Team Melli: The Road to Brazil

The Iranian national team will make its fourth appearance at a FIFA World Cup this summer, entering the competition in Brazil with more realistic expectations than in previous campaigns.

Coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge of Team Melli in April 2011, brings a blend of youth and experience, with several key players competing in European leagues. While Iran's lineup in 1998 was famous for its fitness, and the 2006 squad for individual players’ brilliance, the current side has come to be known for its discipline and defensive prowess.

The road to Brazil, however, has been a bumpy one. Almost one year after Iran topped its group in Asian qualifications, the team has been unable to secure matches with any major national sides. Training camps abroad were canceled, the football federation suffers from a lack of funds, and, in late May, just two weeks before the World Cup, there were still issues concerning team jerseys and socks that shrank after being washed.

Coach Carlos Queiroz managed to convince the Iranian football federation (IRIFF) to end the domestic league early in April in order to have more time to prepare the national side. Because a number of players had commitments to foreign leagues, it has been difficult to schedule training sessions, and only a few team members were able to take part in the full program of training camps.  

By March 5, when Iran played its first preparatory match against Guinea, continental rivals South Korea had already played 14. Iran famously beat South Korea to top its group in Asia on June 16 2013, and nationwide street celebrations followed, coinciding with the frenzied atmosphere that followed the unexpected election of moderate Hassan Rouhani as president two days earlier. A barrage of difficulties since then, most importantly an inability to secure enough warm-up matches, has tempered public expectations of Team Melli.

 

The Coach

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz will be a familiar face to fans of the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga. As Assistant Manager at Manchester United, Queiroz was Sir Alex Ferguson's spokesperson during Fergie's seven-year boycott of the BBC. Queiroz was also former manager at Real Madrid, in charge of South Africa during the 2002 World Cup, Portugal in World Cup 2010, and led Portugal's under-20s side to two World Cup titles. Queiroz boasts a solid record as Iran's coach, losing only four out of 32 games.

 

Key Players

Ashkan Dejagah is another familiar face for British football fans. The German-Iranian midfielder currently plays for London's Fulham FC. The heavily tattooed 27-year-old was considered a serious prospect for the German national side, alongside international stars like Mesut Ozil for the German youth national team. Dejagah has been a consistent force for Iran in midfield, playing an instrumental role in the country's qualification. Team Melli will likely rely on him heavily for their performances in the World Cup.

Reza Ghoochannejhad, nicknamed "Gucci," is expected to be Iran's primary offensive threat in the World Cup. The Dutch-Iranian striker scored six goals in six consecutive matches, including the winning goal that led to Iran's qualification for the 2014 World Cup. With a likely defensive lineup in the World Cup, Iran will rely on Gucci as its point man in counter-attacks.

Javad Nekounam will wear the captain's armband for Iran in Brazil. At 33 years old, Nekounam is one of the country's most respected football figures, with 217 appearances for the national side. He scored six goals in 14 games to help Iran qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Nekounam was a formidable force in his prime at Spanish side Osasuna, and will likely be Iran's key playmaker in Brazil.

 

Potential Wildcards

Alireza Jahanbakhsh is a little known right midfielder who joined Dutch side NEC in May 2013. At 20 years of age, Jahanbakhsh is a relative newcomer to international football, but has strongly impressed during his debut season in the Netherlands. Jahanbakhsh saved his team from relegation with two late goals against Dutch giants Ajax, and was runner-up for Dutch Football Talent of the Year. The young midfielder has the potential to raise more than a few eyebrows in Brazil.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

Coach Carlos Queiroz has built a tight unit in his three-year tenure, with a strong defense that conceded few goals in the qualification campaign. His extensive experience and tactical knowhow has transformed the team into a disciplined force. On the other end of the pitch however, Iran has struggled to find the net. After Iran's 4-0 thrashing of Lebanon in the opening qualifier, the team only scored four goals in its next seven games.

Iran's opponents, Argentina, Bosnia, and Nigeria, all play decidedly offensive styles of football. All three of Iran's opponents count their own weakness in defense. This could be to Iran's advantage if its rearguard remains solid and its counter-attacks succeed in catching the opponent's defense off guard.

 

Interesting facts

- Iran will be taking two Americans to Brazil this year, Assistant Coach Dan Gaspar and right-back Steven Beitashour.

- Iran is currently ranked number one in Asia by FIFA.

 

Most likely lineup

Defensive 4-2-3-1

 

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig/GER), Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan Isfahan), Alireza Haqiqi (Sporting da Covilha/POR)

Defenders: Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Amir Hossein Sadeqi (Esteghlal), Hashem Beykzadeh (Esteghlal), Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft Tehran), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal SC/QAT), Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Zob Ahan Isfahan)

Midfielders: Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan Isfahan), Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad), Javad Nekounam (Kuwait SC/KUW), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan Isfahan)

Forwards: Khosrow Heidari (Esteghlal), Karim Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton Athletic/ENG), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC/NED), Masoud Shojaei (UD Las Palmas/ESP), Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham/ENG)

Surprise Omissions: Persepolis winger Mohammad Reza Khalatbari and Rubin Kazan striker Sardar Azmoun were both widely expected to make the final squad but did not.