Category: World Cup 2014

Knowing Team Melli stars: Andranik Teymourian

 

Andranik_teymourian EsteghlalAndranik Teymourian affectionately known to the Iranian fans as “Ando”.

Teymourian is the holding midfield player  in both his club and Team Melli. Andranik Timotian-Samarani , the Tehran born Armenian-Iranian , started his football in the famous Ararat club of Tehran.  A club with a pedigree which has produced many top level footballers in Iran such As  Mansour Amirasefi ,  Garnik Mehrabian , Karo Haghverdian ,  Andranik Eskandarian, Vazgen Safarian,  , Mais Minasian , Markar Aghajanian, Edmond Akhtar,  Samson Petrosian,  Fred Malekian , Edmond Bezik and Ando’s own brother Serjik Teymourian. Many of them played for Team Melli and where champions.

Financial problems left Ararat in disarray and their football school has dried up with the team falling all the way to the third division.

Andranik had to leave Ararat to pursue his fortune somewhere else and the first professional club he played for was Abomolenm Khorassan. His remarkable display of football attracted the attention of many clubs, but it was he English club Bolton Wanderers who managed to lure him into the English Premiere league in 2006 where he played 20 matches and scored two goal before moving on to Fulham. His stay in London was brief and after a loan period with Barnsley, Ando returned back to Iran where he played for Tractorsazi for a season , then Esteghlal , Al Kharaitiyat in Qatar before returning to Esteghlal.

From the onset of his career, Teymourian was all guts and bravery. He has never feared a challenge, never went into a tackle halfhearted and never gave anything less than 100% for his team. His dedication, commitment and  valor won him many admirers. A true fighter whose stamina is second to none. Despite being a gentleman with exemplary demeanor outside the game and fans favorite for his love to mingle with them, sign autographs and chat, when it comes to playing football Ando is a different character. A “Lion heart” who has time and again displayed a fearless attitude in the most difficult circumstances.  The tough tackling midfielder is not all bravery though , as he has ample skills,  exceptional ability for close marking,  robustness, and exceptional ability to turn into a pseudo striker  on counters with his vicious strike producing some spectacular long range goals. The ones against Bahrain and against Burriram of Thailand were momentous and unforgettable.ando EZA5547

If there is a player in Team Melli that has no fear of any player in the World, it has to be Ando “Lionherat” Teymourian.

Although Ando’s role as a defensive midfielder is not a glamorous one, his work rate and situational awareness makes him an essential and highly important part of Team Melli. He has a vital role to play in FIFA World Cup 2014. He is probably one of the most underrated players in the team. The tough marking Midfielder is an inspiration for Iran, an inspiration that is needed at the highest level of football.

Mansour Team Melli World Cup Song.

 

Pump up the volume ..Listen to Mansour’s Team Melli song.

 

 

Mansour

 

 

Mansour---Football-OFFICIAL-D-(03)

 

 

عاشقه فوتبالیم فوتبالیم

عاشقه ایرانیم ایرانیم

 

 

میرسی بچه های ایران   برای جامه جهانی

ما بشماها مینازیم          بعنوان یه ایرانی

   تو قلبه ما تیم ملی ایرانه….برای ما قهرمانه

   تو قلبه ما تیم ملی ایرانه….برای ما قهرمانه ….یه قهرمانه

عاشقه فوتبالیم فوتبالیم……ایران ایران ایران

به شما میبالیم میبالیم……ایران ایران ایران

FIFA World Cup 2014 Group ‘F’ News [2]

Ashkan Dejagah , who played against Trinidad & Tobago yesterday and won a penalty , has suffered an injury after a collision with Williams, the Trinidad Goalkeeper.

Dejagah was substituted for the second half as the coaching staff elected to exercise caution pending further medical examination. On closer check by Team Melli medical staff and Corinthians doctors, it is deemed that the injury is light and Ashkan can return back to duty and training. Team Melli defeated Trinidad 2-0 with goals scored by Ehsan Hajsafy and Reza Ghoocannejad. If Nekounam did not miss the penalty , a 3-0 result would have been the same result Argentina achieved against the same opposition a few days earlier.

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Which Nigeria will turn up?

It is difficult to define exactly which Nigeria side will turn up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The reigning African champions have the potential to cause plenty of problems for their opponents but can just as easily be brushed aside as we saw four years ago in South Africa.

Nigeria recorded one solitary point in 2010, losing to Argentina and Greece, while drawing with South Korea in their final group stage match.

This time around, they come into the tournament on the back of their 2013 African Cup of Nations success which is sure to provide some sort of confidence.

Recent friendly results have thrown up a trio of draws with Mexico, Scotland and Greece, making it a tough task to analyse just how Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles will perform.

There is plenty to like about the squad on paper but that does not necessarily mean they will be able to recreate the outcome of the 1994 and 1998 teams who both finished top of their group before losing out in the Round of 16.

Nigeria

Manager: Stephen Keshi

Fixtures: Iran – June 16 (Curitiba), Bosnia & Herzegovina – June 21 (Cuiaba), Argentina – June 25 (Porto Alegre)

Past outings against group opponents: Nigeria have played Iran once in the past, for a 1-0 friendly win in Hong Kong in 1998.

Nigeria and Bosnia have never met at international senior level.

Nigeria and Argentina have played each other six times previously. The Super Eagles have won just once, while drawing once and losing on four occasions. The Africans have lost three times to Argentina in the group stage of World Cups for three losses in 1994, 2002 and 2010.

Key players: John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Victor Moses (Chelsea)

World Cup utopia: Making it any further past the Round of 16.

Doomsday scenario: Finishing bottom of Group F.

Qualified by virtue of: CAF play-off win over Ethiopia (4-1 on aggregate)

Best result at a World Cup: Round of 16 (1994, 1998)

tribal’s forecast:

Keshi has instilled in his side a belief that they can beat anybody they come up against.

Whether the Nigerian players actually believe that is another story but at least the boss has plenty of faith in his men.

Recent allegations of match-fixing, following goalkeeper Austin Ejide’s disallowed own-goal in the 2-2 friendly draw with Scotland, are sure to bind the players together but can they take the extra step?

The usually defensive-minded Mikel relishes his creative role in the national team and will be supported by the likes of Liverpool loanee Moses and Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi.

The midfield will be where most of Nigeria’s influence comes from as they look to feed Emenike who had a decent season in Turkey, scoring 12 goals for Fenerbahce.

Other than Emenike though, it is hard to see exactly where the goals will come from. Peter Odemwingie hasn’t scored an international goal since August 2010, Ahmed Musa doesn’t have the best of strike rates,Shola Ameobi is noted more for his hard work rather than finesse whileUche Nwofor and Michael Uchebo are largely untested at this level.

Group F is something that Nigeria could successfully navigate when at their best but if they fail to make the most of the opening fixture against Iran, their chances of progressing to the knockout phase will decrease massively.

Sure, the talent is there but do the Nigerians have the mettle to mix it with the likes of Argentina and Bosnia?

Prediction: Group stage elimination.

[divider]

 

The Bosnia & Herzegovina team of 2014 are flying the flag for the tiny Balkan nation.

This is the first World Cup the Bosnians will compete in as a single entity after being a part of the Yugoslavia sides of the distant past.

Safet Susic’s outfit were more than solid throughout their qualifying campaign, finishing on top of their group, with a healthy goal difference of plus 24 having scored 30 goals in their 10 matches.

It will be a celebration of sorts for the Bosnian people who have so long hoped to see a team of their own represent them on the world stage, and in Brazil, they get the opportunity to look on with pride.

The Zmajevi (Dragons) have a great chance to announce themselves to the world by qualifying for the knockout stages which would be a stunning achievement given the inexperience of the team at such a high-status event.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Manager: Safet Susic

Fixtures: Argentina – June 15 (Rio de Janeiro), Nigeria – June 21 (Cuiaba), Iran – June 25 (Salvador)

Past outings against group opponents: Bosnia have played the Argentines twice for two losses. The latest meeting was a 2-0 friendly defeat in November 2013.

Bosnia and Nigeria have met at international senior level.

The Bosnians have taken on Iran on five occasions for four losses and a draw. The most recent encounter resulted in a 3-2 friendly loss in Sarajevo in 2009.

Key players: Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Asmir Begovic (Stoke City),Vedad Ibisevic (Stuttgart), Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen)

World Cup utopia: Reaching the knockout phase would be a definite success while anything more would be seen as a massive achievement.

Doomsday scenario: Finishing bottom of the group below Iran.

Qualified by virtue of: Finishing top of UEFA Group G qualifying.

Best result at a World Cup: Debut World Cup

tribal’s forecast:

There are some seriously classy players within the Bosnian World Cup squad.

City star Dzeko will lead the line in attack and will be assisted by Ibisevic who knocked in 15 goals for Stuttgart last season. Those two will be heavily relied upon to hit the back of the net as was evidenced by the qualifying campaign when combining for 18 of the 30 goals.

Pulling the strings in midfield will be veteran Zvjezdan Misimovic, who plays his club football in China, while there will be support from the likes of Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, Lazio’s Senad Lulic and Hoffenheim’s Sejad Salihovic.

The defence, which conceded just six goals in qualifying, is led by influential skipper Spahic who guides a well-organised and cohesive ‘team within a team’ which sits in front of talented goalkeeper Begovic.

National legend Susic has before him a well-drilled, discplined line-up who are underrated on the world stage and will take a power of beating in the group stages.

Bosnia are certainly capable of getting the better of both Nigeria and Iran, and making life difficult for Argentina, before looking on to a possible Round of 16 clash with France.

Prediction: Round of 16.

Team melli defeats Trinidad & Tobago in the final test

Team Melli defeated Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 in the final preparation match for Queiroz’s players before the World Cup. The match was played behind closed doors at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo

Ehasan Hajsafy , scored on the stroke of halftime to put Team Melli 1-0 ahead.  From the right side corner,  Ehsan Hajisafi powered a right footer into the top right corner of the net leaving Trinidad Keeper Williams with no chance. The referee blows the half soon after. 

Early in the second half on minute 50, Hoyte brought down Ashkan Dejagah in the box as the referee whistled for  penalty

Captain Javad Nekounam took the  penalty. Williams dived to his right to push away Nekounam’s shoot and the rebound grazed the upright and is cleared to safety.

three minutes later, Reza Ghoochannejad scored Team Melli’s second goal. Ghoochannejad runs onto a through ball as Iran breaks swiftly and slots past an advancing Williams. A typical trademark Gucci goal.

Iran had more of the game threatening from the flanks and had their opponent pressed all the time .

This is the first and only win of Team Melli in the preparation matches, and a timely one for that. Meanwhile , Nigeria lost against USA 2-1.

 

 

Match Details

 

Trinidad & Tobago coach Steve Hart post match comments

 

 

Team Melli vs. Trinidad & Tobago June2014

 

Heydari Team Melli vs. Trinidad & Tobago

 

Dejagah 2 Team Melli vs. Trinidad & Tobago

 

Team Melli celebrating scoring vs. Trinidad & Tobago

Gucci & Heydari vs. Trinidad & Tobago

Hashim Beikzadeh back in training again

Team Melli’s left back Hashim Beikzadeh is already training with the rest of the squad after a successful period of recovery following his injury in the friendly match in Austria.

Team Melli physiotherapist Bruno Mazziotti, loaned from Corinthians who has been with the squad since the South Africa camp , has a special program for Bekzadeh which has gone according to plan.

It is doubtful that Beikzadeh will be used for the Trinidad match unless Queiroz gives him a few minutes near the end.

On Saturday morning only training session Beikzadeh had separate training with the ball under the guidance of Bruno Mazziotti. Beikzadeh is named ion the final 23 players list of Team Melli and expected to fully recover in time for the Nigeria  match.

 

 

Final prepration before the Trinidad match

 

 – Updated 

In the CT Corinthians, Iran trains for final test before the World Cup debut

Team led by Portuguese Carlos Queiroz is training to compete in the final 
friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday in CT Joaquim Grava

For Rodrigo FaberSao Paulo

Iran national team completed its last workout this Saturday at CT Joaquim Grava, before the friendly gamers against Trinidad and Tobago, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the same venue. Coach Carlos Queiroz led a collective work, closed to the press – only the initial minutes of physical work, could be recorded. The confrontation with the team from Central America will be the ultimate test of the team, which debuts in the World Cup against Nigeria on the 16th at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba.

Iran training in ct do corinthians (Photo: Rodrigo Faber)Iran is the last practice before the CT Corinthians friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday (Photo: Rodrigo Faber)



The Portuguese coach chose Trinidad as an adversary, he said, because it is similar to the opponent’s first round selection. On Wednesday, the Central American team – which also did train on the Corinthian CT on Friday – was defeated 3-0 by Argentina in Buenos Aires. – “this test was closer to team-based training. We have a few topics to address which are not not yet clarified, but it will be a rehearsal for the game against Nigeria. Team Trinidad was chosen with this criteria in mind. It is a team with very similar characteristics of of Nigeria ” Queiroz said.


Iran training in ct do corinthians (Photo: Rodrigo Faber)Coached by Carlos Queiroz train in Corinthians CT (Photo: Rodrigo Faber)



Unlike what happened throughout the week, Iran will not work in two periods on Saturday. The players were rested from training at the academy, and the activity was the only work of the day. It is not yet possible to predict the lineup of Asians in comparison with Trinidad and Tobago, since the specific work with owners and reservations were booked without the presence of journalists. A great expectations of athletes is the second match of the group stage, against Argentina, on the 21st, in Belo Horizonte. In interviews here in Brazil, Carlos Queiroz explained the need to curb the anxiety of the cast is essential, since the outcome of the match against Nigeria will be crucial to the fate of the team in the tournament. Iran strives to achieve unprecedented rankings to eighth finals – the three tournament of the World Cup  (1978, 1998 and 2006), The Asians did not pass the first stage.

Match preview : Iran vs. Trinidad & Tobago

Goal.com

After successive goalless draws against Belarus and Montenegro, and a chaotic build-up off the field, the Asian country are in dire need of a victory before they face Nigeria

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz is under no illusions as to how important their final World Cup friendly against Trinidad and Tobago will be.

The Portuguese will lead the Asian country into their first World Cup since 2006 when they take on Nigeria in Group F on June 16.

If they have been unconvincing in their on-pitch build-up, their off-field goings-on have been chaotic, with assistant coach Majid Salih leaving his post following their training camp in Austria.

Goalless draws with Belarus and Montenegro have done little to foster optimism among Iran fans of springing a surprise in Brazil.

However, the former Portugal and South Africa coach claims they are in good shape going into their opener against Nigeria.

Following that clash, billed by Queiroz as a “final”, Iran face Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina, with their coach stating Saturday’s friendly will provide a welcome test.

“It was a good camp and our players showed their commitment. I believe that the Iranian fans have to be proud of their players,” he told the Tasnim News Agency.

“We will play Trinidad and Tobago to prepare ourselves for the Nigeria match. The Nigeria match is a final for us.”

Iran’s World Cup campaign could be Queiroz’s final stint in charge of the national side with a renewal of his contract yet to be agreed. However, he recently declined to comment on his own personal circumstances – instead preferring to keep the focus on his side’s preparations. “I think it’s not time to talk about that,” he added.

“In the past 10 months, nobody talked to me about my contract extension. It’s not time for hypocritical behavior and we have to focus on our preparation.”

Trinidad and Tobago will likely have to produce something extra special to deny Iran a first victory of their World Cup preparations.

They have not played a competitive game since the Gold Cup defeat to Mexico in June last year and were beaten 3-0 by Argentina on Wednesday.

If Iran too can rack up a few goals against the Caribbean nation, as group rivals Argentina did in midweek, it would set them up nicely for their opener against Nigeria.

With Queiroz’s men likely to battle with Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina for second place in Group F, a solid start in Brazil could prove vital in their progression.

Editor’s Blog : World Media outlook on Team Melli.

Scouring the web looking for interesting articles about the greatest football show on earth, and mainly looking at the World’s prestigious media for reviews on Group ‘F’ which Includes Argentina, Nigeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina in addition to Team Melli, it is surprising how some reporters have superficial and sometime no knowledge of Iran’s football while writing reviewing the prospects of Group ‘F’ teams. Obviously analyzing Argentina is a no brainer. As one of the candidates to lift the FIFA World Cup 2014 and a star-studded team that includes the best player in the world, the exposure and information is so readily available in all forms of media, making the job of analysis that easy.

Information on Bosnia-Herzegovina as a European team with some star players like Edin Dzeko , is also easily available in the press and the web. To lesser extent is Nigeria, although good dossiers of their European based players are available for reviews and analysis and used extensively.

It is not the same with Iran. Much of the analysis is focused around the few European based players particularly Ashkan Dejagah. Alireza Jahanbakhsh is the other player who has received a good, and one must say, deserved exposure lately. Others like Nekounam and Shojae have been mentioned but the information about them refers to their days in Osasuna and somehow ancient. Football team is more just a handful of players, and analysis of a team based on a few of them falls short of being accurate and reliable. Hence, most of the analysis around the web and other media, gives Iran very little chance of success based on their inadequate knowledge of Team Melli. That is ambiguous for the World Cup fans, but perhaps it could work well for the team being the weak outsider. However, it is doubtful that the coaches of Iran’s opponents in Group ‘f’ are as shallow and ill-informed about the capabilities, strength and weaknesses of Team Melli as some of the reviewers around the net.

On the other hand, and from personal experience, the truly knowledgeable journalist and reporters whom one can depend on their analysis and reviews about Iran’s football, are the foreign reporters who reside or based in the Middle East. This group’s work is meticulous, thorough and one can really observe that the analysis has been researched properly.

For what is worth, we like to remind all, that Ashkan Dejagah and Reza Ghoochannejad were born in Iran and both speak Farsi.

Gucci-&-Ashkan

Jahanbaksh named amongst the young players to watch

Young Players to set the 2014 World Cup alight from Group F

Last Updated:
1
World Cup 2014, Group F
Here is a look at one young player from each of the four Group F teams most likely to make an impact for their respective countries at the World Cup

Argentina

Marcos Rojo

Rojo

Age

24

Club

Sporting Lisbon

Position

Defender

Int. Caps

21

Int. Goals

0

 

In an experienced Argentina side, Marcos Rojo is one of the younger and probably one of the most important players in the Albiceleste squad. The 24-year-old will be playing in the left-back position for Argentina at the World Cup and has emerged as an integral part for Alejandro Sabella’s side.

While his defensive qualities have been put into question at times, Rojo is a great threat going forward and will surely prove to be a useful outlet in the final third of the pitch for the South Americans.

 

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Sead Kolašinac

Saed Kolasnic1

Age

20

Club

Schalke

Position

Defender

Int. Caps

4

Int. Goals

0

 

Sead Kolašinac has enjoyed a breakthrough season with Schalke this year. The young man established himself as an integral part of the German side and impressed many with his mature performance at the back.

A versatile player who is primarily used as a left-back, Kolašinac switched allegiance to Bosnia & Herzegovina after representing Germany at youth level and looks set to play a big part in the country’s debut World Cup campaign in Brazil.

 

Iran

Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Alirejza

Age

20

Club

NEC Nijmegen

Position

Midfielder

Int. Caps

6

Int. Goals

1

 

Alireza Jahanbakhsh is probably the most exciting young player to emerge from Iran recently. The 20-year old plies his trade in Netherlands for NEC Nijmegen and managed to impress with some fine performances for the Dutch side over the course of the campaign.

A tricky winger with a knack of scoring goals, Jahanbakhsh adds a bit of flair to a solid Iran side. While Ashkan Degajah and Javad Nekounam will most probably be preferred to Jahanbakhsh in the starting lineup at the World Cup, one cannot rule out the young man making an impact in the competition whenever afforded the opportunity.

 

Nigeria

Ogenyi Onazi

Onazi

Age

20

Club

Lazio

Position

Midfielder

Int. Caps

20

Int. Goals

1

 

Ogenyi Onazi’s meteoric rise to prominence has been phenomenal. Having picked up by Italian giants from a church-sponsored team in Lagos called My People two years ago, Onazi has gone on to become one of the finest young midfielders plying their trade in Europe.

The 20-year old has also established himself as a regular in the Nigerian national team and helped the Super Eagles to the African Cup of Nations triumph in 2013.

A tough tackling midfielder, Onazi possesses a brilliant temperament and he will surely be looking to impress at the World Cup by taming the dangerous Argentina and Bosnia attack.

Written by: Sarad Shrestha

FIFA World Cup 2014 Group ‘F’ News

Argentina

Argentina have risked punishment from Fifa after displaying a banner translating as “The Falklands are Argentine” before their friendly with Slovenia last night.

The Argentine Government still maintains the South American country has a legitimate claim to the islands, which Britain and Argentina went to war over in 1982.

The overtly political gesture by Argentina’s football team before their 2-0 win over Slovenia in La Plata could lead to sanctions from Fifa – and risks reigniting the dispute between Argentina and Britain over the islands on the eve of the World Cup.

Two hundred and fifty five British servicemen died during the Falklands conflict, which was sparked by Argentina invading the islands in the South Atlantic.

Why the players decided to display the banner now is unclear, but support for reclaiming Las Malvinas (as the islands are known in Argentina) is believed to still have strong public support.

Argentina are one of the favorites to lift the World Cup, as their side boasts a host of world class attacking talent, including superstar forward Lionel Messi.

Nigeria

Nigeria defender Elderson Echiejile will miss the World Cup because of a muscle injury.

The 26-year-old Monaco player limped out of Nigeria’s 0-0 friendly draw against Greece in Philadelphia on Tuesday shortly before half-time.

Echiejile underwent a scan where the injury was diagnosed as a muscle tear, which is expected to keep him out for up to three weeks.

He will be replaced in the squad by Enugu Rangers winger Ejike Uzoenyi.

Coach Stephen Keshi said: “Doctors have said Echiejile will need up to three weeks to recover from the muscle tear but we don’t have that type of time to play with so we’ve taken the decision to replace him.”

Nigeria face Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina in Group F, beginning their campaign against Iran in Curitiba on 16 June

 

 

Iran

Team Melli players expressed their delight by the Volleyball victory over Brazil yesterday in the 2014 World League. Both the Iran’s national volleyball and football teams are in Sao Paulo competing at the highest level of their sports.

Karim Ansarifard , Team Melli striker, in a short interview talking through an interpreter said “I was so excited to hear the news that the Volleyball team won the match in such a result. I know most of the volleyball team members and we are friends., this news really gives me the utmost pleasure. Rest assured that the 3-0 win againt the powerful Brazilians has already motivated us to perform as good as them in the FIFA World Cup.”

The fact that Ansarifard said that he heard the news , means that the player did not watch the match live on TV and certainly did not attend the match.

On the other hand , Brazil National Football team , who are in Sao Paulo , was supposed to attend the match against Iran to provide moral support, however security concerns prevented Seleção Brasileira from going to Sao Paulo’s Ibirapuera Gymnasium.