Tag: Alireza Beiranvand

Alireza Beiranvand rejoins Persepolis

After an initial agreement with Alireza Beiranvand, Persepolis Club was able to finalize and sign a contract with Team Melli.

Last week, the news of Alireza Beiranvand’s definitive return to Persepolis was published, and now this return has been confirmed by signing an official contract. Beiranvand signed with Persepolis for two seasons and thus returns to Tehran after an unsuccessful presence in the Royal Antwerp of Belgium and Boavista of Portugal.  By signing the contract, Yahya Golmohammadi’s mind is at ease as far as the goalkeeping post is concerned for next season.

It is possible that Beiranvand is going to oust Hamed Lak although the management has denied such a claim. Accordingly, Biranvand not only can not comment on other Persepolis goalkeepers but also will not have the right to comment on the selection of the team’s goalkeeping coach. Also, Payam Niazmand, who was said to be one of Persepolis’ options for the team’s goal, now has been dropped from Yahya Golmohammadi’s shopping list. Beiranvand hopes to secure a starting place in Team Melli for the World Cup by playing regularly, a thing that he could not achieve in Europe, Also, Beiranvand was dropped as a starter by Skocic after some shaky performances for Team Melli and replaced by Amir Abedzadeh. However, Abedzadeh’s blunder against South Korea handed the goalkeeping post back to Beiranvand against Lebanon.

Details of Alireza Beiranvand’s return to Persepolis

Alireza Beiranvand’s separation from Persepolis did not last more than two seasons.

Beiranvand, who joined Royal Antwerp FC in the Belgian First Division in the summer of 2020, after going through an unsuccessful period in this team, preferred to transfer to the Portuguese team Boavista on loan to have a better chance of playing and gain a new experience. His main objective, however, was to become the first choice keeper.

The Team Melli keeper who lost his place to Amir Abedzadeh became a bench goalkeeper for Boavista as well and played only 9 games for the team in one season so his dreams of shining in European football would be very short-lived. At the end of this season in Portugal, the Boavista club refused to activate the € 1 million clause in Beiranvand’s contract so that the Iranian goalkeeper could return back to his club Antwerp; At the same time, he saw Persepolis Club as a serious destination again.

Beiranvand, whose contract with Antwerp is for another season, announced that he would prefer to go to a team where he could play in the year of the World Cup. As a bench keeper, his selection for Team Melli will be in serious doubt otherwise. In the meantime; What better team than Persepolis, which is both a customer of his and can play in the team to regain his place in Team Melli’s starting line-up.

It is believed that the Royal Antwerp FC initially demanded 1 million and later reduced it to 700 thousand Euros as a release fee for the transfer of Beiranvand to the penniless Persepolis club. Shortly afterward, it was announced that Antwerp had agreed to give Beiranvand to Persepolis for less than this amount. Meanwhile, a Belgian media reported that Beiranvand’s transfer from Antwerp would not cost Persepolis any money. However, Antwerp will not pay anything to the goalkeeper from the remaining amount of Beiranvand’s contract, which is apparently a significant amount.

The news site nieuwsblad reported the news and wrote: “You may have forgotten him before, but Alireza Beiranvand (29) will normally return to Antwerp this summer. The Iranian goalkeeper was hired by Boavista, who did not use the option of buying him for one million euros. However, there is no prospect of the goalkeeper returning to Antwerp. He is about to sign a contract with his former club Persepolis.” The website added “Persepolis does not have to pay for Beiranvand’s transfer, but the fact that his high wages (and the significant amount of his contract signing) will be lost is positive for Antwerp,” the report said.

A big call to make on Beiranvand!

Alireza Beiranvand, Team Melli’s number one goalkeeper, is going through some bad patch both at the club and national Team level these days. After conceding four goals in Boavista’s game against FC Porto to experience a bitter day against Mehdi Taremi and his teammates, he also conceded another five in the next game against Famalisao, in total he has conceded nine goals in two games.

However, this dip in performance did not seem to affect Dragan Skocic’s confidence as Beiranvand was picked in the starting lineup against Lebanon. As expected, he started the match in which he continued performing dreadfully against Lebanon. He still could not put things right and perform as well as expected from him.

Beiranvand was the main culprit in Team Melli conceding a goal in that match. Despite the oddity and the very strong possibility that the ball was in fact traveled well beyond the line out of play, he was nevertheless at fault for his unprofessional response. While he should have been watching the flight of the ball and being alert, he instead watched the linesman ignoring the field and raising his hand as if such action will stop the game! A clever and opportunistic Lebanon forward scored what must have been an easy gift the type of which he might never experience again at the international level.

It was a poor goal to concede even at a much lower level of competition, let alone a match in a World Cup qualifier.

The second major mistake of the day from the shaky Beiranvand came in the second half when he decided to dribble the Lebanese forward in his 6 yards area in the 55th minute of the game. As the forward was pressing on him and getting real close, in haste Beiranvand released the ball and gave it away to another Lebanon forward, waiting for a mistake, who had an empty goal in front of him, It was another gift for Lebanon!. Thanks to the great interception by Sadegh Moharrami that the shot was deflected to a corner saving Beiranvand and the Team.

A goal would have put Lebanon 2-0 up and the recovery would have been extremely difficult especially considering gift goals by Team Melli players.

There is no doubt that Alireza Beiranvand is a liability after consecutive poor performances. He is shaky and his confidence must be at the ebb. Starting him against Syria is now considered a great risk for the Team in which Skocic will be sitting on the stands as he is suspended. However, like Taremi’s absence, Team Melli has a solid bench for goalkeeping. Abedzadeh and young Niazmand are both capable and ready to slot in and relieve the underconfident Beiranvand.

Every footballer will have some downturn in his fortune and experience a bad performance patch. It remains to be seen if Skocic and the rest of the coaching staff will risk using Beiranvand against Syria, or exercise caution and rationale by choosing either of the two keepers.

The coaches of Team Melli must consider the effect of repeated failure on the psychology of a player.

There is a serious risk wherein if Beiranvand starts against Syria and heaven forbids, commits further mistakes that lead to a goal or goals conceded, the emotional uneasiness and the feeling of guilt will perhaps destroy the confidence of Alireza Beiranvand permanently ruining his career in the process. Rationale dictates that Beiranvand should not be exposed to possible psychological agony.

It is a big call for Skocic to make against Syria.

A dramatic win for Team Melli against Black Artists Lebanon.

Team Melli bagged all the 3 points after being behind since the first half when Lebanon scored a freak goal by Soony Saad (37′). Two last minutes goals in injury time of the match by Sardar Azmoun (90+1′) and Ahmad Nourollahi (90+5′) settled the match for Iran and maintained its lead on the top of the table at the halfway stage of FIFA World Cup Qatar 200 qualifiers of Group A.

While Team Melli started the match positively despite the bad conditions of the field and the grass which was more suitable for grazing than playing a decent football match, that superiority in possession and passing was thwarted time after time by the Lebanese solid defense.

As expected, Lebanon defended en mass and was quite disciplined in the back, breaking most of the Iranian attacks and protecting their goalkeeper well. Iran had 10 corner kicks in the first half but could not create any threat on Lebanon keeper Mostafa Matar who was quite dominant on the aerial balls.

From the first attack by Lebanon on the 37th minute, a right flank cross which seemed to be going out but somehow pushed by the wind within the field of play deceived Beiranvand who was raising his hand and watching the linesman instead of the ball that was floating right above him. The ball landed inside the box and in the front of the advancing Lebanon forward Soony Saad who cleverly controlled and wrong-footed Beiranvand with a shoot up the roof of the goal.

It was a schoolboy error by Beiranvand who had nothing to do all that time. While two other defenders close to Saad were at fault as there were also caught napping.

The first half ended 1-0 to the home team. Starting the second half Iran continued its assault on the Lebanese, who at times were packing the box with 10 players. In desperation and looking for the equalizer, much of the shoots were missing the target or hitting the Lebanese defensive wall. Only Sardar Azmoun’s terrific volley managed to penetrate that wall for Mostafa Matar to make an excellent save.

Lebanon’s famous black art was at its best in the second half, grass rolling, simulation, and with every contact. falling on the ground, even when the referee whistled a foul against them.  Skocic had to act to strengthen the offensive capabilities while withdrawing Saman Ghoddos and Ezatollahi who were both disappointing in the middle of the park. Milad Mohammadi and Sayyadmanesh were the replacements but their contributions made little impact.

While the match was in the first minute of the injury time, Azmoun received a ball in the box reflected from a Lebanese defender, with skill and mastery, he slotted the ball into the net to score the equalizer. The host team was gutted after what they thought will be a famous win, however, Team Melii was not finished. In the remaining minutes of the 5 extra, the onslaught was total, until Ahmad Nourallhi got the winner at the last touch of the match.

It was a deserved win against a stubborn, well-disciplined defensive team. The quality of the teams, however, was clear and it told at the end.

LAST WORD

There is no denying that Lebanon has the right to choose any tactics or styles that suit the player and the coach. Obviously, they realized their limitation and capabilities and opted to build walls around their keeper.

Defensive tactics, while not particularly attractive to many fans, are legitimate and are part and parcel of football.

However, Lebanon and many other countries of the region, have gone beyond defensive tactics football and encroaches into the boundary of Black Art where gamesmanship trickery, deception, and simulation have replaced decency, honesty, and genuine hard work. Their Dark Art of time-wasting, faking injuries, grass rolling, and cheating was obvious for all who watched this match. To turn a match into ugliness and a farce, all that is needed is a sucker referee like today (Abdulrahman Al Jassim). The Qatari referee blatantly failed to observe how the Lebanese are acting and restoring to delaying tactics by faking an injury. There was plenty of such unlawful gamesmanship that the referee simply, In fact, he aided and abated this Ugly football by stopping the match for every tackle that the Lebanese players dropped on the floor!!!

It is quite surprising that very few talks about the Dark Art in Asian football. The media in South Korea briefly touched on the subject for the Lebanese to cry foul and claim discrimination.

There has to be a campaign against it. FIFA is responsible and should act as it did against the Egyptian team in the 1990 World Cup by introducing the law that prevented Keepers from handling the ball back from their players.

Something has to be publicized about Lebanon and the dark art of football.

a team like Lebanon does not deserve to be in the World Cup, using such Dark Art, spoiling the taste of the beautiful game at its most important event. They give the beautiful game of football

Team Melli players rating vs Korea Rep.

Alireza BEIRANVAND :[7.8] Saved a last-minute shot and was commanding on aerial balls. Still delays passing the ball and puts himself in awkward positions.Shojaa KHALILZADEH: [7.8] another commanding performance from the central defender. He offsets his lack of pace with his positioning and close marking.
Sadegh MOHARRAMI [6.8] the goal scored was a lapse of concentration in otherwise a good performance.
Hossein KANANI-ZADEGAN [7.6] Again formed a formidable line in the center of defense with good understanding with Khalilzadeh hardly allowing the Koreans any space.
Ahmad NOUROLLAHI [7.4] the burden of dominating the midfield against tough opposition brought the best out of him. Was working hard His cross attempts from right on the line could have been better.
Saeid EZZATOLLAHI: [7.9] Slowly but positively getting better in the team formation. His shot that shaved the upright was delightful. Tackling and passing were much better than in the earlier matches.
Vahid AMIRI [7.0] is industrious and diligent but he lacks the punch and final telling touches.
Ali GHOLIZADEH: [6.5] nearly incognito in the first half. There was no sign of the magic slalom runs on the flanks and mostly content with retreating back to support the defense.
Mehdi TAREMI: [7.4] Taremi is a player that can be frustrating and wasteful at times. He seems to shoot without looking at what is in front of him, like a wall of defenders! His swerving kick that hit the woodwork was spectacular. The understanding he is building with Azmoun is a hopeful sign for Team Melli.
Alireza JAHANBAKHSH [8.1] High rating is due to the goal he scored to save Team Melli. He still needs to apply himself and make a difference on the wings and midfield.
Sardar AZMOUN: [7.9] worked tirelessly up to the end and once again provided an assist in the highest class to Jahanbakhsh for Team Melli equalizer. He tends to be a reckless tackler a player who has not mastered the art of tackling and as such he received his third yellow card of the qualifiers.

SUBSTITUTE

Omid NOORAFKAN [6.7]: while undoubtedly has a lot to offer, his reckless tackles and lack of concentration can cost him dearly in the team. Awarded a yellow card 6 minutes after being brought in.

COACH:

DRAGAN SKOCIC [6.7]: His lack of adventure in the first half and poor substitution give him a low mark. The team lacked direction and energy in the first half and the offenses were carried out on long direct balls where the midfield is bypassed. If such tactics yield results, then no one would complain, but it didn’t. Clearly lacks a ball carrier and a ball distributor in the midfield and that needs a solution. With so much talent on the bench, his substitutions were nothing short of awful.

The team tactics look predictable as it seems there is no variety in play and no second option.

Beiranvand signs for the Portuguese side Boavista

Boavista is about to reinforce its goalkeeping with the signing of the Iranian international goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand in a deal that involves a loan with a purchase option, according to Maisfutebol .

The 28-year-old player, Iran’s regular first-team player, left Antwerp’s camp this Wednesday to travel to Portugal until the end of the week.

Beiranvand was the goalkeeper who defended Iran’s colors at the 2018 World Cup and who saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, in the match between Iran and Portugal in the group stage of the competition, in Russia.

Last season, Beiranvand played 12 games for Antwerp, in his first season with the Belgian club.

In his native country, Alireza Beiranvand represented Naft Tehran from 2011 to 2016, having then moved to Persepolis, from 2016 to 2020, in a club where she played with Mehdi Taremi, current FC Porto forward. He has 44 games for the national team.

The player’s manager shared a photo this evening on social media with the signing of a contract with Boavista.

IRAN 3 – 0 SYRIA

Team Melli defeated Syria 3-0 in an international friendly held in Azadi Stadium on Tuesday. Iran scored through Hossein Kanan-Zadegan, Sardar Azmouin, and Karim Ansarifard. The first half ended 2-0

Team Melli scored early in the first minute from a corner played by Ali Gholiszadeh. Central defender Hossein Kanano-Zadegan hit a ferocious header into the top of the Syrian net to open the scoring for Iran. Soon Iran took control of the play and could have easily doubled the scoreline. However, a lazy play by Azmoun who only had the diving Syrian keeper in front wasted a golden chance. After that miss by Azmoun, Syria slowly but surely took control of the game. Their midfield was more energetic than Iran and seem to have pace in the front line. The Iranian defense was solid however and only a brilliant save by Alireza Beiranvand, prevented Syria from scoring.

Although Beiravand’s one-hand save was brilliant and an eye-candy, his assist for the second goal was an absolute gem. After catching the ball on the edge of his box and with a Syrian player budging him, Beiravand noticed Taremi free in the Syrian half. His world-class hand throws reached Porto’s defender who took the ball nicely towards the Syrian goalkeeper. Ibrahim Alma saved with his extended legs only for the ball to rebound for the onrushing Azmoun who made no mistake with and slotted the ball into the net.

The second half saw a more balanced game between the two teams. Despite gallant efforts by the Syrians, they did not manage to seriously threaten Beiranvand until late in the game when their best attacker Mahmood Al Mawas hit a thunderous shot against the bar the resulting in the ball ricochet into play and cleared by the defenders.

On the hours and as usual, both teams saw many substitutions. The Team Melli midfield was strengthened by the introduction of Omid Ebrahimi. in the 81st minute, Karim Ansarifard scored a brilliant third goal as he got the ball and in one swift Shimmy send two of his markers the wrong way opening the goal for him. His powerful shot was beyond Syrian keeper Ibrahim Alma as he was beaten comprehensively by Karim’s cracker. 3-0 for Iran.

Team Melli introduced two new debutants in this match. Jafar Salmani was the right-back, while Abofazl Jalali was substituted in the left-back position. Both played quite well as it was a successful introduction and should create very tough competition for the senior players.

The only concern in Iran’s lineup must be the midfield. Until the mid-second half, the Iranian midfield players (Hajsafy, Nourallahi , Amiri, and Gholizadej did not create enough chances for the two potent and dangerous forwards of Team Melli. One goal came from a corner and one from an assist by goalkeeper Beiranvand. That is not good enough for a team looking to qualify in a tough World Cup qualifiers group.

Beiravand in defiant mood

Team Melli and Antwerp’s goalkeeper was in a defiant mood when interviewed by a Dutch website. Here is the excerpt.

And then the sky cleared. He conceded seven goals in his first three matches, but in the past ten days, he collected three clean sheets. Alireza Beiranvand (28) is currently doing so well at Antwerp – last night he was Man of the Match against Eupen – that even an extra goalkeeper is no longer so urgent. ‘All the Iranian people are praying for me,’ he claims.

‘It was so difficult’ we could not describe the first months of Beiranvand near Antwerp any better. Months after his arrival was first announced, he still arrives at the Bosuil behind schedule. At a time when goalkeeper Jean Butez has been training for weeks with the team. Result: Beiranvand is warming the bench. ‘But the fact that I wasn’t playing meant that I had to train twice as hard. Leave? Didn’t think about it for a second. Never. I wanted to do my best to convince the coach.’  ‘You are two months behind,’ the coach told me when I arrived. But it’s not that I hadn’t done anything for two months, huh … It was frustrating that I didn’t get a chance. I was really angry. Watch out, that had nothing to do with Jean. He’s my best friend off the field. But on it, he is my nemesis. ‘

 

Casillas & Kepa

Ultimately, Beiranvand got his chance. Against Tottenham in the Europa League and afterward at home against Club Brugge. That did not go smoothly. Even more: Ivan  Leko was remarkably hard on Beiranvand after the match. Something Beiranvand and his 3 million Instagram followers could only accept moderately.

‘How could he say such a thing? You do not do that. I was mentally broken by those statements. A coach is like a father, then such a statement is a major mental blow. If a coach talks about you like that, you don’t think you will get a chance anymore of course. Look at the relationship between José Mourinho and Iker Casillas at Real Madrid at the time. He also put it behind him. But those things sometimes happen. Kepa, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, is now also on the bench at Chelsea. And somehow I knew that sooner or later I would get my chance. I’ve never doubted myself. Not a moment. And haven’t regretted signing here for a second, really. Every day I enjoy working more and more in Europe. And all the Iranian people are praying for me. That inspires me even further to work harder. I did not come to Antwerp to stay here for the rest of my life. From here I will go to one of the best clubs in the world, you will see. ”

Alireza Beiranvand to Antwerp

In the winter transfer window this season, Alireza Beiranvand signed a three-year contract with the Belgian side Antwerp, The Team Melli and Persepolis club goalkeeper was supposed to start his term in Belgium by today 1st July 2022, however, the COVID19 endemic and travel restrictions have postponed Beiranvands joining the team.

Beiranvand face difficulties attending Antwerp’s medical tests earlier due to the restrictions imposed.

The Team Melli goalkeeper, who had twice booked a ticket to travel to Belgium, stayed in Tehran due to flight restrictions. Persepolis Club also wanted to continue negotiations with their Belgian counterpart to keep Beiranvand until the end of the current season of the Persian Gulf league, but Antwerp in an official response to Persepolis Club’s letter called for Beiranvand’s presence in Belgium and did not allow him to continue his activities with Persepolis. Therefore, Beiranvand will not be able to participate in Persepolis training from today to wait for the flight to Belgium.

The latest announcement by the EU countries included a list of countries that are allowed to travel. Iran is not on the list hence Beiranvand needs to wait that much longer.

Alireza Beiranvand to undergo tests in Antwerp.

Team Melli’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand will have to travel to Belgium to participate in the Royal Antwerp club’s testing & training session, Tasnim news agency.

After successfully completing the tests, Beiranvand will join Antwerp. Details and fees are undisclosed and remain under wrap. Persepolis, the current club of Beiranvand, has been against such transfer but there is little they can do to stop it as Beiranvand will be under no obligation as he is reported to be a free agent.

According to the report, it could be a big blow for Iran’s Persepolis team ahead of the Iran Professional League (IPL) resumption.

Persepolis, who relies on Beiranvand’s good performances in the league matches, is in a race to win IPL title, which is scheduled to resume on June 18. Persepolis is leading the table with 10 points gap ahead of Sepahan Esfahan and Tractorsazi Tabriz. with 9 matches left to the end of the delayed season.