|
AFC - Iran coach Ali Daei
believes his side has got a tougher draw for the final leg of 2010 FIFA
World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Iran have been slotted with Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea and the
UAE in Group B in today’s draw at AFC House and will play Saudi Arabia away
on the first Match Day on September 6.
“Our group is tougher than the other as all the teams are strong but I have
faith in my team. I think we have a decent chance to gain one of the four
automatic berths,” he said.
Iran will renew their rivalry with UAE after today’s draw pitted the third
round qualifying rivals together again. Iran were held goalless in the first
leg at home but won the return leg 1-0, thanks to a Ferydoon Zandi strike.
Daei, who is the world’s highest goalscorer for a national team with 107
goals, said: “I have a very high respect for the UAE team and their coach
Bruno Metsu but this time we will try not to drop points against them,” he
added.
“I have good memories of DPR Korea because I played there twice and won both
the games. I would like to repeat that success this time also as a coach.”
He also served a caution to foreign-based players saying selection for the
final round qualifiers will solely be on merit.
Regarding the inclusion of Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Karimi in the Team
Melli, the former Iran captain said: “It all depends on their readiness and
merit. I don’t want to name any player but the selection will be purely
based on merit.”
Mahdavikia, who struts his stuff for Bundesliga outfit Eintract Frankfurt,
missed the last five matches of the third round due to injury while former
Bayern Munich ace Ali Karimi, who plays for Qatar Sports Club, missed the
last four games.
He said the team will start their preparations with a training camp in Spain
12 days later. “We have scheduled good matches during our training in Spain
and I hope the team will be ready before the first match against Saudi
Arabia,” he said.
|
