Queiroz hoping to build from a solid defensive base

TACTICS
4-4-1-1
Davari
Heydari
Shojaei
Montazeri
Hosseini
Beikzadeh
Nekounam Teymourian
Queiroz hoping to build from a solid
defensive base
Dejagah
Jahanbakhsh
Ghoochannejad
19
0
Pejman MONTAZERI
Umm Salal (Qat)
Age 30 (06.09.83)
Central defender who is a very
good reader of the game and
whose recent form is likely to see
him take the place of Hadi Aghili
who has fallen out with Queiroz.
Can also play at right-back.
136
36
Javad NEKOUNAM
Al Kuwait (Kuw)
Age 33 (07.09.80)
Inspirational skipper who, despite
his indifferent recent club form,
has a knack of scoring crucial
goals. The former Osasuna
player’s experience of European
football is vital to a team not used
to the big stage.
Having conceded just two goals in their fi nal
eight qualifying games, Iran will be hoping
that their back line can hold fi rm once
again in Brazil.
Central defenders Jalal Hosseini
and Pejman Montazeri make a
formidable pair, with the option of
using the latter at right-back and
16
0
14
1
Mehrdad POOLADI
Persepolis
Age 27 (26.02.87)
Left-back who was sidelined for
almost a year with a toe injury.
Defensively solid but not creative
enough going forward. In 2012
he had to undergo surgery on a
fi nger after punching a glass door
after substituted in a league game.
5
0
Amir Hossein SADEGHI
Esteghlal
Age 32 (06.09.81)
Left-footed defender whose
performances in the last three
qualifi ers were an important part
of Iran’s defensive dominance.
Likely to be fi rst choice if the
injury-prone Heydari struggles
for fi tness.
77
8
Payam SADEGHIAN
Persepolis
Age 22 (29.02.92)
A gifted player who courts
controversy with problems on
and off the pitch. Reached the
Asian Champions League Final
with his previous club, Zob Ahan,
in 2010.
Andranik TEYMOURIAN
Esteghlal
Age 31 (06.03.83)
Aggressive, strong runner who
is tireless and determined. He
had a stint in England with Bolton
Wanderers and is from Iran’s
Armenian community, which has
a strong footballing tradition.
playing Amir Hossein Sadeghi in the middle
if needed.
The injury prone Khosro Heydari is
normally fi rst choice on the right flank at the
back, but his attacking tendencies could be a
double-edged sword against the likes of
Argentina and Nigeria. At left-back, the
impossible dilemma is who will suffer less
against Lionel Messi when Iran face
Argentina. Queiroz may stick with Hashem
Beikzadeh ahead of the more attackminded Ehsan Hajsafy and the defensive
Mehrdad Pooladi.
The big question is who will take over in
goal following the unexpected withdrawal of
Mehdi Rahmati. Will the Portuguese coach
opt for the domestically impressive but
internationally inexperienced Rahman
Ahmadi or the European-based Daniel
Davari who has had some scintillating
performances in the Bundesliga but is
prone to occasional lapses?
Javad Nekounam and relentless runner
Andranik Teymourian will take the holding
midfi eld roles, with the elegant Masoud
Shojaei and determined Ashkan Dejagah in
front of them.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh looks to be the
favourite to replace Mojtaba Jabari, while
Reza Ghoochannejad will lead the attack
as a lone striker.
Plan B?
Queiroz’s tactical alternatives will probably
only be variations on his safety fi rst 4-4-1-1
set-up, with players coming in to cover
injured players. The most likely of these
would involve the back four moving around
to cover the potential loss of Heydari.
It is possible that Mohammad Reza
Khalatbari could be added to the line-up
if Iran need to chase a game.
Karim Ansarifard is a useful
replacement for fi rst-choice striker
Ghoochannejad when it comes to
leading the line.
ALSO IN CONTENTION
Mehrdad JAMAATI (D, Age 24,
07.10.89, 1/0, Foolad)
Hossein MAHINI (D, Age 27,
16.09.86, 21/0, Persepolis)
Yaghub KARIMI (M, Age 22,
31.08.91, 7/4, Sepahan)
Ali KARIMI (F, Age 35, 08.11.78,
128/37, Tractor Sazi)
Reza NORUZI (F Age 31, 21.09.82,
6/0, Naft Tehran)
Mehdi SHARIFI (F, Age 21, 16.08.92,
0/0, Sepahan)
MISSING OUT
Deteriorating relations between the
coach Queiroz and several of the squad
will mean there is no place on the plane
to Brazil for goalkeeper Mehdi
Rahmati or defender Hadi Aghili.
Attacking midfi elder Mojtaba
Jabari announced earlier this year that
he no longer wanted to be considered
for the national side.
4-4-2
Davari
Sadeghi
Montazeri
Shojaei
Hosseini
Beikzadeh
Nekounam Teymourian
Khalatbari
Dejagah
Ansarifard
WORLD SOCCER
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