1lK8cjm

TEAM PROFILE: IRAN
FIFA World Cup Record
Qualified: 1978, 1998, 2006
Best Performance: Group Stages - 1978, 1998 & 2006)
Best Result: 1998 - 2-1 v United States
Wins: 1 Draws: 2 Losses: 6
Formation 4-2-3-1
FW Reza Ghoochannejhad
Iran go to their fourth FIFA World Cup finals
still looking for what has so far been an
elusive place in the knockout stages of the
game’s greatest event.
With just one win in their previous three
appearances – an historic victory over the
United States in Lyon during France 1998
– Carlos Queiroz’s side will be aiming to
turn promise into results in a group featuring
Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
With Lionel Messi’s Argentina the
favourites to win the group, the battle will be
on for second place with all three sides
evenly matched on paper going into the
tournament.
Queiroz has worked hard enhancing his
squad since taking over following the AFC
Asian Cup finals in Qatar in 2011, when the
Iranians once again exited the competition
at the quarter-final stage at the hands of
Korea Republic.
Overseas-born or raised players such
as goalkeeper Daniel Davari, midfielder
Ashkan Dejagah and forward Reza
Ghoochenijhad have become vital to the
team and, allied to home-grown stars
such as Javad Nekounam and Andranik
Teymourian, the Iranians have the talent to
make an impact in Brazil.
Ghoochenijhad, in particular, has delivered
a much-needed cutting edge to the team
that had previously struggled in front of goal,
which relied too often on being bailed out
by Nekounam with his customary all-action
displays.
LMF Masoud Shojaei CMF Ghasem Hadadifar RMF Ashkan Dejagah
CM Javad Nekounam CM Andranik Teymourian
LB Hashem Beikzadeh
CB Amir Hossein Sadeghi
CB Jalal Hosseini
RB Pejman Montazeri
Andranik
Teymourian
Javad
Nekounam
A
ndranik Teymourian’s
partnership in the
centre of midfield
with Javad Nekounam was
the key ingredient in Iran’s
qualification for the FIFA
World Cup finals, and it
remains vital to their hopes
of success in Brazil. The
former Bolton Wanderers
midfielder brings industry
and craft to the heart of
the Iran midfield and can
contribute the occasional
spectacular strike from long
range.
V
eteran midfielder
and Team Melli
captain Javad
Nekounam remains
the fulcrum of the side,
controlling everything from
the centre of the pitch and
chipping in regularly with
vital goals. Nekounam’s
experience of playing in
Europe, having spent
several seasons in La
Liga with Osasuna, will be
key as Iran aim for a place
in the knockout rounds
for the first time in their
history.
GK Rahman Ahmadi
Reza
Ghoochannejhad
Netherlandsraised
striker Reza
Ghoochannejhad
burst
on to the scene
with Iran during qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals,
scoring three times as Team Melli booked their place in
Brazil. Quick and skillful, the Charlton Athletic forward will
use his pace to unsettle opposition defences. Known as
‘Gucci’, he represented the Netherlands at youth level.
World Cup Schedule in Group F
June 16 Iran v Nigeria Curitiba
June 21 Iran v Argentina Belo Horizonte
June 25 Iran v Bosnia-Herzegovina Salvador
Squad
Daniel Davari (Grasshopper Club Zurich, Switzerland)
Alireza Haghighi (Rubin Kazan, Russia)
Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan)
Khosro Heydari (Esteghlal)
Hossein Mahini (Persepolis)
Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada)
Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal, Qatar)
Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis)
Amir Hossein Sadeghi (Esteghlal)
Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft)
Hashem Beikzadeh (Esteghlal)
Ehsan Haji Safi (Sepahan)
Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis)
Javad Nekounam (Kuwait SC, Kuwait)
Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal)
Reza Haghighi (Persepolis)
Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan)
Bakhtiyar Rahmani (Foolad)
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands)
Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham, England)
Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas, Spain)
Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton, England)
Karim Ansarifard (Tractorsazi Tabriz)
AFC QUARTERLY 45