Team Melli landed in Bengaluru (Bangalore) this morning following a few hours transit in Dubai airport.

This flight was one of the most trouble-free trips that Team Melli has enjoyed for a long time. From Queiroz being denied exit from Iran due to non-payment of income tax all the way to the last trip to Uzbekistan then Turkmenistan where the chartered flight was delayed creating a stressful condition on the squad, Team Melli has endured much difficulties in their travels recently.

It is expected that Queiroz will gather the team for light training as soon as the squad checks into the hotel. The match against India as part of the qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2018 on the 8th will be the first time the two  countries have met in 23 years since May 1992 where Iran defeated India 3-0 in Calcutta in the Asian Cup Qualifiers.

The rejuvenated Team Melli is in high spirit after routing Guam, the group leader , 6-0 in Azadi on Thursday. The Team line up against Guam had a good mix of senior players like Hosseini , Montazerri, Dejagah and Teymourian while the rest were young players or newly inducted players. This is far cry form the two squads in the World Cup 2014 and the Asian Cup 2015 which basically was the same team consisting of senior or aged players who have passed their best and their displays were found wanting by the fans and the media.

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