Tag: FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers

Team Melli Aims for Top Spot in Group E Clash Against Uzbekistan

In tonight’s crucial match at Azadi Stadium, Team Melli faces Uzbekistan, both teams having already secured their place in the third round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The stakes are high as they battle for supremacy in Group E.

Key Points:

  1. Uzbekistan’s Confidence:
    • In the pre-match press conference, Uzbekistan Coach Srečko Katanec emphasized that his team feels no pressure after qualifying. They intend to take the game to Iran and aim for victory.
    • Two Uzbek players, Auston Aronov and Jalaluddin Masharipov, who play in Iran for Esteghlal and Persepolis, could pose a challenge for Team Melli.
  2. Head-to-Head History:
    • Team Melli and Uzbekistan have faced each other 13 times, with Iran holding the upper hand, having secured 10 wins against a lone defeat.
    • The previous encounter between the two teams ended in a 2-2 draw.
  3. Unbeaten Streaks:
    • Both teams have lost only to Qatar in their last 10 games, specifically during the AFC Asian Cup 2023.
    • Their overall form remains strong, with no defeats in other matches.
  4. Defensive Concerns for Team Melli:
    • Critics have raised concerns about Team Melli’s defensive system. Despite aging center-back Shoja Khalilzadeh’s inclusion, cohesion remains an issue.
    • Coach Amir Ghaleneoi has introduced young talent into the defense, but better coordination is needed.
    • Defending as a unit has not been very well executed, a job the Team Melli defensive coordinators like Rahman Rezaei, need to focus on.
  5. Midfield and Attack:
    • Defensive midfielder Mohammed Ghorbani has performed well in recent matches, while Saman Ghoddos orchestrates offensive moves.
    • Strikers Mehdi Taremi and Sardar Azmoun are poised to strike if provided with quality service.
  6. Referee and Match Details:
    • The match will be officiated by Kim Jong Hyuk from South Korea.
    • Kickoff time: 20:30 local Iran time.

In summary, Team Melli faces a critical test against Uzbekistan, and fans eagerly await an exciting clash between these two talented sides. 🌟🇮🇷⚽️

Taremi’shat trick sinks Hong Kong

Soft spot-kick turns the tide for Iran in the Fifa World Cup qualifier, but Hong Kong shows guts with new boys Timmy Ma and Anthony Pinto on target

Paul McNamara

Paul McNamara+ FOLLOW

6 Jun 2024

Hong Kong football christened two new heroes on Thursday night, but Wolfgang Luisser’s first game in temporary charge ended in a controversial 4-2 World Cup qualifying defeat at home to Iran.

Timmy Ma Hei-wai adeptly swept home a cross from Tan Chun-lok after 15 minutes of his senior international debut. Anthony Pinto was even quicker off the mark, dispatching a low effort past Payam Niazmand only two minutes after replacing Ma in the second half.

Ma’s stunning introduction was sandwiched by a pair of penalties from Mehdi Taremi, the second awarded after Yapp Hung-fai appeared to legally dispossess the striker in the box.

Taremi, on the verge of a transfer from FC Porto to Inter Milan, chipped in a Panenka kick before completing a hat-trick 11 minutes after half-time. But Pinto, released by English League One club Bolton Wanderers, soon fired home to give Hong Kong hope.

Yapp Hung-fai dives to meet Mehdi Taremi in the incident that led to the second penalty. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sardar Azmoun finally killed off the hosts when he escaped the attention of Leon Jones to slip home Iran’s fourth with 25 minutes left.

There were no complaints about the first penalty. Jones, another full Hong Kong debutant, used his arm to block a floated 11th-minute cross from Mehdi Ghayedi. Taremi ignored the howls to place his penalty into the bottom-left corner.

There was a 137-position gulf between the teams in the Fifa world rankings, but after a slow start, the hosts gave as good as they got on a stirring night at Hong Kong Stadium.

They had an early let-off when Helio Goncalves deflected a Taremi strike onto the crossbar. Iran sustained the attack, and Azmoun’s volley had Yapp tumbling to his left to tip behind.

Hong Kong’s anemic opening gave way to a gutsy, ambitious performance, sparked when Tan stole possession on the quarter-hour. The midfielder was allowed to progress down the left and measure a delivery to the near post, where Ma arrived from the opposite flank to steer a finish across goalkeeper Niazmand.

Eastern attacker Ma was so far out of the international reckoning until recently that he did not make the squad for the under-23s’ Asian Games campaign last September.

Yapp needed a strong hand to beat out an effort from Azmoun, but Iran’s discomfort was laid bare when Amin Hazbavi sliced a panicked clearance past a post.

The visitors were given a break, however, when Qasim Matar Al-Hatmi, the referee, awarded a spot-kick for a foul by Yapp. The goalkeeper seemed to make clean contact with the ball as he dived at Taremi’s feet in the 32nd minute, but Hong Kong’s protests were waved away.

Before kick-off, the home fans had hoisted a banner emblazoned with images of Jorn Andersen, accompanied by the words “thank you”, in tribute to the Norwegian, who last week resigned as head coach.

Fans unfurl a banner to thank Jorn Andersen, the former head coach. Photo: Sam Tsang

And their backing created a wall of noise throughout as their team, in keeping with the progress made under Andersen, battled to recover from Taremi’s second penalty. Songs stuck in the throats of most of the 9,992 crowd when the dead-eyed Taremi angled a sidefooted shot into the corner to claim the match ball.

Pinto pounced on ponderous efforts to clear and caressed a first-time left-foot shot inside Niazmand’s right post, but Azmoun extinguished any comeback hopes. This was a night, however, that will be recalled for Luisser’s impressive first audition for the job, and the birth of two new Hong Kong stars.

Starting lineup vs Hong Kong

Amir Ghalenoei has made a few changes to the usual starting lineup for the game in Hong Kong. The defending line has seen most of the changes as Shojaa Khalilzadedh is the only one who has maintained his place, while Abolfazl Jalali, Amin Hizbavi, and Arya Yousefi will be starting the match. Payam Nizmand has replace Ali Beiranvand.

Mohammad Ghorbani after an impressive season, will partner Saman Ghoddos while Ghaedi and Jahanbakhash will be operating on the flanks to support the two forwards Taremi and Azmoun.

The match is a formality for Iran, however, a good winning margin will boost the team for a commanding performance in the next rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

12P. Niazmand
4S. Khalilzadeh
18A. Jalali
15A. Hazbavi
13A. Yousefi
10M. Ghayedi
6M. Ghorbani
9M. Taremi
20S. Azmoun
14S. Ghoddos
7A. Jahanbakhsh

Hong Kong billed as ‘more creative’ after boss’ exit as Iran visit for Fifa World Cup qualifier

  • Stand-in coach Wolfgang Luisser vows to tweak formula that worked under Jorn Andersen in qualifiers against Iran and Turkmenistan
Paul McNamara

Paul McNamara

6 Jun 2024

A “more flexible and creative” Hong Kong representative team has been promised by stand-in coach Wolfgang Luisser when the city’s footballers begin the post-Jorn Andersen era against Iran on Thursday.

The World Cup qualifier at Hong Kong Stadium will be the hosts’ first fixture since June 2021 without Andersen in the dugout, with former assistant Luisser stepping in after the Norwegian resigned last week to take charge of mainland Chinese club Yunnan Yukun.

“The biggest game for me as a head coach” was a simple enough assessment for Luisser given his top-level experience amounts to two 2019 matches as caretaker of SCR Altach in his native Austria. But a strong CV includes six years as assistant coach of Austria’s under-21s.

Hongkongers could reimagine what was possible during Andersen’s 2½-year reign, as an aggressive style delivered unprecedented results. While retaining traits that made Hong Kong a more competitive force, Luisser plans to do things his way, starting against Iran then away to Turkmenistan on Tuesday.

Wolfgang Luisser (left) plans to refine Hong Kong’s playing style in his matches in charge. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong netted only once in Andersen’s final five games, after 18 goals in the previous seven matches had appeared to draw a line under prolonged scoring issues.

“There will be a small change in our play with the ball,” Luisser said. “We want to give our players more creativity in attack, [and] be more flexible. We will change a little bit on set-pieces, too.

“We don’t want to change too much, because the players know what to do, but [there are] some small adjustments.

“Against the ball, our pressing and high attack will stay the same.”

Luisser said both offensive and defensive set-pieces would be tweaked, with attacking ploys a focus of the team’s final training session at the stadium on Wednesday.

“I cannot go into too much detail, because the opposition are listening,” Luisser said.

The interim boss must do without some key figures for his two games in charge. A number of players are missing while they arrange club contracts for next season, but forward Stefan Pereira put his hand up to play despite originally having no insurance following his release from Southern.

Luisser said: “It was clear he wanted to be part of the squad, with or without [insurance] … the Hong Kong FA gave him insurance for this period.”

A spokesman for the governing body was unable to confirm this was the case. Fifa has been approached for comment.

The Post has been told by a number of sources that X-factor attacker Everton Camargo was excluded after his request to feature only against Iran was refused.

Luisser insisted Camargo was missing for “family reasons”, and offered the same regarding the absent Jacky Leung Nok-hang. Leung, who would be a shoo-in at center-half, has played only twice for Hong Kong since September.

The withdrawals opened the door for Timothy Ma Hei-wai and Anthony Pinto. Ma, 20, was last week crowned Hong Kong young player of the season, along with Eastern teammate Jesse Yu Joy-yin.

The 18-year-old Pinto was selected despite his release from English League One club Bolton Wanderers.

“They bring fresh energy,” Luisser said of the new faces. Hong Kong cannot progress in the World Cup, but Luisser said the team want to “give something back to the fans and finish the qualifiers on a high”.

Anthony Pinto (right) has impressed following his first Hong Kong call-up. Photo: Edmond So

Iran are into the next phase, but coach Amir Ghalenoei said he would field his strongest team for Fifa ranking points and to try to top the group.

When Ghalenoei was asked how his players avoided being distracted by political turmoil at home, Iran media officials stepped in. The team’s translator said: “We are here for football and don’t want to talk about the political things.”

H2H: Iran vs. Hong Kong

Team Melli has played the tiny territory of Hong Kong 8 times since 1968. The first match was during the Asian Nations Cup 1968 (Later changed to AFC Asian Cup) in Tehran where Team Melli won its first major international title in May 1968.
All 7 following matches against Hong Kong ended with victory for Iran, for Team Melli to establish a perfect record against the East Asian opposition. It took Hong Kong 53 years to score its solitary goal against Iran in a 3-1 Team Melli win in Bahrain.

Despite the superiority of Team Melli across the history of the two teams’ meetings, Hong Kong has never been an easy opponent for Iran. with the last encounter last January in the AFC Asian Cup ending in a narrow 1-0 victory.

RANKING

TeamFIFA RankingAFC
IRAN202
HONG KONG15731

MATCHES

IDDateMatch TypeScoreResultScorers
551968-05-10Asian Cup2 – 0WBehzadi, Jabbari
20061977-06-19World Cup Qualifier2 – 0WKazerani, Jahani
20131977-11-18World Cup Qualifier3 – 0WJahani(2), Kazerani
20771988-05-27Asian Cup Qualifier2 – 0WMarfavi, Ghayeghran
25542019-09-10World Cup Qualifier2 – 0WAzmoun, Ansarifard
25652021-06-03World Cup Qualifier3 – 1WGholizadeh, Amiri, Ansarifard
25962023-11-16World Cup Qualifier4 – 0WAzmoun(2),Taremi, Rezaeian
25992024-01-19Asian Cup1 – 0WGhaedi
IDDateMatch TypeScoreResultScorers
Matches vs. Hong Kong

SUMMARY TABLE

MPWDLGFGAGDwin%GPM
98001911888.9%2.11

SCORERS TABLE

ScorerNumber of Goals
Ghafour JAHANI3
Sardar AZMOUN3
Hossein KAZERANI2
Karim ANSARIFARD 2
Ali JABBARI1
Ali GHOLIZADEH1
Homayoun BEHZADI1
Mehdi GHAEDI1
Mehdi TAREMI1
Ramin REZAEIAN1
Samad MARFAVI1
Sirous GHAYEGHRAN1
Vahid AMIRI1
Goal scorers vs. Hong Kong

Ghalenoei’s antic continues.

As Team Melli departs for Hong Kong for what can only be considered a formality and practice match, head coach Amir Ghalenoei’s team selection raises significant questions about his motives and judgment.

The exclusion of Ramin Rezaeian, one of the standout performers in Iran’s league with Sepahan this season, is particularly perplexing. To Ghalenoei’s embarrassment, Rezaeian, a versatile player capable of filling multiple roles on the pitch, scored a hat trick in his last match just a day before the squad for Hong Kong was announced. Despite this impressive performance, Ghalenoei did not provide a convincing explanation for Rezaeian’s omission, a pattern observed throughout his tenure with the team.

In contrast, Ghalenoei was more transparent about the exclusion of Hossein Hosseini, citing emotional pressure as a reason for giving Esteghlal’s goalkeeper a break for the Hong Kong match.

While Rezaeian’s exclusion appears to be a poor decision, the inclusion of 35-year-old Shojaa Khalilzadeh is equally questionable. Although Iran is not expected to face a stern challenge from Hong Kong, Khalilzadeh has struggled against tougher opponents and seems unprepared for the upcoming stages of the qualifiers. Even in the domestic league with Tractor, Khalilzadeh’s performances have ranged from poor to average. Ghalenoei’s decision to rely on a slowing central defender, who was outplayed in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup 2023 against Qatar, raises doubts about his strategic planning.

Team Melli’s midfield also appears to lack creativity, command, and control. Saman Ghoddos is probably the only player who has consistently performed well as an attacking midfielder. Ahmad Nourollahi, who has been a close second, finds himself on Ghalenoei’s bad list. Nourollahi, an Al-Wehda player, was excluded from selection due to disciplinary reasons after abandoning the Team Melli camp without permission. While this decision might be justified, it leaves a void in the midfield that will be difficult to fill.

As Ghalenoei continues to navigate his controversial team selections, the fans and media are left questioning whether these decisions will benefit Team Melli in the long run or hinder their progress in crucial stages of the qualifiers.

Team Melli departs for Hong Kong

Team Melli convoy left for Shanghai, China en route to Hong Kong for the return match against Hong Kong in the qualifying stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Persepolis player Mehdi Torabi could not accompany the national team despite being invited by the coaching staff due to illness (food poisoning).

Also, Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Ghaedi have taken direct flights to Hong Kong from Rome and Dubai to join the squad at their destination. Iran’s national team has gained 10 points before the fifth week of Group E of the qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup, like Uzbekistan, so the two teams have secured their early qualification to the next stage. Team Melli will play against Hong Kong on Thursday at 15:30, then return to Tehran to play against Uzbekistan on June 11 at Azadi Stadium.

Ghalenoei wants a sharper Iran

the-afc.com

Ashgabat: Amir Ghalenoei is demanding more potency from his Islamic Republic of Iran team despite having secured a spot at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ and reaching Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers following a 1-0 win over Turkmenistan on Tuesday.
The head coach, who steered Iran to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, was unhappy at the profligacy that could have been costly for Team Melli.

“Let me congratulate the Turkmenistan team for the good game they played,” said Ghalenoei. “The head coach has a very good team.
 
“We could have won by two or three goals, and of course, in the last minutes, there was a possibility that the game would be tied.”



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Mehdi Ghayedi’s first half stoppage time goal decided the match, as Iran found Turkmenistan harder to crack after having scored five past them last Thursday.  
 
The win put IR Iran on 10 points – the same as Uzbekistan – with both teams assured of a top two finish. 



image content

Uzbekistan made sure of their spot with a 3-0 win over Hong Kong, China whose head coach Jorn Andersen put the defeat down to the difference in individual quality though the Norwegian still found some silver linings from the performance of his players.
 
“We did very well in the first 15 minutes but then Uzbekistan increased the pressure and created many chances, proving that they are at a high level,” said Andersen. “Although we lost 3-0, I wouldn’t call it a bad result. The level of several strong players in the ranks of our opponent was the reason for the outcome of the match.
 
“True, I was not completely satisfied with the result. We conceded very simple goals. But I can say that the guys tried their best. I thank them for that.”

Iran’s Victory in Ashgabat Secures AFC Asian Cup 2027 Berth

In an intense showdown, Team Melli clinched a crucial 1-0 victory over host nation Turkmenistan in Ashgabat. The lone goal, orchestrated by Mehdi Ghaedi, surged Iran ahead just before halftime, sealing their triumph.

Ghaedi’s decisive strike, facilitated by a well-timed assist, underscored Iran’s resilience and determination on the pitch. With this resounding win, Team Melli not only secured a coveted spot in the finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2027, set to take place in Saudi Arabia but also advanced to the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, alongside Uzbekistan, who narrowly trails on goal difference.

Despite the triumph, the match itself was marked by a lack of fluidity, with both sides struggling to orchestrate cohesive moves. While Iran exhibited marginally better form, missed opportunities plagued their performance, epitomized by Ghaedi’s near miss in the first half from an open goal, courtesy of a precision pass from Taremi. Turkmenistan, on the other hand, failed to mount any significant offensive threats throughout the game.

The subpar quality of the artificial turf emerged as a significant impediment to the players’ performance, with several Iranian players sustaining lacerations on their legs during the course of the match. Critically, questions arose regarding FIFA’s decision to permit international fixtures on such hazardous surfaces, prompting concerns for player safety and well-being.

Despite the challenging conditions, Team Melli showcased their tactical prowess, primarily relying on long-ball strategies to penetrate the opposition’s defense. This approach yielded dividends in the form of Ghaedi’s pivotal goal, emanating from a strategic long pass by Hossein Kananizadega, deftly headed by Taremi to set up the decisive play.

Furthermore, the match witnessed the promising debut of Mohammad Ghorbani, who earned his first cap for the national team, signaling a bright future for Iranian football. Additionally, despite the promise of new players, Shoja Khalilzadeh and Ramin Rezaeian were both in the starting lineup and playing the full 90 minutes.

Turkmenistan vs Iran: Match review

Team Melli is gearing up for their next match in Ashgabat as part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers against Turkmenistan, following their impressive 5-0 victory at Azadi Stadium.

Analyzing Turkmenistan’s Performance

Despite facing a formidable opponent in Team Melli, Turkmenistan’s performance in the last match was below expectations. While they displayed some moments of skill, especially showcased by goalkeeper Rustem Ahallyýew’s outstanding saves, their defense struggled to contain Iran’s attacks. The midfield showed promise in ball distribution, but the forwards encountered difficulties breaking through Iran’s solid defense, led by goalkeeper Beiranvand.

Team Melli’s Strategy and Player Adjustments

In preparation for the upcoming match, Team Melli is making strategic adjustments. The inclusion of young talent like 20-year-old Amin Hezbavi in the defense indicates a shift in the lineup under Ghalenoei’s direction. However, injuries and visa issues have sidelined key players like Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mehdi Torabi, Mehdi Limouchi, and Arsha Shakouri, and the absence of Sardar Azmoun due to injury is a significant setback.

Critique of Previous Tactics

While Team Melli secured a convincing win in the last match, some critics highlighted an overreliance on direct football tactics, which may not fully utilize the players’ strengths. Long cross-field passes and route one football require quick forwards with sharp awareness attributes not entirely aligned with Iran’s current lineup. Turkmenistan’s coaches are likely to study these tactics and prepare accordingly for the upcoming match.

Turkmenistan’s Struggles and Team Melli’s Expectations

Turkmenistan’s winless in their last 11 matches adds pressure to their performance despite the home-field advantage, while Team Melli is oozing confidence as it stands as a formidable force in Asian football. Despite challenges, expectations lean towards another comfortable victory for Iran in the upcoming match on March 26th.

In conclusion, Team Melli’s strategic adjustments, coupled with Turkmenistan’s struggles, set the stage for an intriguing clash in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.