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After picking up a point in the opening
qualifying match against Bahrain, the Iranians have only one thing on their
minds as they prepare to face Japan today at the Azadi Stadium: Victory.
Branko Ivankovic's side's quest for a place in Germany next year kicked off
with a 0-0 draw in Manama in February and now the three-time Asian Cup
winners are looking for a win to complement a solid, if unspectacular, start
to the qualifying campaign.
"It's a difficult match but we need to win because only winning will satisfy
the people and ourselves," said Italy-based central defender Rahman Rezaei.
"Japan is well prepared, they got a good result in their first match, they
got three points but here they will have to play in front of over 100,000
people and it will be tough for them."
Rezaei, who plays his club football alongside Japan forward Atsushi
Yanagisawa at Serie A side Messina, is one of a band of overseas-based
Iranians intent on making their experience count on the continental stage.
After finishing in third place at last year's Asian Cup--during which Iran
drew 0-0 with Japan in the group stages--the nation's sights are set
squarely on qualifying for a third World Cup after reaching the finals in
Argentina in 1978 and France 20 years later.
"The past is the past," said Rezaei of the draw against Bahrain. "Now
everything is coming back into its normal condition and if we win this game
it will fill us with a lot of emotion and give us a major boost for the
remaining matches.
"I have played more than 110 matches in Italy and I have learned a lot from
my time there. I have better concentration and self confidence which allow
me to play easier. That helps me a lot when I play for the national team."
Confidence garnered by success abroad is not lacking within the Iranian
squad. Another of Iran's legionnaires is Vahid Hashemian, who joined German
giants Bayern Munich last summer after impressing with Vfl Bochum the
previous season.
Nicknamed "The Helicopter" by the German media due to his aerial prowess,
Hashemian believes Iran will pick up all three points on offer on Friday.
"We're playing at home against Japan, so that is a big advantage for us," he
said. "Japan is a strong team but we will be trying our best to make sure we
take all three points from this game. I don't think we will have any
problems. We just have to try and play our own game and if we do we should
be good enough to win."
While Hashemian's career at Bayern has yet to blossom given the club's
wealth of attacking riches, he remains confident his time in Munich has
helped further develop his skills.
"I did everything I had to do at Bochum and because of that I was able to
join Bayern Munich," he said. "But being in the team and in the starting
lineup is important for me, as it is for each player. It's been difficult
because the competition at Bayern is very tough but it has made me a better
player."
Hashemian will join reigning Asian Player of the Year Ali Karimi and Mehdi
Mahdavikia, a former winner of the award, in an attacking trio that will
play behind another former Bayern Munich striker, Ali Daei, in what is a
potentially potent Iran lineup.
German-born midfielder Ferydoon Zandi--who made his Iran debut against
Bahrain--is expected to partner Javad Nekounam in the center of midfield
while Rezaei will anchor the defense alongside Yahya Golmohammadi with
teenager Hosein Kaebi on the right and Mohammad Nosrati filling the left
back role.
Iran (4-2-3-1): Ebrahim Mirzapour (Foolad); Hossein Kaebi (Al Sadd, Qatar),
Yahya Golmohammadi (Pirouzi), Rahman Rezaei (Messina, Italy), Mohammad
Nosrati (Pas); Javad Nekounam (Pas), Ferydoon Zandi (Kaiserslautern,
Germany); Mehdi Mahdavikia (SV Hamburg, Germany), Ali Karimi (Al Ahli, UAE),
Vahid Hashemian (Bayern Munich, Germany); Ali Daei (Saba Battery). |
