Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Carlos Queiroz will lead tournament favourites the Islamic Republic of Iran into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 having instructed his players to focus on winning one game at a time as the nation aims to end a 43-year drought at the Continental championship.
The Portuguese coach leads a squad that leans heavily on the one that represented the country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in the summer, with 18 of the players who impressed against Morocco, Spain and Portugal slated to make the trip to the UAE.
But while the strength in depth of Queiroz’s squad has the Iranians marked out as one of the nations fancied to win the title, the former Real Madrid coach claims his focus is solely on his side’s opening game against Yemen on January 7 in Abu Dhabi.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/iran_4.html
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www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/yemen_rejoice.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Defensive midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi and winger Ali Gholizadeh are the major names missing from the Islamic Republic of Iran's final squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Ezatolahi, who plays for English club Reading, and Gholizadeh - who is with Belgian side Charleroi, are both nursing foot injuries.
Team Melli, however, will not be lacking strength as head coach Carlos Queiroz has named a potent looking squad.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: With 11 days to Asia’s greatest-ever showpiece, Islamic Republic of Iran’s quest to claim a record-equalling fourth AFC Asian Cup title received a major boost after they ended an outstanding 2018 season as the Continent’s best team in the latest FIFA Ranking.
Asia’s record five representatives at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia maintained their stronghold to stay within the top five with Iran retaining their season’s best in 29th place. Team Melli, whose last of three AFC Asian Cup triumphs was in 1976, are in Group D with Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen.
Despite falling five places from June this year, defending champions Australia, who are in Group B alongside Jordan, Syria and Palestine, find themselves in 41st position and will land in the UAE as Asia’s second ranked team.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Republic of Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi will miss out on Team Melli's AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 campaign due to an injury.
The 22-year-old player suffered the injury on international duty in October.
Ezatolahi expressed his disappointment at missing the competition.
"I feel really bad about missing the AFC Asian Cup but I have to trust in God. I am very sad since I cannot be at Team Melli’s service as a soldier.
"In the 2018 World Cup, I did my best to make the Iranian people happy but I am ruled out of the AFC Asian Cup and I cannot be a part of Team Melli," said Ezatolahi in a post on social media.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Ehsan Hajsafi believes a hungry Islamic Republic of Iran will end their title drought at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Iran’s solid tactical performance was on full display at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia as they come within inches of advancing into the Round of 16 for the first time.
Team Melli had a dream start against Morocco when they picked up their first win in the FIFA World Cup since a 3-1 victory over the United States in 1998.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Islamic Republic of Iran defender Roozbeh Cheshmi has admitted the injury suffered after the first game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia that subsequently ruled him out of the tournament motivates him to fight even harder for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 title.
Cheshmi was a rock in the centre of defence as Iran scored late to open their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Morocco in Saint Petersburg, but he was injured before the next game and had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates put in valiant performances against Spain and Portugal.
Team Melli ultimately narrowly missed out on qualification to the next stage to end their and Cheshmi’s dream of a first appearance in the knockout rounds, but the 25-year-old is now back to full fitness and raring to go ahead of UAE 2019.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Under long-serving head coach Carlos Queiroz, the Islamic Republic of Iran have undoubtedly been about the collective rather than the individual, but in Alireza Jahanbakhsh they possess a star with the potential to illuminate the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
In recent years, Russia-based forward Sardar Azmoun has been where the hype has centred, but that started to change during the 2017-18 season when right-sided midfielder Jahanbakhsh finished as top scorer in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar.
Nationality: IR Iran
Date of birth: 11/08/1993
Position: Midfield
Current club: Brighton & Hove Albion (England)
Previous clubs: AZ Alkmaar, NEC (both Netherlands), Damash Gilan, Damash Tehran (both Iran)