Day: November 16, 2024

Squad update ahead of Kyrgyzstan match.

Team Melli will leave for Bishkek at 5 pm local time on a direct flight to the Kyrgyz Republic capital for the first match of the return round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Missing from the squad will be three players.

Mohammad Mohebbi: The star of the game against Korea DPR and the scorer of a brace has received a knock and seems to be doubtful. It is not clear if he will fly with the team and if the coaching staff would utilize him for the game against Kyrgyzstan after passing a fitness test. His absence will be a blow for the team, especially as he has scored four goals in two games in the qualifiers.

Saman Ghoddos, whose injury has been diagnosed as more serious than initially thought, will not accompany the squad and instead will head back to the UAE for observation and treatment by his club medical team. Ghoddos did not play against North Korea on Thursday.

Shoja’a Khalilzadeh: His red card against Korea DPR means an automatic suspension, and he will not accompany the team to Bishkek.

Doubtful cases:
Sardar Azmoun: The center forward of Team Melli who has been in excellent form recently, received a knock in the last game against Korea DPR. Coach Ghalenoei p[ted to substitute him in the middle e of the second half. No further report of complications or the extent of the injury has been made public. Azmoun. however, is on the passenger manifest of the flight. His game time will be decided by Ghalenoei on Tuesday.

Mehdi Limouchi added to Team Melli squad.

FFIRI  website announced the inclusion of Sepahan’s winger to the squad.

Team Melli has landed in Tehran after playing against North Korea and is preparing for the return match vs Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday.

According to the announcement of the national team’s medical staff, the fitness of Mohammad Mohebi is being examined due to the hamstring injury that occurred during the match against North Korea. Accordingly, the Coaching staff invited Mehdi Limouchi to the national team’s training camp.

This player will be added to the national team’s training camp in Tehran tonight.
Mehdi Limouchi has been a key player in Sepahan this season and has featured in the AFC Champions League too. His skills and tenacity make him a good candidate to fill the gap of Mohebbi in case he is called upon to play.

Disciplinary record under Amir Ghalenoei

Amir Ghalenoei’s Tenure: A Tale of Success and Disciplinary Challenges

Since his appointment as the head coach of Team Melli, Amir Ghalenoei has achieved remarkable success, guiding the team to numerous victories. Under his leadership, Iran advanced deep into the AFC Asian Cup, eliminating powerhouses like Japan. However, a heartbreaking loss to Qatar in the semifinals dashed their title hopes, despite Iran being the favorites. In that tournament, Jordan had surprisingly eliminated South Korea, paving what seemed like a clear path for Iran to the final.

Disciplinary Issues: A Stain on an Otherwise Impressive Record

While Ghalenoei’s tenure has been marked by success on the pitch, a significant issue undermines his accomplishments: Team Melli’s poor disciplinary record. Under his leadership, the team has amassed 47 yellow cards and 5 red cards, resulting in a staggering total of 52 cards distributed across 25 players. This alarming statistic raises concerns about the players’ professionalism, self-control, and the coach’s ability to instill discipline.

A considerable number of these cards were avoidable, stemming from reckless challenges, moments of petulance, and a lack of composure under pressure. Such behavior reflects poorly on the team’s discipline and undermines the hard work put into achieving victories.

The Need for Immediate Action

Ghalenoei faces a pressing challenge to address this persistent issue. Discipline on the pitch is not merely a matter of avoiding cards; it is about setting a professional standard that ensures players remain focused and composed, especially during high-stakes matches.

Failure to tackle this problem could have severe consequences for Team Melli, including:

  1. Player Suspensions
    Accumulated cards and unnecessary red cards lead to key players being unavailable for critical matches, potentially affecting results.
  2. Team Reputation
    Poor discipline tarnishes the image of Team Melli, portraying them as unprofessional and prone to unnecessary confrontations.
  3. Lost Opportunities
    Matches can be lost or momentum disrupted due to players being sent off or suspended, a luxury no team can afford in competitive tournaments.

The Path Forward

To cement his legacy as one of Team Melli’s successful coaches, Ghalenoei must prioritize instilling discipline within the squad. Here are some steps that can help address the issue:

  1. Focused Training
    Conduct workshops and sessions emphasizing professionalism, self-control, and the consequences of reckless behavior on the pitch.
  2. Tactical Adjustments
    Address defensive lapses or tactical setups that leave players vulnerable to fouls, reducing the need for desperate challenges.
  3. Accountability Measures
    Implement strict accountability for unnecessary cards, ensuring players understand the impact of their actions on the team.
  4. Psychological Support
    Provide players with access to sports psychologists to help manage pressure, frustration, and impulsive behavior during matches.

Conclusion

Amir Ghalenoei’s tenure as Team Melli’s head coach has been largely successful, but the disciplinary issues facing the team are a glaring weakness that cannot be ignored. By addressing these challenges, Ghalenoei has the opportunity to lead Iran to even greater heights, ensuring that their on-pitch brilliance is not overshadowed by moments of indiscipline. The responsibility lies with him to instill a culture of professionalism and control, safeguarding the team’s success in the long run.

The full disciplinary records :

Here’s the data formatted as a clean, structured table:

PlayerYellow CardsRed Cards
Ansarifard10
Asadi20
Azmoun10
Beiranvand30
Cheshmi20
Daneshgar10
Ezatolahi20
Fallah10
Ghaedi10
Ghoddos20
Hajsafi20
Hardani11
Hosseini10
Jahanbakhsh20
Kanani-Zadegan81
Karimi10
Khalilzadeh32
Moghanlou10
Mohammadi10
Moharrami10
Mohebbi10
Pouraligangi10
Rezaeian30
Taremi41
Yousefi10
Total475

RED CARDS
Shoja’a KHALILZADEH ; 2024-11-01 vs. Korea DPR
Saleh HARDANI; 2024-10-10 vs Uzbekistan
Shoja’a KHALILZADEH ; 2024-02-07 vs. Qatar
Mehdi TAREMI ; 2024-01-31 vs. Syria
Hossein KANANI-ZADEGAN; 2023-06-20 vs. Uzbekistan

YELLOW CARDS

PlayerLastNameDateOpponent
YOUSEFI2024-11-01Korea DPR
AZMOUN2024-10-15Qatar
MOHEBI2024-10-15Qatar
GHAEDI2024-10-15Qatar
GHODDOS2024-10-10Uzbekistan
BEIRANVAND2024-09-10UAE
GHODDOS2024-09-10UAE
JAHANBAKHSH2024-09-10UAE
MOHAMMADI2024-09-10UAE
KANANI-ZADEGAN2024-09-10UAE
HARDANI2024-06-11Uzbekistan
JAHANBAKHSH2024-06-06Hong Kong
REZAEIAN2024-03-26Turkmenistan
KANANI-ZADEGAN2024-03-26Turkmenistan
FALLAH2024-03-21Turkmenistan
HAJSAFI2024-02-07Qatar
TAREMI2024-01-31Syria
KHALILZADEH2024-01-31Syria
TAREMI2024-01-31Syria
EZATOLAHI2024-01-31Syria
BEIRANVAND2024-01-31Syria
KANANI-ZADEGAN2024-01-23UAE
MOHARRAMI2024-01-23UAE
KANANI-ZADEGAN2024-01-14Palestine
HAJSAFI2024-01-05Burkina Faso
ANSARIFARD2024-01-05Burkina Faso
KARIMI2023-11-21Uzbekistan
KANANI-ZADEGAN2023-11-21Uzbekistan
KHALILZADEH2023-11-16Hong Kong
EZATOLAHI2023-10-17Qatar
BEIRANVAND2023-10-17Qatar
KHALILZADEH2023-10-13Jordan
KANANI-ZADEGAN2023-10-13Jordan
DANESHGAR2023-09-07Bulgaria
MOGHANLOU2023-09-07Bulgaria
POURALIGANJI2023-09-07Bulgaria
TAREMI2023-06-20Uzbekistan
REZAEIAN2023-06-20Uzbekistan
KANANI-ZADEGAN2023-06-20Uzbekistan
KANANI-ZADEGAN2023-06-20Uzbekistan
CHESHMI2023-06-16Kyrgyzstan
REZAEIAN2023-06-16Kyrgyzstan
KANANI-ZADEGAN2023-06-20 Uzbekistan
KANANI-ZADEGAN2023-06-20 Uzbekistan
TAREMI2023-06-20 Uzbekistan
CHESHMI 2023-06-16Kyrgyzstan
REZAEIAN2023-06-16Kyrgyzstan
HOSSEINI2023-06-16Afghanistan
ASADI2023-06-16Afghanistan
CHESHMI2023-03-28Kenya
ASADI2023-03-28Kenya
TAREMI2023-03-23Russia