Sports > Football > IRAN DEFEAT JAMAICA AHEAD OF ASIAN CUP FINALS BY AFSHIN DASTAFSHAN
Iran Hoping To Win Cup For Record 4th Time
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Iran took on Jamaica in their last Asian Cup warm-up match on July 2nd before heading to Malaysia where they will face Group C opponents Uzbekistan, China and the hosts Malaysia. Jamaica proved no match for Iran despite using seven of their first team players and lost 8-1 at Tehran’s Azadi stadium. After last week’s disappointing match against Ghana when the Ghanaians used their under 23 side against Iran I had hoped to see more of a challenge from Jamaica but they proved a very weak side as the score-line suggests. The match provided Iran with some target practice but it failed to test Iran’s defence and weaknesses (and that’s half the reason a warm-up match is played), the result was a confidence booster for Iran though. Iran playing in the 14th Asian Cup championship have won the cup 3 times, a record shared with Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Iran have an experienced side, seven Team Melli players played their football in Europe last season (Hashemian, Mahdavikia, Zandi, Nekunam, Teymourian, Karimi & Rezaei), Team Melli has never enjoyed the services of so many European based players before. Iran also gained valuable experience in last year’s world cup, last year’s world cup team forms the backbone of today’s team.
So what are Iran’s strengths; Iran are strong on the right flank, midfield and forward, most of Iran’s threats come from the right with Mahdavikia, Kaebi or Kazemian providing the service. Hashemian is a clinical finisher upfront and a constant menace in the penalty area. Iran’s two goalkeepers will be Roudbarian and Talebloo both of whom are on-form and playing well. In Iran’s latest friendly Masood Shojaei took the field by storm playing an effective role in midfield running at opponents, passing the ball well and creating chances. Shojaei was not named in Mr Ghalenoei’s list of 23 players for the Asian Cup finals; however he is travelling to Malaysia with the team and might find himself replacing one of the 23 named players in the last minute.
On the negative side I have doubts over strikers Enayati and Khatibi even though they both scored against Jamaica. The problem is that neither player has been effective when playing tough opposition. Iran have difficulty in defence and are not as strong on the left flank with options limited to Zandi and Madanchi. I also have little confidence in Iran’s head coach Mr Amir Ghalenoei, after July 2nd defeat of Jamaica Mr Ghalenoei claimed Jamaica were not a weak side suggesting his team had beaten a strong side, a claim that is dismissed by anyone who watched the match, Iran will be facing much tougher opposition than Jamaica in Asian Cup finals.
Just to round things up; whilst Iran overwhelmed Ghana under 23 and Jamaica neither of these teams were worthy opponents. Mr Ghalenoei could not have wished for better players than he has available to him, and unlike last year’s world cup Mahdavikia, Hashemian, Zandi and Karimi are all fully fit, Nekunam, Rezaie and Teymourian are on-form. From this point on it’s all about tactics, game plan, formation and coach’s half time talk. I anticipate Team Melli to progress to quarter finals, there is so much quality in the team that it is hard not to, however, come quarter final stage and beyond, Iran will face fellow world cup 2006 finalists at which point the coaching team will have to come up with the goods. Iran are likely to face either Saudi Arabia or South Korea in the quarter finals, should they be victorious they are likely to fac
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