FNA - Rumors say Javad
Nekounam and national team captain Mehdi Mahdavikia will be looked aside
together with Javad Kazemyan when Iran play a must win game against UAE,
could it be true?
No other coach in the world would even think about leaving Mahdavikia,
Nekounam and Kazemyan out of the squad, Daei isn't either according to an
IFF official. But is it true? Add Hashemian's boycott to that and the
headache gets even bigger.
Daei has barely started out and already he could be digging a big whole that
will be very tough to climb out of. Iran had/has a superior squad and team
to its current opponents who all together have zero European based players.
Compared to Iran they also have zero World Cup and Champions League
experience. The list goes on further but what is the point?
In the crucial away game to Kuwait Daei astonished all football
personalities in Iran by playing Gholamnejad, Sadeghi and Beigzadeh from
start. Add to that Bengar in defense and Vahedi in attack and Daei had
basically put aside Ira in Iran and kept only the n. If we are to take
Daei's side Bengar might have been forced on as Aghili wasn't available, or
was he? Vahedi scored a fantastic solo goal that might have justified his
starting position? Last but not least the rumors aren't true and Iran will
have a big and strong squad available throughout the month of June.
Though Daei now is not the time for changing the whole team around or using
Gholamnejad instead of Kabi or even Mahdavikia. Now is not the time for
using Ebrahim Sadeghi or even Kianosh Rahmati instead of Javad Nekounam.
Vahid Hashemian should change his mind and the coaching staff has to fly
down to Germany and visit him. Nekounam and Mahdavikia not only have to be
included in the squad but be given a starting position against UAE. Iman
Mobali and Javad Kazemyan have to be part of the squad just like Zandi and
Shapourzadeh and fighting it fairly out with the others. Sadeghi and
Gholamnejad simply have no place in the starting 11, even an 18-year old
Ehsan Hajsafi should be considered above Sadeghi in a central midfield
position against UAE. Hossein Kabi has not been shining lately however he
will outperform Gholamnejad in 10 out of 10 games against UAE on June 2.
Lack of playing time is no issue for Andranik and he also has to play at
least 70 minutes (80 if Iran is winning) against UAE. Madanchi and Shojaei
are two more UAE-based players who will do well against the national team
just as they do week in and week out in the league against the same players.
Vahedi and Khalili from Perspolis could/should be in the squad; the headache
is if any of them should play from start?
Another headache for Daei is which system to use; he will have to decide
about picking the 11 first and then the system, or the system first and then
the 11. Ali Karimi should be reminded of the two games he played against UAE
in the World Cup playoff games in 2001 and Iran should be reminded of the
last four games against UAE!
