Carlos Queiroz announced his starting lie-up for the match against Japan today at Azadi Stadium.
The surprise omission from the starting line up is the absence of the most experienced and the Captain of the team , Andranik Teymourian. There was no explanation given for his absence and no report of injury announced post Oman game which Iran drew 1-1 in Muscat last week.
The goalkeeper and defense, which performed badly against Oman is unchanged
Alireza Haghighi ; Vouriya Ghafuri, Pejman Montazeri, Seyed Jalal Hosseini, Ehsan Haj Safi, Omid Ebrahimi, Saeed Ezatolahei , Ramin Rezaeian, Ashkan Dejagah, Vahid Amiri, Sardar Azmoun.