Iran on do-or-die mission in Jordan

AFC – West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) champions Iran will be looking to keep alive their hopes of advancing to the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifiers when they meet Jordan in a crucial Group A match at the Amman International Stadium on Wednesday.

The Iranians are in a critical situation after losing 1-0 to the Jordanians in Tehran in June, which put them in second place in Group A, three points behind their West Asian rivals. Although Iran went on to win the WAFF Championship and finish third at the Asian Cup 2004 in China, that may all count for nothing if they fail to advance past the first group stage of the World Cup qualifiers.

And the pressure is certainly on as Branko Ivankovic’s side must find a way to win in Amman against a Jordan side that has a good record against Iran with three wins in five clashes. A fourth victory for the Hashemite Kingdom would definitely put the Persians out of contention for a spot in Germany.

Iran’s hopes have been hit with AFC Player of the Year Mehdi Mahdavikia and young striker Arash Borhani are suspended after being sent off in the Asian Cup third place playoff with Bahrain. However, Ivankovic has been able to recall veteran striker Khodadad Azizi and Bayern Munich striker Vahid Hashemian for this important match.

“The match is a live-or-die game,” said the Croatian coach. “We have to win the game because it’s the only way for us to continue and any other result will put us in a complicated situation that we don’t really need.

“We have prepared ourselves very well and the team is in a top form after winning the WAFF Championship and finishing third place in the Asian Cup.

“The situation now is totally different from what it was when we lost 1-0 in the first match and I know that we will face a good and organized team. We have talked to the players and told them that the team that we are facing are a hard team and that we should never underestimate Jordan,” added Ivankovic.

Meanwhile, Jordan have played two friendly matches since bowing out to eventual champions Japan in a penalty shootout in the Asian Cup quarter-finals. Both matches ended in draws as they were held 1-1 by Azerbaijan before failing to hold on to the lead as they drew 2-2 with Lebanon.

“The match will be very hard because if we manage a successful result, we will advance to the next round,” said Jordan skipper Abdullah Abu Zema.

“We have prepared very well and I hope that we will be able to put on a good show and that the fans will support us very well. As for the pressure, we will not be affected by any because we have the essential experience that helps us and we’ll have our word in the field,” he added.

“We have a big responsibility and the win means a lot for us because it means that we are approaching our aim of playing in the World Cup” said striker Haitham Al Shboul, scorer of the winning goal in the match in Tehran.

“I hope that we will play in the way that is expected of us and that we will have a good game that will reflect the good image of Jordanian football.”