Yugoslavia, Iran clash in battle of pariahs

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (Jun 12, 1998 - 20:57 EDT) -- Yugoslavia, tapped as a potential World Cup winner, opens its campaign against Iran here on Sunday in a clash with much more than sporting significance for two countries regarded as pariahs by much of the world.

For the talented Yugoslavs, the group F match represents a return to what they see as their rightful place at football's top table after six years in the international wilderness because of sanctions imposed over President Slobodan Milosevic's role in promoting war and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.

For Iran, playing in the finals for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, appearing in France represents another step out of the isolation that has helped sustain the rule of hard-line clerics. Having booked their tickets to France at the last-minute in an upset play- off win over Australia, the Iranians seem already resigned to the prospect of going home without a single point.

"Of course, we want to win every game, but what is more important is that we play to our full ability," coach Jalal Talebi said. The Yugoslavs, in contrast, exude a confidence born of the knowledge that they can call on some of Europe's most technically-gifted players.

A campaign that finishes anywhere short of the quarterfinals will be regarded by Yugoslavia as a failure. The prospect of being surprised by Iran has simply not entered its consciousness. "We are not underestimating Iran, but we know we are definitely a better team than them," said Savo Milosevic, the former Aston Villa striker. It may sound arrogant. But a quick glance at the Yugoslav squad list reveals a solid basis for self-confidence. How many other teams can call on two players who have single-handedly won the European Cup for their clubs?

Predrag Mijatovic did it for Real Madrid this year with the stunning strike that killed off Juventus. In 1994, it was Dejan Savicevic's virtuoso performance for AC Milan that tore Barcelona to shreds in the highest-quality club match of the modern era. 

For Savicevic, now 32 and with his peak years having passed in the period in which Yugoslavia was banned from international sport, this World Cup represents probably his last chance to shine on the international stage. It is a motivating factor that he shares with many other members of a squad that has pledged to play every match like a World Cup final to help distract their countrymen from the miseries of life under Milosevic's rule. 

Coach Slobodan Santrac is not expected to risk Savicevic in the opening encounter. The Montenegran midfielder in still  recovering from an injury to the ligaments in his left knee, and he is likely to be kept back for the more testing matches to come against Germany and the United States. Iran's biggest worry is over experienced keeper Ahmad-Reza Abedzadeh, who has not fully recuperated after a recent knee operation. Abedzadeh's two deputies are both extremely short on international competition. Talebi bluntly admits that he does not relish the prospect of them being thrown in against the Yugoslavs.

 The Iranians, who go to prayer four times a day at their base south of this industrial city, have not completely given up the chance of a miracle. "On a good day, they can beat anyone in the world, but they could also lose to anyone on one of their bad days," Santrac said. "Hopefully for us, Saturday will be one of their bad days."
 

SAINT ETIENNE (Jun 14, 1998 - 14:04 EDT) - Yugoslavia's return to the world scene after six years in the wilderness got off to a rocky start as it struggled to a 1-0 win in its World Cup opener against Iran Sunday. The Yugoslavs had to wait until the 73rd minute to break the deadlock and it took a free kick to do it. Sinisa Mihajlovic's 22-meter shot curved round the wall and keeper Nima Nakisa, out of position, was helpless.

For Mihajlovic, it was the easiest of goals. The 29-year-old is famous in Italy, where his free kicks have won a string of matches for Sampdoria. Twelve of his 13 goals in the Serie A have come from free kicks and this season alone he has scored three times, hit the post 10 times and created eight goals. But Yugoslavia, which calls itself the Brazil of Europe, showed little South American skills as it came up against a determined Iran playing in its first finals since the 1979 Islamic revolution. 

The Iranians, who qualified by beating Australia in a playoff, refused to be awed by Yugoslavia and nearly took the lead after only nine minutes when a dangerous corner fired over by Javad Zarincheh was nearly deflected in the Yugoslav goal by defender Goran Djorovic as he tried to flick it away for a corner. Iran packed the midfield, making it difficult for the Yugoslavs to play up the middle.Yugoslavia finally threatened the Iranian goal after Nakisa and defender Mohammad Khakpour got in a mix-up over who should collect a half-hit shot by Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic that was going wide. 

The two Iranians crashed into each other and the ball went over for a corner. From the corner Goran Djorovic rose high above the Iranian defense only to see his header crash back off the cross bar. The 31-year-old midfielder Hamid Estili managed to kick the loose ball away. Iran continued to press forward and 20-year-old Mehdi Mahdavikia, the youngest player in the squad, fired in a low hard shot from the edge of the area that brought the best out of Ivica Kralj. Growing with confidence the best chance of the half fell to Mehrdad Minavand Chal who slipped his marker on the left and burst into the box but his shot from 10 meters crashed into the side netting.

 A minute later Ali Daei turned and fired in a first time shot but Kralj was well positioned. Even after the restart Yugoslavia struggled to find a way through the controlled Iranian defense. Instead they were reduced to finding a way over the top. Nakisa had to be quick to stop Mijatovic from scoring after a perfectly flighted ball over the Iranian defense from Slavisa Jokanovic set the 29-year- old free. Nakisa deprived Mijatovic a second time when the striker beat Mohammad Khakpour before unleashing a shot the keeper did well to palm away for a corner. With time running out Ali Daei forced a brilliant save from Kralj with a header. Before the match Yugoslavia was boasting it was the team in Group F to beat. Its opening performance did little to frighten  Germany and the United States, the two other teams in the group.

 World Cup-Iran coach vows to fight to the last

 ST ETIENNE, June 14 (Reuters) - Iran's coach Jalal Talebi said on Sunday his side would "fight to the last" despite Sunday's 1-0 World Cup defeat by Yugoslavia. "We played a fair game and did our best and there was nothing shameful in this game for us," Talebi said.

"Our mission is not finished, we have to play against the U.S. and Germany and we know they will be hard games. "Each game has a different meaning for us but we will fight to a standstill. If we are going to die, then we will die standing. We will fight to the last." Yugoslavia won thanks to a 73rd minute goal from Sinisa Mihajlovic who scored direct from a free kick from just outside the Iranian penalty area. Yugoslav coach Slobodan Santrac said he had been disappointed by his team's performance and thought they might have overtrained before the finals started. "The first half was very difficult for us and you can see that in the World Cup every game is difficult.

But it wasn't so much the tough opponents as our own weaknesses in the first half, particularly in midfield.

"We played better in the second half but I don't know the reasons why the team didn't play as well as they can. " The hard preparations we had in Switzerland took their toll and I hope we will have enough time to recover by the time we play Germany." Yugoslavia's Slavisa Jokanovic said his side had been lucky to win the group F match. "It was a very difficult game, they defended very, very tightly and it was difficult to get through. We were really lucky to get these three points," he said.

 ST ETIENNE, June 14 (Reuters) - Match statistics from Sunday's World Cup group F match between Yugoslavia and Iran at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard: Yugoslavia - Iran Goals 1 0 Shots on target 6 4 Shots off target 5 5 Corners 7 2 Fouls 11 30

Offsides 8 3 Red cards 0 0 Total yellow cards 2 0 Yugoslavia yellow cards - Zeljko Petrovic 43, Dragan Stojkovic 61 Official

attendance - 30,392

ST ETIENNE, June 14 (Reuters) - Yugoslavia's Slavisa Jokanovic said on Sunday his side had been lucky to beat Iran 1-0 in a World Cup group F match.

"It was a very difficult game, they defended very, very tightly and it was difficult to get through.

We were really lucky to get these three points," he said.  Yugoslav coach Slobodan Santrac said: "The first half was very difficult for us and you can see that in the World Cup every game is difficult.

"We played better in the second half but I don't know the reasons why the team didn't play as well as they can." Yugoslavia won thanks to a 73rd minute goal from Sinisa Mihajlovic who scored direct from a free kick from just outside the Iranianpenalty area.

ST ETIENNE, June 14 (Reuters) -

Yugoslavia beat Iran 1-0 in their World Cup group F

match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday.

Scorer: Sinisa Mihajlovic 73 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 30,392 Teams: Yugoslavia - 1-Ivica Kralj; 2-Zoran Mirkovic,

11-Sinisa Mihajlovic, 3-Goran Djorovic, 16-Zeljko Petrovic; 4-Slavisa Jokanovic, 6-Branko Brnovic (20-Dejan Stankovic 51), 10-Dragan Stojkovic (22-Darko Kovacevic 68), 7-Vladimir Jugovic; 9-Predrag Mijatovic, 17-Savo Milosevic (21-Perica Ognjenovic 59).

Iran - 12-Nima Nakisa; 4-Mohammad Khakpour, 20-Mehdi Pashazadeh, 2-Mehdi Mahdavikia, 6-Karim Bagheri, 9-Hamid Estili (7-Ali Reza Mansourian 68), 14-Nader Mohammadkhani, 17-Javad Zarrincheh, 21-Mehrdad Minavand; 10-Ali Daei, 11-Khodadad Azizi.

Referee: Alberto Tejada Noriega (Peru)

World Cup-Yugoslavia beat Iran 1-0

By Simon Evans ST ETIENNE, June 14 (Reuters) - A 73rd minute free-kick from Sinisa Mihajlovic gave Yugoslavia victory over Iran in their World Cup Group F game on Sunday. Disappointing Yugoslavia had created few chances and lacked penetration against a well-organised and determined Iranian side.

Missing Dejan Savicevic through injury, the Yugoslavs had no one to provide service to their front men and Predrag Mijatovic saw little of the ball. Midfield general Dragan Stojkovic looked out of sorts and was substituted midway through the second half.

Yugoslavia coach Slobodan Santrac threw on strikers Darko Kovacevic and Perica Ognjenovic in a bid to break down a solid Iranian defence. But it was the free-kick specialist Mihajlovic who made the difference in a closely contested game. His curling left footed drive from 25 metres deceived Iranian keeper Nima Nakisa who watched helplessly as the ball sped past him.

 Mijatovic almost made it two in the 81st minute when he forced a good save out of Nakisa after being put through by Ognjenovic. The Iranians had few chances in a scrappy second period but Ali Daei could have done better five minutes from time when he headed straight at Yugoslav keeper Ivica Kralj.  Their best chance came in the first half when Mehrdad Minavand was put clear on the left but shot wide from 14 metres when he should have hit the target.

ST ETIENNE, June 14 (Reuters) - Iran had the better of the first half in their World Cup Group F game with Yugoslavia on Sunday.

A greasy surface made life difficult for two sides who like to play a short passing game, but the Iranians looked calm and disciplined with Karim Bagheri impressive in midfield. Yugoslavia came close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes when a Goran Djorovic header from a Dragan Stojkovic corner clipped the crossbar. Iran had their first serious effort on goal in the 24th minute when Mehdi Mahdavikia's skidding 20-metre drive forced a good save out of Yugoslav keeper Ivica Kralj.

Their best chance came in the 38th minute when Mehrdad Minavand Chal was put clear on the left but he shot wide from 15 metres when he should have hit the target.  Iran visibly grew in confidence as the half progressed with strike pairing Ali Daei and Khodadad Azizi looking increasingly dangerous as Iran attacked the Yugoslavs down both flanks.

ST ETIENNE, France -- A thunderous free kick from Sinisa Mihajlovic gave Yugoslavia a hardly deserved 1-0 victory on Sunday over Iran, playing in their first World Cup finals match in 20 years.   Iran had looked the more dangerous side in the group F fixture until the  Sampdoria midfielder, nicknamed the Bomber of Borovo, lent a hand in the 73rd minute.

  A team mate moved out of the Iranian wall as Mihajlovic ran up to take the kick from just outside the area and the Yugoslav blasted a powerful left foot shot through the gap and past Iranian keeper Nima Nakisa.                     The three other Asian teams at the finals -- Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan -- all lost their opening matches as well

World Cup-Dreary Yugoslavia anger coach

 By Simon Evans ST ETIENNE, June 14 (Reuters) - Yugoslavia sneaked past Iran 1-0 in their World Cup Group F game on Sunday but angered coach Slobodan Santrac with a disjointed performance. A 73rd minute free-kick from 25 metres by Sampdoria midfielder Sinisa Mihajlovic gave them the three points against a determined and well-organised Iranian team.

But Santrac was far from pleased with his side's lacklustre opening performance and suggested they had underestimated the Iranians.

"Before the game I told my players that Iran were a strong team but no one believed me. I am not satisfied with my team's performance," he said.

A slippery playing surface hardly helped the game as a spectacle nor did the absence through injury of Yugoslavia's Dejan Savicevic. Without the 'Montenegrin Magician' to link midfield with attack, Yugoslavia were sorely short of options and failed to create any clear cut chances from open play.

Defender Goran Djorovic came close to scoring in the 15th minute when his header from a Dragan Stojkovic corner clipped the crossbar. But it was a rare moment of Yugoslav forward play in a first half largely controlled by the Iranians.Iran's defence, so often leaky during qualification games, was solid and comfortably dealt with Yugoslavia's frontmen Predrag Mijatovic and Savo Milosevic.

In midfield it was Iran's Karim Bagheri who was the creative force in the game rather than Yugoslavia' Dragan Stojkovic who was strangely subdued and later substituted. Bagheri was behind Iran's best effort in the 24th minute when he linked well with Ali Daei to put Mehdi Mahdavikia within shooting range.

Mahdavikia fired hard and low but Ivica Kralj got down well to save at his near post. The Iranians showed less ambition in a scrappy second period with most of the action restricted to midfield.Desperate for his side to at least threaten the Iranian goal, Santrac threw on strikers Perica Ognejenovic and Darko Kovacevic along with attack-minded midfielder Dejan Stankovic. That had the effect of putting the Iranians under more pressure but there was little fluency to the Yugoslav attacks.

It took a fine curling strike from free-kick specialist Mihajlovic, nicknamed the Bomber of Borovo, to save face for the Yugoslavs but the goalscorer ackowledged his side barely deserved the victory. "We didn't play well, we played as individuals rather than as a unit, he said.

Iran coach Jalal Talebi took heart from his side's performance.

"There was nothing shameful in this game for us," he told reporters, "We played a fair game and we did our best." And he vowed that the Iranians, would not go home without giving their all. "We will be fighting until we are standing," he said. "If we are going to die then we will die standing, we will fight to the last."

Chaos at home was followed by international condemnation and isolation. The domestic league choked, causing the best players to depart for foreign lands, and reducing this regional power to a shadow of its former self. But now, in qualifying for France'98, the chance has arrived to rejoin the world. The details are different, but the experiences and hopes of Iran and Yugoslavia are quite similar. Each aims to prove in this World Cup that they deserve to be there, and each dreams of advancing to the Second Round.

Unfortunately for Iran, when their dreams collide with Yugoslav reality their paths may diverge. Yugoslavia boasts a history of powerful football, with a widely envied attacking style and extensive experience in club play and the World Cup. This team in particular, comprised of stars from top European leagues, is viewed as one of the best Yugoslavia has ever fielded. Iran, on the other hand, features few players with European experience, and most of       its games have been in the much weaker Asian confederation.

While Iran does have an effective attack, its defense is vulnerable to exactly the kind of agile assaults Yugoslavia is known for. Thus on paper this match leaves little in doubt. But the Iranians are riding a tidal wave of national enthusiasm unmatched by Yugoslavia's, and that psychological factor is always impossible to predict. One thing will be sure on the afternoon of June 14,  however. These two teams will not just take the pitch. They will begin to take back their pride.

              Iran proves a tougher nut to crack than expected

              By Cliff Stammerman

              Perhaps the Argentines and Yugoslavs should have a joint therapy session to work out their feelings on their matches today. Both sides feature skilled, top-flight footballers and are viewed as possible contenders to win the tournament - and both were shocked today by neophyte teams that refused to roll over and provide the expected goal-feasts. Iran was Yugoslavia’s headache, with the determined trio of Khodadad Azizi, Ali Daei, and Karim Bagheri constantly doing things they weren’t supposed to, such as outwitting Yugoslav defenders and making threats on goal. Like the Argentines, the Yugoslavs were saved primarily by their opponents’ inexperience as predictable Iranian attacks collapsed, lacking support, or their shots went wildly off-target. And like Argentina, Yugoslavia had trouble getting their act together; it’s telling that the single Yugoslav goal came not from their vaunted attack, but from a set-piece free-kick.

              The chaotic first half was almost comical as each side charged around the field making inaccurate shots and confused passes. Yugoslavia in particular did not seem to be able to organize any cohesive attacking efforts, and frequently found themselves chasing the speedy Azizi or midfielder Mehdi Mahdavikia. It wasn’t until theYugoslavs substituted several younger players in the second half (and removed a visibly irritated captain Dejan Stojkovic) that their offense began to gel and most of the action moved to the Iranian side of the pitch. But even then, they could not score on the move, and their only goal was a powerful free-kick by Sinisa Mihajlovic that smashed through the wall and past reserve goalkeeper Nima Nakisa. But the Iranians still created a few moments of concern, and the Europeans never really managed to take control of the  match. Again, like the Argentines, the Yugoslavs had to work until the final whistle, since the Iranians simply wouldn’t give up.

              After today’s match, the Iranians can pride themselves for putting a scare into one of Europe’s most-hyped teams. As for the “Brazilians of Europe,” the Yugoslavs are certainly spending some time tonight trying to figure out what exactly went wrong. They would be well  advised to commiserate with the Argentines, who are probably wondering the same thing.