That is to say, nothing seems to be going on at all. All seems to be well in the world of Team Melli. There are no political shenanigans, no public spats between high-profile players and reporters/coach/Iranian Football Federation (IFF) and no speculation about the coach’s future, apart from a story that emerged in the new year claiming that Ali Daei had resigned. It was quickly quashed by the man himself as well as the IFF.
Such teamwork is in evidence on the pitch too. South Korea arrive in Tehran for the vital 2010 World Cup qualifier on the back of a 17-match unbeaten run. Iran haven’t tasted defeat since the two teams last met more than 18 months ago– in the quarter-final of the 2007 Asian Cup. Daei may not have been everyone’s choice for the top position in football in the nation when he was appointed last February but results have been good.
They will become very good with a win against their old rivals. Three points would put Iran on top of the group at the halfway stage. Defeat isn’t being considered. It could leave the team in fourth with tricky trips to Pyongyang and Seoul still to come.
There is a feeling that it won't come to that and that the best is yet to come. Despite the welcome record, Iran still have yet to produce a solid all-round performance in the final stage of qualification.
A good second half in Riyadh earned a creditable point in the opening match. A good first half against the North Koreans put the team 2-0 ahead. It ended 2-1 after a second half which saw the hosts hanging on and grateful for the final whistle. The draw in UAE, the host’s first point of the campaign, was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance.
What has been more impressive is the way that Daei has presided over a transitional phase with the team - though some believe that the old guard have been jettisoned too fast. The omission of stars such as Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ferydoon Zandi and Andranik Teymourian no longer make the amount of headlines that they used to however. Striker Vahid Hashemian is still hovering around but the helicopter needs to start scoring.
Perhaps to increase confidence among younger minds in the team, Daei has been playing down the threat presented by Korea and speaking very confidently, an unusual approach from the ex-goalscoring machine. He also said that he expected both Korea and Iran to qualify for the World Cup. The foundations have been laid for a push towards South Africa.
Daei would have preferred an extra point or two but will not be too perturbed. Until now, he has followed the World Cup qualification mantra – win at home and draw away – to the letter. As he said after drawing 0-0 in Thailand last week, you can’t win every game, no matter what the Tehran media expects.
Coaching Iran is a tough job. The entire nation hangs on every result, performance and quote. Daei is a gentleman but has always had a temper. His spark showed early in his reign but of late he has been much mellower – but then long unbeaten runs calm nerves and reduce stress.
Daei’s test will come when his team tastes defeat. A loss against Korea may not have the knives out but reaction would be rough. History is on his side though. Korea has never won in Tehran and would gladly take a point from the Azadi. But then until November, Korea hadn’t defeated Saudi Arabia for almost two decades before November’s 2-0 win in Riyadh.
It is the biggest match of Daei’s coaching career to date. The former Bayern Munich star believes that others make his job more difficult than it needs to be. After defeating China in a December friendly, Daei grumbled about the media.
“We are used to downplaying the victories of the national team and exaggerating the team’s defeats.. Also, we had one of the best performances of the national team in recent years against Galicia but the TV commentators and the dailies unfairly questioned us.”
Daei knows that this is nothing compared to what will happen if World Cup dreams look to be in danger. The world’s leading international goalscorer was on the receiving end of much of the criticism by a hugely disappointed media and public for the 2006 World Cup disaster.
Coaches in Iran, and West Asia as a whole, don’t usually last too long. Daei has done well and while it is a big ask for him to match his achievements as a player, he could have a good coaching career ahead of him. His biggest test comes on Wednesday.
John Duerden
Asia Editor