Last eight the Iranian target

FIFA - Beach soccer may be in its infancy in football-mad Iran, but it is certainly gathering momentum as Team Melli head for their second straight FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals. And largely thanks to the coaching of Brazilian Marco Octavio, who assumed the reins in August, the side has shown significant signs of improvement in the run-up to the Rio showpiece.

Having successfully guided Iran through an exacting Asian qualifying campaign, courtesy a resounding 6-0 win over defending champions Bahrain in the third-place playoff, Octavio, whose six world crowns from his time at the Brazil helm remain a global record, was quick to announce Iran's goal was to reach the last eight. "We won't be happy to simply qualify for the FIFA tournament and play in the group stage - we're aiming higher," he said.

A different team
Iran lost 6-1 to Spain in a group match in the previous edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, and they will have it tough again this year when they face European giants Portugal and USA. Despite the draw, however, coach Octavio believes his team are more than capable of making history. "Our team is totally different from the one that was knocked out in the group stage in the tournament's previous edition," he stated.

Octavio's confidence is not exclusive to his unparalleled coaching pedigree, but also due to the quality of a team that has progressed impressively over the last couple of years. With passion for the game reaching new heights across Iran, two national championships were organized in 2005 and 2006 with as many as seventeen provincial teams competing. The competitions provided the pool of players from which the national team has been selected.

In order to raise their game on the international stage, the Iranian Football Association has spared no effort in supporting Team Melli, most conspicuously by hiring the exalted coach. In the eyes of former Iran coach Farshad Falahat Zade, who is currently assisting Octavio, the Brazilian tactician has enhanced the team's knowledge of the game.

"He brought new ideas to the team and obviously his tactics enabled the players to have more options for playing against different opponents," Zade said. "After our fruitful training camp in Brazil, coach Octavio is very optimistic about the team's future."

Preparations
With the full support of the Iranian FA, Iran, who open their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup campaign against Portugal on 2 November, have recently stepped up their preparations for the tournament.

Having undertaken 15 training camps, including the recent two-week one in Brazil, Iran have played six friendlies of which they have won five. Coach Octavio will conduct the last training camp from today in southern Iran, from where they will fly to Sao Paulo through Dubai on 28 October.

"We have an experienced coach and our players have matured a lot and developed a greater understanding of the game. With all these positive changes we will try our best to reach last eight," Zade concluded.