reprezentacija.ba). "When you have players like (Miralem) Pjanic, (Zvjezdan) Misimovic, (Edin) Dzeko and (Vedad) Ibisevic, it would be unfair to the game itself and the fans not to unleash all that talent." The Bosnians open their campaign against Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on 15 June, then meet Nigeria in Cuiaba on 21 June and lock horns with Iran in Salvador four days later. Having lost 2-0 to the Argentines in a friendly in November, Susic conceded the former double World Cup winners were strong favourites to win the group, but was also confident that Bosnia would join them in the tournament's knockout stages. "Argentina are by far the best team in the group and will probably clinch it, but I think we have a realistic chance of going through with them because Nigeria and Iran are not better than us," he said. "I honestly believe we have the quality to reach the last 16 and that is our objective in the World Cup."

Under Portuguese direction and modest ideals

Translated form the original article in Portuguese POSTED ON 14/04/14 - 3:00 a.m.
VICTOR MARTINS
www.otempo.com.br

Asian team is led by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz; in 2010 he coached Portugal

After three tries and three falls in the first phase of the competition, Iran hopes to do differently in 2014. To compete in the World Cup in Brazil, the Asian team includes coach who speaks Portuguese. Carlos Queiroz is born in Portugal and experiencing his second World Cup, although already he qualified three teams for the tournament. After qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan as the head coach of South Africa , he was fired just before the tournament because of a dispute. With Portugal in 2010, Queiroz was eliminated in the quarter-finals to the eventual winners Spain. Now, the coach knows that the mission with Iran will not be easy.
"Iran will not be going  sightseeing, we will play our games with great competence, class and passion." Carlos Queiroz
  Many would have  complained of having Argentina in the same group, except for the Portuguese coach, who celebrated the fact that his players will face major players. Winning against Bosnia-Hezergóvina and Nigeria is possible and therefore Iran will engage. "For us it is fantastic, wonderful. We came to play with the best in the world and we are together with Argentina, we could  not ask for more? We will fight to qualify for the second round. Will it be easy? Not very difficult, but it is in our hands to work to play competently and worthy matches, "said Queiroz. Iran team has the will & the commitment, although Iran will have a hard time overcoming the other two group opponents. Especially for not having so many players playing in international football, as has Bosnia and Nigeria. In 1998 the only victory of Iran in the World Cup occurred against the United States, a great political enemy, what the history wants now,  is to get a chance to rank with the quarter-final in the last round. Facing Bosnia, June 25, in Salvador, and chance of ranking is everything you'd expect the Iranian people to dream of.

Group 'F' analysis by FIFA

fifa.com Group F will feature one match that has become something of a classic fixture of and five that have never been played on the big stage before, part of the reason for which is because Bosnia-Herzegovina are making their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup™, while Iran have only ever faced their group rivals in friendlies. As for Argentina and Nigeria, the other two combatants in the group, there is not much they do not know about each other. Their meeting next June will be the latest instalment in an exciting rivalry between the two sides, led by Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel, who have faced off three times in major competitions at different age levels: the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005, the gold medal match at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 and in the group phase at South Africa 2010. On all three occasions Argentina won. The teams There is not much that has not already been said about two-time world champions Argentina or for that matter about Messi, who will renew his bid to lift the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy. Alejandro Sabella’s men are the favourites to top a group in which reigning African champions Nigeria will be aiming to make the experience they have acquired on their four previous appearances count. Meanwhile, Bosnia will be out to replicate the entertaining brand of football that made them the fourth-highest scorers in the European qualifiers, and Iran, coached by Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz will hope to combine solid organisation with the technical attributes they have long been known for. Players to watch Lionel Messi, (ARG), Sergio Aguero (ARG), Gonzalo Higuain (ARG), John Obi Mikel (NGA), Victor Moses (NGA), Victor Obinna (NGA), Edin Dzeko (BIH), Vedad Ibisevic (BIH), Miralem Pjanic (BIH), Reza Ghoochannejhad (IRN), Javad Nekounam (IRN), Karim Ansari (IRN). The crunch match Bosnia-Nigeria: in a section that most people will expect Argentina to win, games such as this one will be crucial in deciding who goes through to the last 16. The European side will have the challenge of performing in circumstances that will be entirely new to them, while the Nigerians will be eyeing the chance to reach the knockout phase for the first time since France 1998. A look back Argentina 2-1 Nigeria, 25 June 1994, Boston This game, which will forever be remembered as Diego Armando Maradona’s last match for his country, pitted an Argentina side packed with stars such as El Diez, Claudio Caniggia, Fernando Redondo and Gabriel Batistuta against a Nigeria team very much on the up and up and featuring the likes of Rashidi Yekini, Finidi George and Emmanuel Amunike. The Africans took a surprise early lead through Samson Siasia, only for the wily Caniggia to turn the game around with a typically predatory double. The blond-haired striker’s cry of “Diego, Diego”, imploring Maradona to play the pass that would lead to his second goal, is an iconic moment for Argentina fans. Did you know? Bosnia-Herzegovina, who played their first official match as an independent national team in November 1995, came close to making their World Cup debut at South Africa 2010 but lost out in the play-offs to Portugal. Twenty-four of their 26 most regularly selected players ply their trade outside the country. The stat 36 - The number of years since Argentina and Iran met for the first and only time to date. That match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, took place in Madrid on 22 March 1977 and formed part of Real Madrid’s 75th anniversary celebrations. One year later La Albiceleste won their maiden World Cup title on home soil in a competition that marked the Asian side’s world finals debut.     The tweet  
En un Mundial ningún partido es fácil pero con esfuerzo y trabajo siempre hay recompensa. Vamos Argentina!!!
  In a World Cup match is no easy job but there is always effort and reward. Come on Argentina! Sergio Aguero, Argentina

Belo Horizonte avoids World Cup delays.

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Belo Horizonte was one of the first Brazilian cities to be ready for the World Cup, avoiding the delays that marked the preparations of nearly all other host cities. Matches will be played at the renovated Mineirao Stadium, one of Brazil's most revered football venues. It was inaugurated in December 2012, and was one of the two (along with Fortaleza's Castelao Stadium) not to miss FIFA's deadline for the Confederations Cup. The venue was used in the semifinals of the World Cup warm-up tournament, when Brazil beat Uruguay to stay on track to eventually win the title. The Mineirao will seat more than 62,000 fans and will host four group matches: Colombia vs. Greece on June 14; Belgium vs. Algeria on June 17; Argentina vs. Iran on June 21; and Costa Rica vs. England on June 24. It will also host a match in the round of 16 on June 28, possibly with Brazil playing, and a semifinal match on July 8. The southeastern city, which is also home to the training camps of Argentina and Chile, is filled with football tradition, fueled by the rivalry between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro, two of the country's most successful clubs.

Nigerian Onazi: Eagles Can Go All The Way In Brazil

 
SS Lazio of Italy midfielder Ogenyi Onazi is confident the Super Eagles can go all the way in Brazil at the FIFA World Cup if the players have self belief.Onazi says the Super Eagles must also be totally focussed on the job at hand instead of concentrating on particular teams, warning that all the qualified teams have the chance to win the trophy. ''No matter how small, we have to accept the fact that all the countries who have qualified to play at the World Cup do have some a chance. Football is an interesting and dicey game. We have to go out with the belief that we can do it,'' Onazi said in an interview with mtnfootball. Onazi is however not worried about playing Argentina who have beaten the Super Eagles three times in three clashes and prefers not to think about how the team prepares for the tournament instead of the competition proper. ''We are going to take it one game at a time. For now, we have some preparatory matches to look forward to before the World Cup. When we get to Brazil, we will worry about Iran, Bosnia and Argentina in that order.'' On if he sees the Super Eagles ending their winless streak against Argentina,Onazi says Eagles must not pay too much attention to the game. ''Like I said, we won't play Argentina until we are done with both Iran and Bosnia. We have to avoid concentrating on one team alone and forget others that we will even face before Argentina. No doubt, Argentina are a big team and they are favourites, but that's where it ends.'' [divider] Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama believes that their first two games against Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup would determine how far they would go. Enyeama who will be making his third appearance at the FIFA World Cup for Nigeria,said that they will not underrate the two teams at the tournament. Nigeria is in group F and would play their first game against Iran in Curitiba,before subsequent games against Bosnia-Herzegovina,then Argentina. “Whether Iran, Bosnia and Argentina these are no easy games. All these nations we are facing,are also serious about getting results. But we will see how it goes with the Super Eagles, we will do all our best to progress from the group,” said Enyeama who has this season been the undisputed number one keeper for his clubside,Lille FC. Enyeama equally noted that he would even want to play against France in the second round of the World Cup. “I hope of course that we can pass the group stage. And who knows, meet France in the second round,” said Enyeama who was speaking before his side's trip to AS Monaco  

Friendly matches announced for Team Melli

Team Melli will be playing against Belarus and Montenegro during the European camp on may 2014. As part of the preparation for the FIFA World Cup , Carlos Queiroz will be taking Team Melli squad to Europe , most probably a camp in Austria, which would last for two weeks. During this training camp , two friendly matches have been arranged with East European teams, Belarus and Montenegro. After the completion of the European camp , Team Melli will continue the preparation program in Tehran where a another friendly match is scheduled on the 31st of May. The opponents will be an African country , either Angola or South Africa. Thus Team Melli would have played with teams that are tactically and physically close to two opponents in the Group F, Nigeria and Bosnia. Iran will still be looking for a Latin American team to play a friendly match against to gauge its capabilities with Argentina in mind. Such opponent team might be available when Team Melli sets camp in Brazil , early in June. At the moment, 8th of June 2014 is booked for a match against Montenegro in Brazil, however the opponent might change to a South American team pending negotiations.  

Team Melli Training Camp matches.

18th May 2014 vs Belarus in Europe (Austria) 26th May 2014 vs Montenegro in Europe (Austria) 31st May 2014 vs Angola or South Africa @ Azadi 8th June 2014 vs Montenegro in Brazil    

Team Melli maintains top Asian ranking.

In the latest FIFA Ranking , Iran maintained its position as the Top Asian team ahead of Japan an Korea Rep. , despite dropping one position to 34th in the world. Romania is in 33rd rank while Cape Verde Islands is only below Iran. Nigeria who is in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2014 has dropped 4 positions and lies in 41 position below Iran. The other teams in the group Argentina and Bosnia have maintained in their position 2 and 19 respectively.
Rank Team Pts +/- Pos
31 Egypt 748 10 Up
32 Costa Rica 743 -1 Down
33 Romania 734 -1 Down
34 Iran 727 -1 Down
35 Cape Verde Islands 726 4 Up
36 Panama 722 2 Up
37 Scotland 717 -3 Down
38 Armenia 716 -3 Down
39 Venezuela 715 -3 Down
40 Mali 703 5 Up
41 Nigeria 701 -4 Down
42 Peru 698 -3 Down
 

Asian Ranking

Last Updated 16 Jan 2014 m Next Release 13 Feb 2014
Jan 2014
Rank Zone Rank Team Pts +/- Pos
34 1 Iran 727 -1 Down
48 2 Japan 641 -1 Down
53 3 Korea Republic 581 1 Up
56 4 Australia 571 2 Up
63 5 United Arab Emirates 548 8 Up
65 6 Uzbekistan 546 3 Up
72 7 Jordan 504 -7 Down
73 8 Saudi Arabia 487 14 Up
79 9 Oman 440 6 Up
92 10 China PR 376 0 Equal