Iran Announce Asian Cup Squad

PA - Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has named a number of European-based players in his preliminary 30-man squad for this summer's Asian Cup.
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Andranik Teymourian, Eintracht Frankfurt's Mehdi Mahdavikia, Livorno defender Rahmen Razaei, Hannover striker Vahid Hashemian and Ali Karimi, who played for Bayern Munich last season, have all been included in a group boasting a number of changes from last year's disappointing World Cup campaign.

Iran's preparations did not get off to the ideal start with a 4-0 thrashing in Mexico but work will begin in earnest as the squad starts its training programme on Monday, with the coach to trim his group to be trimmed to 23 names by June 16.

Ghalenoei's men are among the favourites to claim Asia's premier competition.

They start their Group C campaign against Uzbekistan in Kuala Lumpur on July 11, before taking on China and co-hosts Malaysia.

Iran 30-man preliminary Asian Cup squad:

Hasan Roudbarian, Vahid Taleblou, Mehi Rahmati, Mohamad Nosrati, Rahman Rezaei, Seyed Jalal Hosseini, Hadi Aghili, Amir Hossein Saeghi, Hadi Shakouri, Freydun Zandi, Alireza Nikbakht Vahedi, Satar Zareh, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Hossein Kaebi, Javad Kazemian, Morteza Asadi, Ebrahim Sadeghi, Iman Mobali, Javad Nekounam, Andranik Teymourian, Mohamad Nouri, Masoud Shojaei, Maziar Zareh, Hossein Badamaki, Kianoush Rahmati, Ali Karimi, Vahid Hashemian, Reza Enayati, Rasoul Khatibi, Mehdi Rajabzadeh.