Queiroz names extended Team Melli squad

Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN, Following the final round of the Iranian Persian Gulf League, Iran headcoach Carlos Queiroz named two squads with a total of 59 players to participate in the training camps ahead of the Team Melli games in June.

The Portuguese announced 32 names for the first stage of preparations and an additional 27 names of players who will not be able to join for the first training camp in Tehran on Tuesday already.

The second list contains of foreign based players as well as the players of Persepolis Tehran, Naft Tehran and Zob Ahan Esfahan, who will still be engaged in AFC Champions League (May 19/20 and 26/27) as well as Hazfi Cup final (June 1) action.

Iran will have two training camps in Tehran before reportedly taking on Uzbekistan in Tashkent (June 8) and travelling to Turkey for another training camp, including a test match against a local club.

Team Melli will then travel to Ashgabat where they will face Turkmenistan in their World Cup/Asian Cup qualifying opener on June 16.

While with 59 players invited there can be little complaints about unincluded player, noteable absentees besides retired Javad Nekounam and still suspended Mehrdad Pooladi are the recently often invited Tractorsazi veteran left-back Habib Gordani and in-form MLS right-back Steven Beitashour as well as Persepolis defensive allrounder Mohammad-Reza Khanzadeh, who has recently been suspended at club level after hitting a fan.

Worth mentioning is the inclusion of the formerly suspended military service refugees such as Soroush Rafiei, Ahmad Abdollahzadeh and Hossein Mahini.

Especially encouraging is the inclusion of many young players and talents, most interestingly of Atletico Madrid u-19 defensive midfielder Saeid Ezatollahi.

Below come the two lists: