FIFA - Iran are readying themselves for a trip to the Portuguese resort of Espinho, where they will shortly contest their sixth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Backed by a nation that loves its football and sport in general, Team Melli are determined to build on their recent progress and make this their best performance yet.
To gauge their expectations in the countdown to Portugal 2015, FIFA.com spoke to Iran’s celebrated Brazilian coach Marco Octavio and their star striker Mohammad Ahmadzadeh.
The road to Portugal
Octavio is a very well-known figure on the world beach soccer circuit, after successful spells in charge of Brazil and Portugal over the last two decades. In his first stint as Iran coach, he took them to Rio de Janeiro 2007, later returning to the post to lead them to the Asian title and on to the quarter-finals at Tahiti 2013.
The Iranians went into this year’s AFC Beach Soccer Championship in Qatar as favourites to retain their crown, but went out in the semi-finals before seeing off Lebanon 8-3 in the match for third place, a win that secured their passage to Portugal.
Giving his views in the wake of that handsome victory, Octavio said: “The other teams are getting better all the time, and everyone came here looking to qualify for the World Cup. It wasn’t easy but we were ready to win our place.”
He added: “We also came to retain our title but we lost to Japan in the semis and had to settle for third place. It was important for us to make the World Cup. Missing out would have been a massive disappointment, especially bearing in mind the progress we’ve made over the last few years. I’d like to thank all the players for their hard work, though I’m expecting even more from them at the World Cup.”
Eyes on the prize
Looking ahead to what will be his third world finals with Iran, the feted Brazilian coach said: “We have to try and win the title. We are a strong team, as we’ve shown in the past. We reached the quarter-finals at the last World Cup, where we went down fighting to world champions Russia. After the world finals we then went on to beat Russia and Brazil, and we’ll need to be ready to figure among the title contenders this time.”
Reflecting the advances being made by Iranian beach soccer, he then added: “The sport is coming on fast in Iran. The league is of a good standard and the players, who do not lack talent, are keen to learn. I’m trying to pass my philosophy on to them and to help them make progress when it comes to competitions.
“They’re very professional now and all that remains for us to do is get our preparations right. We’ll be trying to set up matches against European and South American teams in the weeks ahead so that we can arrive in Portugal on top of our game and in the best possible physical shape. We have to believe that we have a chance at the World Cup.”
Ahmadzadeh aiming high
As their Asian title win in 2013 and their subsequent run to the last eight in Tahiti showed, the Iranians are full of self-belief and are not to be taken lightly, especially with the likes of Muhammad Ahmadzadeh in their ranks.
Portugal 2015 will be the forward’s fifth Beach Soccer World Cup, the first of them coming in 2006. Reflecting on his World Cup experiences, Ahmadzadeh said: “Every one of them has felt different. After the results we obtained at Tahiti 2013, we’ll be going to Portugal full of confidence and determination. I want to have another good tournament and help my team. I’m aiming to be 100 per cent for the matches, and we’re all going to be working hard in the next few weeks with that goal in mind.”
Ahmadzadeh’s previous World Cup appearances have brought him 13 goals in 13 matches, an excellent record given the standard of opposition. He was in among the goals again in the recent Asian qualifiers, scoring seven times to finish the tournament as its fourth-highest marksman.
“When I’m playing I don’t think about individual awards,” he said. “Our aim was to qualify for the World Cup and retain our Asian title. We bounced back from defeat to Japan in the semis by putting eight past Lebanon the following day, which only goes to show how much we want to win.
“Whenever I score I think about my team-mates and I thank them for the help they’ve given me. I try to make the most of each pass I receive by scoring a goal, though I’m always aware of the fact that we’re a team. That’s what our game is based on. Our first objective is to win matches and pick up trophies.”
Winding up our chat, Ahmadzadeh said: “We’re on the way to getting up there with the very best in the world, and we have a very clear objective in Portugal: to reach the second round at least.