Iran

Asian Cup 2011 Teams: Iran

Road to Qatar


Iran Copyright © Soccerphile	Iran Copyright © Soccerphile

Drawn against South-East Asian easybeats Thailand and Singapore, Three times Asian Cup-winners Iran were expected to dominate a group which also featured fellow Middle-Eastern side Jordan.

Team Melli started with a 6-0 thrashing of a hapless Singapore but were then surprisingly held to a scoreless draw by Thailand.

A tense 1-0 win over Jordan in Tehran only came courtesy of a late goal from star midfielder Javad Nekounam, but Iran went on to lose the return leg in Amman.

However, another easy win over Singapore and a final group stage victory over Thailand saw Iran top the group at the expense of runners-up Jordan in what was ultimately a fairly straightforward group.

Fixtures

Group D

Iran v Iraq; 11 January 2011, Al-Rayyan, Doha

Iran v North Korea; 15 January 2011, Qatar Sports Club, Doha

Iran v UAE; 19 January 2011, Al-Rayyan, Doha

Analysis

It's been 35 years since Iran last won the Asian Cup, and fans of one of Asia's most fanatically backed sides are growing increasingly impatient with each passing tournament.

Nevertheless Iran have been in poor form going into the finals, and coach Afshin Ghotbi needs to find a way to get his team scoring in Qatar, particularly with Iran handed a difficult draw.

Ghotbi's side start their tournament against defending champions Iraq, and things don't get much easier as the Iranians take on World Cup participants North Korea, before lining up against a United Arab Emirates side hoping to impress in nearby Qatar.

Key player: Javad Nekounam

He's played more games and scored more goals than any other player in the squad, so it's no surprise Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekounam remains the talisman of the Iranian team.

Crucial goals in qualifying suggest the 30-year-old still has what it takes to perform on the international stage, and Iran will lean heavily on his overall experience and uncanny ability to score from midfield.

One to watch: Gholamrez Rezaei

Goal scoring has been a problem of late, and coach Ghotbi will hope 26-year-old Persepolis striker Gholamrez Rezaei can provide some answers.

The pacy attacking talent has endured a peripatetic club career, but he's starting to find his feet in Iranian colours and could hold the key to Team Melli's striking fortunes.

Coach: Afshin Ghotbi

A controversial figure in Iran, the Shiraz-born but American educated Afshin Ghotbi has already announced he will step down to take charge of J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse after the Asian Cup. Ghotbi has endured mixed results as Iran coach, and while failure to steer Team Melli to the World Cup was tolerated - Ghotbi only came on board midway through the qualifying campaign - poor results in recent friendlies have placed pressure on the Iranian tactician going into the tournament.

Record

1968: Champions, 1972; Champions; 1976; Champions, 2000: Quarter-finalists, 2004, Semi-finalists, 2007: Quarter-finalists

Soccerphile says

Despite not going into the tournament in form, regional powerhouses Iran should not be written off as potential dark horses for the title. Weight of expectation has often counted against Team Melli, but with coach Ghotbi departing at the end of the tournament and many critics already writing off their chances, Iran could prove an unpredictable force should they qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Mehdi Rahmati (Sepahan), Ebrahim Mirzapour (Paykan), Shahab Gordan (Zob Ahan)
Defenders: Khosro Heydari (Sepahan), Farshid Talebi (Zob Ahan), Jalal Hosseini (Sepahan), Hadi Aghili (Sepahan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Abouzar Rahimi (Rah Ahan), Mohammad Nosrati (Tractor Sazi)
Midfielders: Javad Nekounam (Osasuna), Masoud Shojaei (Osasuna), Andranik Teymourian (Tractor Sazi), Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan), Mohammad Nouri (Persepolis), Pejman Nouri (Malavan), Iman Mobali (Esteghlal)
Forwards: Gholamreza Rezaei (Persepolis), Mohammad Reza Khalatbari (Zob Ahan), Karim Ansarifard (Saipa), Reza Norouzi (Foolad), Mohammad Gholami (Steel Azin) Arash Afshin (Foolad)

The winner of the Asian Cup takes part in the Confederations Cup.

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