Category: World Cup 2014

17/06/201417/06/2014

Team Melli draws blank against Nigeria

Team Melli drew with Nigeria 0-0 in the first match for both teams in Group F. Argentina is currently leading the table with 3 points after winning their opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Carlos Queiroz fielded a strong defensive line up with 6 recognized defenders sticking to his now well recognized strategy of a strong defensive team. The only surprise of the line up was the inclusion of Alireza Haghighi , who is probably the least experienced of the 3 goalkeepers ahead of no 1 choice Rahman Ahmadi. However , Haghighi did not have to make many saves or even work hard except for ne tricky free kick in the first half.

Although Nigeria dominated the first 30 minutes of the first half, the solid and well organized Iranian defense made that domination by the African champions useless. After the half hour a corner kick awarded for Iran, the quick reaction of Nigerian keeper Victor Enyeama who saved the powerful header by Reza Ghoochanejad from close range prevented Iran from going a goal up.

In the second half the Nigerian control was reduced with Team Melli getting more of the ball but the players were guilty with some bad passes and spoiling some reasonable chances. Nekounam and Teymourian were majestic in their roles and their solid performance nullified the threat form the Nigerian midfield, especially Teymourian who neutralized Nigerian’s most famous player John Obi Mikel.

The defenders skilfully managed anything the Nigerians threw at them with total domination of aerial balls.

Despite being the lone striker , Ghoochannejad managed to play a solid and decent game and was a constant menace for the Nigerian defense. However Ghoochannejad did not connect well with the lone offensive midfielder , Ashkan Dejagah as they seemed to be operating on different channels and missing each others passes.

Dejagah who was expected to be the key player was a disappointment against Nigeria. Half of his passes went astray and he lacked his trademark running and beating the defenders. He was not helped , perhaps , by the number of midfield players opting to stay behind during offensive moves, leaving the team short of players up front while attacking the Nigerian goal. Dejagah was subsequently substituted in the 78th minute by Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

It was a fair result for Team Melli and Queiroz skillful managed to neutralize the Nigerians threat , with remarkable ease. His selection of player for the defensive duties were immaculate. Iran managed the first point in the competition, and that is good enough of a start. It is going to be uphill from now but with the sold defensive system that Queiroz has created, without being anti-football , Team Melli is still capable to spring a surprise in the two matches ahead.

16/06/2014

Alireza Haghighi gets the nod in the goal

Alireza Haghighi , the only player who has not been in action in top flight league will be in goal for Team Melli against Nigeria.

Haghighi , a Rubin Kazan player is currently on loan to a second division Portuguese second division club, is selected ahead of the much more experienced Rahman Ahmadi and the German/Iranian Daniel Davari.

16/06/2014

Team Melli fans in Curtiba

Boosting the morale of the boys in front of the Hotel entrance before Nigeria Match

Images from ISNA reporter Curtiba , Brazil

Hotel employee distributing Iran flags

ALi Kaffashian enjoys his newly discovered celebrity status

Under the watchful eyes of Brazilian Security personnel

16/06/201416/06/2014

Carlos Queiroz wants Iran, unlikely local favourites, to have ‘heads held high’

Iran's Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz conducts a training session on Saturday in Sao Paulo during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Behrouz Mehri / AFP / June 14, 2014

Gary Meenaghan

June 15, 2014 Updated: June 16, 2014 08:53:00

“Ever since you were drawn against Argentina, I have supported Iran,” he said. “You do not know me, but I am like a god in Brazil. Tell me what you need to beat them and I will make it happen.”

It was part tongue-in-cheek and, considering his audience, part foot-in-mouth, but the essence was clear: Brazilians will support anybody who plays against their great South American rivals. Iran faces Argentina on Saturday in Belo Horizonte.

Khosro Heydari, the Iranian midfielder who plays for Esteghlal, said he was focusing only on today’s match in Curitiba, but revealed that “based on the fans we have seen, we expect good support against Argentina”.

Iran do not need added motivation. Team Melli are the lowest-ranked side in Group F and such is their underdog status that Queiroz, the former No 2 to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, said it feels at times like his team are not receiving the credit they deserve.

“If you check the experts, the commentators, the newspapers and magazines, nobody talks about Iran. When they talk about our group, it appears there are only three teams in it,” he said.

It is Queiroz’s purpose to change that, bringing respect to his team while proving that Iran are one of the best 32 nations in world football.

Preparations started, he said, less than 24 hours after Iran qualified for their first World Cup since 2006 by beating South Korea in Seoul. At 11am on June 19 last year, while Tehran celebrated, the Portuguese coach was back in the Iranian Football Association office poring over documents and making plans.

“Our qualification was not a lottery situation,” the former Portugal coach said. “We won the right to play against the best teams in the world. We come here for them to notice us, to feel that we have qualified. In each game, we must show why we are here and must do our best with honour and pride in order to bring happiness to Iranian fans.”

Queiroz lamented the training conditions his side have endured in the past three months. They organised a friendly camp in South Africa, but some of the players he wanted were not released by their domestic clubs.

After a trip to Austria in which they scored one goal in three games, they travelled to Brazil, accompanied by rumours they have only two shirts each and strict instructions not to swap with their opponents – even if that opponent is a diminutive Argentine regarded as one of the best players in the world. The rumours are unfounded.

“The purpose that we have is the same: to compete against the best teams in the world and I believe my players have made history over the past three years in terms of the hurdles we have overcome,” Queiroz said.

In order for the squad to maintain focus, Queiroz has given each of his 23 players a tennis ball with a five-letter acronym inked on it. They must carry the ball on them at all times and each of the letters stands for a different characteristic they should show while in Brazil.

“T is for team purpose,” said Jalal Hosseini, the defender who plays domestically for Persepolis. “E for enjoyment, S is sacrifice, G is for goals and R is responsibility. The coach says these are all things we need to remember for the good of the team. We must carry the ball always and have full concentration and focus on these things at all times.”

Queiroz was also given something to carry with him, at least until his team meet Argentina on Saturday. The Brazilian reporter with the lack of cultural sensitivity handed his Portuguese-speaking counterpart a key ring of what appeared to be a donkey. The message was simple: bury it under the grass at Estadio Mineirao on Saturday and victory will be yours.

The Iran coach laughed it off and instead delivered a rousing call to arms. “Now is the time to fight and play with heart and soul; with our strengths and weaknesses. It is time to be us, to be Iran, for better or worse,” Queiroz said.

“My only demand is that when the games finish, I want them back in the dressing room with their heads held high. That, for me, is what matters most.”

There is at least one Brazilian who would likely disagree.

NOTE:

The original author of this article has made mistake in his report. Iran is not the lowest rank team in Group F, Nigeria is.

16/06/2014

Not so impressive Argentina rescued by Messi

Argentina’s 2-1 defeat of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ debut is hardly likely to generate great delight among Albiceleste fans. That said, there are times when all that matters is getting the job done, and this was one such occasion.

Those fans are likely to make a similar observation about the game as the players themselves did after it was all over, namely that Alejandro Sabella’s side were more fluent after the restart, when the coach switched from the 3-5-2 formation he began the game with to the 4-3-3 that had worked so well for him in the qualifiers. The introduction of Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain for Hugo Campagnaro and Maxi Rodriguez also helped his side approach their usual rhythm.

One man who saw things that way was midfielder Javier Mascherano, who was making his 99th appearance for his country. “Even though we took an early lead, we struggled to get into the game in the first half,” he told FIFA. “We played better in the second, though.”

“We looked more like ourselves with our usual formation. Why the changes? Well, the coach thought that was the best way to start before then deciding that he had to change. That what it’s all about.”

Right-back Pablo Zabaleta, who was finally making his World Cup debut at the age of 29, also pointed to the improvement in Argentina’s performance after the break, while making an interesting tactical observation:

“When we changed to 4-3-3 our first pass into the forwards was better, we were organised and we got more people forward,” he said, also in conversation with FIFA. “When we do that, we’re a handful for anyone.”

A glass half full
Neither player had been expecting an easy night, a feeling that had nothing to do with formations or tactics, as Mascherano explained: “We knew it wasn’t going to be our greatest game. The important thing was to win because opening games at the World Cup are never easy, even more so when you have a few players who’ve never experienced one before. All that anxiety has gone now, though.”

For his part, Zabaleta took a pragmatic view of the evening’s events: “Obviously we tried to win by playing good football, but what matters today is the result. What counted was getting the three points and we did that. We still know, though, that we have plenty of room for improvement, which is a good thing.”

One of the many positive points that the two-time world champions can take from their defeat of the Bosnians is that Lionel Messi got back to goalscoring ways, having gone a whole 623 minutes without hitting the back of the net in a FIFA World Cup match, his last world finals goal coming against Serbia and Montenegro at Germany 2006.

“We are all very pleased to see him get his goal because he’d gone a while without scoring in the World Cup,” said Zabaleta of Messi’s second-half strike. “We hope he can get a lot more too.”

Before taking their leave the Albiceleste duo had special words of praise for the thousands of Argentina fans who made themselves noticed at the legendary Maracana with their singing.

“I wasn’t surprised by the support,” said Zabaleta. “You expect that from Argentina fans. We felt like the home side today and we’re proud of that.”

Mascherano was no less effusive: “I’ve never experienced anything like that outside my country. I hope they keep supporting us because they’re going to help us a lot.”

15/06/2014

Knowing Team Melli stars: Ashkan Dejagah

Ashkan Dejagah , even with his limited caps for Team Melli, is considered as one of the key players. A player whose goals and assists can make the difference for Iran in the World Cup. A Player, according to Roberto Martínez, the Everton Manager , who can shine in the big stage and spring a surprise. .

The 27-year-old winger made more than 150 appearances in five seasons at Wolfsburg, having spent three years prior to that at Hertha Berlin before transferring to the English Club , Fulham.

His impressive performances for the Bundesliga side in 2011/12 – where he registered many assists for his team – earned him a first international call-up. Prior to making his senior international debut for Iran, Dejagah represented Germany at every age group from the U17s to U21s.

Ashkan Dejagah’s debut for Team Melli against Qatar was memorable one. He scored two brilliant goals and was by far the best player on the field. It was breath of fresh air for Azadi fans many of whom flocked to the stadium specifically to watch this man whom they heard so much about, but only been sparingly seen on TV.

In England , once Dejagah got used to the pace and physicality of the Barclays Premier League, he proved to be a potent weapon in Fulham’s attacking artillery. With his direct running and quick feet, the Iranian bamboozled many top flight left backs during his first season at the Club.

He was arguably Fulham’s most in-form player when his campaign was cruelly ended following an innocuous looking challenge in the 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers at the start of April. Was one of the few players to emerge from the 2013/14 season with credit after scoring five goals in 22 league appearances.

Now, many hope of Team Melli making it to the next round falls on the shoulder of this magician.

Roberto Martínez says Ashkan Dejagah’s Iran could be a surprise package at Brazil 2014 – Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former No 2 at Manchester United, has fashioned a side with some flair and attacking intent.

The Everton Manager thinks Dejagah could very much be part of that, being a player with a good eye for goal who could step up on the bigger stage.

15/06/2014

8 Years wait will be over comes Monday

It has been 8 years since team Melli last kicked a ball in the World Cup. 8 years wait and patience for the avid and passionate fans to see their beloved Team Melli perform at the highest level of world football again. Ironically , the last time the team played was against an African team , Angola. The next match is against another African team and the champions of the continent, Nigeria.

Nigeria , coming to Curtiba with all sort of variable loads from the expectation of the Nigerian people , to their problems on and of the field , in all cases that does not matter to them as they are here in Curtiba to conquer Iran. Far from being an indestructible team , though Nigeria has obvious shortfall that the Wiley Queiroz must have been drooling over and over. The battle of tactics will be quite interesting to watch.

This World Cup has started with a bang. While we are still in the first round with more than half of this rounds matches have not even been played, surprises are a aplenty. Who could have imagined that the tiny Costa Rica, the team that has never beaten a South American team in the World Cup before and a team that was labeled by the punters as the punching bag of the big boys in the presence of three previous world cup winners teams, Italy, England and Uruguay in the same group. Yet it can defeat Uruguay 3-1 and convincingly for that matter. This is football, where nothing is impossible. This is the World Cup where dreams and fairy tales can become reality. This is the World Cup where the victory goes for the ones who want it more.

Even with moderate expectation from our Team Melli , we expect a victory against the Africans. Team Melli is truly and well capable of doing that.

Team Melli will be ready to roar tomorrow with this expected line up

Ahmadi

Pooladi

Hooseini

Montazeri

Sadeghi

Heydari

Hajsafy

Nekounam

Teymourian

Dejagah

Ghoochannejad

15/06/2014

Team Melli arrives at Curtiba

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Hundreds of noisy Iranian football fans cheered their team Saturday as it arrived in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba for its first game of the World Cup.

For one man of faith, the joy highlighted how football can bring people together in a way that religion and politics often don’t.

“They are chanting my country, that for sure has special feeling,” said local Sheikh Mohammed Sadigh Ibrahimi. “Now you can see Iranians, Iraqis, Brazilians, Slovenians, Polish, all together.”

Curitiba has a significant Muslim population, and the Sheikh’s mosque is renowned in the world of Islam.

Crowds awaiting Team Melli outside the hotel

Most of the crowd seemed to be local. Some of the supporters had come from outside of Iran, which has been isolated over its nuclear program.

After the short flight from Sao Paulo , Team Melli landed in Curtiba and settled down in preparation for the vital first match against Nigeria on Monday.

The team arrived at Curtiba airport at 1800 local time and after being ushered through fast track channels , the team bus bearing Iran colors and themes was escorted to Hotel Pestana Curtiba, a 5 star hotel in the center of the city.

The city’s population numbered approximately 1,760,500 people as of 2010, making it the eighth most populous city in the country, and the largest in Brazil’s South Region. Compared to Sao Paulo , the biggest city in Brazil and Latin America , Curtiba seems to bea sleepy town.

There is no sign of the traffic jams , bottlenecks, noise and the difficulties of the movement. The weather in this southerly city and the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Paraná is perfect for football. On Saturday Evening the temperature was 20 degrees Celsius.

After checking into their rooms , the players were allowed to come down the reception and out of the street to greet the enthusiastic fans. Many Brazilians were among the crowds who wanted to see Team Melli players and get their autograph. A Balcony opposite of the hotel was full of people trying to catch a glimpse on the commotion downstairs.

[divider]

Iran Team arrives in Curitiba to play on Monday

14.06.2014 | 19:12 |

Report by DIEGO RIBEIRO

Gazeta Do Povo – Translated from Portuguese

Team Melli squad arrived in Curitiba in the early evening of Saturday (14) to play the first match of the World in the city, against the Nigerians, on Monday (16).

Greeted by dozens of supporters, the Iranians landed in Afonso Pena airport under heavy security.

Upon reaching the hotel, the players were pleasantly surprised by fans, many Iranians, who shouted the name of the country and raised Iranian flags. In the warm welcome, the players left the bags at the hotel and quickly turned up at the hotel entrances to greet the fans.

Traffic on Rua Comendador Araújo, where the Prestana Curtiba Haotel is situated , was blocked for nearly an hour to facilitate the delegation enter the hotel. Despite slow traffic, the bus arrived at the hotel an hour after landing at Afonso Pena Airport. Iran will get a chance for a workout on the lawn of the Arena da Baixada on Sunday at 14:30.

Reception

The arrival of Iran to Curitiba brought optimism and good humor of the fans. Away from the political disputes of the Middle East, they were able to express themselves more freely about politics and sports.

The merchant Saatsaz Vahid, 33, is Iranian, but living in Curitiba for six months now. With Portuguese accent and reasonable language spoken , he is optimistic about the presence of the Team Melli in the city. “We will win by 2-1,” said, carrying his two years old daughter Linda,.

Saatsaz is still trying to get tickets for himself and his family. The merchant does not have fond memories of the Iranian Cups in retrospect, but a memory no one can take away. “In 1998, in France, we defeated the United States. I’m happy with that the Team Melli is here in Curtiba, even though I don’t have tickets for the match ” he said laughing.

Beside him is another Iranian, Arash Memaris, 44, who lives in Mexico and came to Brazil to watch all the matches of Iran From Guadalajara, the Mexican Chivas twists.

“I’ll see all of the group matches and we will move to the second round,” he says proudly, while showing photos of the games tickets for Iran against Nigeria, Argentina and Bosnia.

“Obama is not coming”

Dozens of police and about ten police cars, and army soldiers and Federal Police officers accompanied the of the Iranian national team all the way from the landing of Afonso Pena Airport to Hotel Pestana, Rua Comendador Araujo, in Batel.

The overenthusiastic crowds around the Iranian team turned the occasion of their team arrival and the tight security into a light hearted joke . “Obama is not coming,” joked Memaris, in English, who was surprised at the police barriers that closed the road and divided the spectators from the hotel entrance.

Palestine and Israel alone in the city

Among the dozens of fans that accompanied the arrival of the Persian national team in Curitiba were many Arabs, Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian origin. Many of them were carrying banner calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel leaders!

The demonstration sparked the curiosity of the Israeli journalist Ori Cooper, the Tel Aviv daily Yedioth Ahronoth, who is in Curitiba following the national team pf Nigeria and Iran. He was able to interview some Arabs and Iranians after some of them showed ugly faces when they realized his country of origin . Cooper eventually approached by the president of the Arab Brazilian Society Moutih Ibrahim, after speaking in Hebrew during the story.

“Here in Brazil Jews and Arabs are at peace. It is the only country in the world that is so, “said Ibrahim. The two shook hands cordially. “We’re like cousins. They are our neighbors. In football we are friends. “ About politics, the two were reticent, but Cooper summarized. “In politics it is different,” he says.

14/06/2014

Nigerian Football enthusiasts urge Keshi not to underrate Iran

OKITIPUPA – Football fans in Ondo State on Friday, urged Coach Stephen Keshi of the Super Eagles not to underrate Iran at the ongoing 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The super Eagles will take on their Iranian counterparts on June 16 in their first Group F game. They will later meet Bosnia-Herzgovina and Argentina.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okitipupa, the fans called on Keshi to make use of his best players in the first half.

According to the fans, Eagles will triumph over Iran if they discharge their best, especially in the first half.

Tunde Ogunja, a former Director, Ondo State Football Academy, expressed concern that Iran could spring surprises if they were not adequately tackled.

“I think the Eagles need to work on their coordination and they must not underrate Iran because they have some good players who can spring surprises,” Ogunja said.

Idowu Akinbulumo, the General Manager, Ondo State Sports Council, advised the Eagles to imbibe “Team Spirit” for them to be able to dislodge the Iranians.

He, however, noted that the Eagles did not exhibit team spirit in their friendly matches, saying that they needed to work hard during the tournament.

“Eagles need team spirit and hard work for them to surpass difficulties at the World Cup,” Akinbulumo said.

A sports analyst, Oluwatoyin Olafusi, also advised Keshi to ensure that the best players were featured in the first half of the match against Iran.

Damola Olasanmi said that the coach should work on the midfield and defence for them not to concede early goals.

“The midfield is too loose without coordination, while the defence is porous too, I think these are the areas that Keshi needs to work on for the success of the team,” he said.

Kehinde Akinusi also predicted victory for the Eagles but urged them to work hard. (NAN)

14/06/201415/06/2014

Iran’s World Cup Zeal Wanes as Match Draws Near

By THOMAS ERDBRINK JUNE 11, 2014

TEHRAN — In a city where few people are allowed to organize large gatherings, and fun is enjoyed in private, the public celebrations of a year ago are legendary.

The Iranian national soccer team, called Team Melli here, had just qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2006 by beating South Korea in a tense match. Millions of Iranians flooded the streets of the capital in a display of pure happiness, dancing and singing of national pride. The authorities were helpless to stop them.

Now, days before Iran’s opening World Cup match with Nigeria on Monday, fun-loving Iranians should be thrilled for a new opportunity to celebrate. But Tehran is possibly the only capital in the world where there are no signs of the coming tournament.

Online, some die-hard fans have designed and shared desktop wallpaper showing Iran’s star players, such as the Iranian-Dutch striker Reza Ghoochannejhad, accompanied by the not-very-promising slogan, “Against the Odds.”

“It’s just that nobody is excited,” said Arman Hosseinabadi, a 30-year-old accountant. “It is as if we are paralyzed.”

Soccer experts agree that the Iran team faces a complicated task in making it to the second round. The World Cup draw placed Iran, the top-ranked team from Asia, in a difficult group: with soccer power Argentina; Nigeria, the African champion; and Bosnia and Herzegovina, making its debut in the tournament.

[quote] “Their coach publicly complains about the quality of his players. I have never seen anything like it.”[/quote]

“Almost all their players play in the weak national league, instead of in big international teams,” said Samy Adghirni, a correspondent for the Brazilian paper Folha de S.Paulo, who has been following the Iranian team for months. “Their coach publicly complains about the quality of his players. I have never seen anything like it.”

Some Iranian media have questioned the lack of enthusiasm for the Team Melli. “Why doesn’t anybody believe in our national team?” the reformist website Asr-e Iran wrote in an editorial. “If we believe with all our might we may turn into the surprise of the tournament: We will be the untamable cheetahs of 2014,” the site wrote hopefully, referring to the national team’s new logo, which features the Iranian cheetah.

As with much in Iran involving money and influence, the national team is overrun with officials claiming to act in its best interest, but focusing on everything except improving the team.

Its Portuguese coach, Carlos Quieroz, had several public disputes with the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, complaining that the team was not getting enough money to prepare for the World Cup. In turn, the federation accused the coach of arranging lucrative warm-up matches and pocketing the money. Mr. Quieroz denied the allegations.

Like the other qualifying teams, Iran received $1.5 million from FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, but this was apparently insufficient to order enough team uniforms. Last month, the president of the Iranian federation said that players were not allowed to exchange their shirts with opponents after the games, a tradition in soccer.

“This is the year of economic resistance,” Ali Kaffashian told the website Khabar Online, hinting at Iran’s answer to international sanctions over its nuclear program. “We must learn to do with as much as we can.”

Citing bad weather, President Hassan Rouhani shunned a farewell ceremony here for the team last week. The event had to be moved from its original venue to a smaller one when only 3,000 fans showed up, far less than the expected 12,000.

It is more than the daunting competition and the controversies surrounding Team Melli that keep the Iranians from warming to the World Cup. The authorities have been working hard to nix any soccer related excitement.

Tehran’s cinemas have been told by the police that they are not allowed to show World Cup matches to a mixed audience of men and women, “out of respect for Islamic morals.” A plan to show Iran’s games on some of the large electronic billboards across the city was canceled, and on Wednesday, restaurant and coffee shop owners said they had been told by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture to refrain from decorating their establishments with the national flag or the colors of other countries.

“We want to decorate our restaurant with German flags,” said one restaurant owner who asked to be identified only by his first name, Farhad. “But even that is not allowed. Fun, people gathering in large groups, such things make the authorities nervous.”

Until Monday, the day of the team’s first game, nobody is expecting much enthusiasm. “We bought a large television set for our customers to watch the matches,” said Hadis Bagheri, who runs a modest coffee shop. “But people are just not interested. Instead of talking about the World Cup they are hiding their faces behind mobile devices.”

Still, if Iran managed to beat Nigeria, everything might change.

“People are busy trying to survive,” said Behzad Talebi, a movie production manager. “But if we win, unexpectedly, be sure we will witness a return of last year’s street party. In the end, we all love to win.”