The list of Team Melli squad has been announced for the matches against Kuwait in the AFC Asian Sup Qualifications round.
The squad will be gathering on Thursday right after the 4 Iranian clubs complete their first round matches of the AFC Champions League.
Apart from the inclusion of the bad boy of Iran’s football Payam Sadeghian, No big surprises are included . There is a first call for 2 players, Foolad Khuzestan’s defender Mehrdad Jamaati and the young Sepahan Esfahan’s forward Ali Karimi . This Karimi’s inclusion killed all rumors of the real Ali Karimi , now with Tractorsazi being included in the squad following some Queiroz remarks commending the standard of the 36 year player , perhaps mistaken by some as a sign that Tractorsazi’s Karimi will be in the team to Brazil. Sepaahan’s Karimi , might create a confusion with his famous namesake , if he is selected in the final squad. That is , however, very unlikely. There are recalls for 4 ex-Team Melli member Ale Nemeh , Bengar , Nourouzi and Queiroz all time favorite Mehrdad Pooldi , who was once included in Team Melli squad while he was on crutches!
The surprising commissions include the creative Persepolis midfielder Mohsen Mosalman who , along with Sadeghian pushed Persepolis upwards in the league table. Also absent is Arash Afshin , the Foolad forward has regained his form and confidence since his return back to his original club from Sepahan. Sepahan’s center Back Shoja’a Khalilzadeh must also be disappointed by being omitted from the squad after some earlier good form in the season.
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