FIFA just confirmed that the decision is official.
Looking forward to the World Cup matches between Madagascar and Tahiti.
Looking forward to the World Cup matches between Madagascar and Tahiti.
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The good news is there is a lot of time between now and 2026.....I hope in that period it gets reversed. Like kiarash said this will no longer be a prestigious tournament it'll honestly be the equivalent of ACL in that its value is at absolute 0. terrible decisionTeam Meli Iran
Perspolis FC
Malavan Bandar Anzali
"I will never be able to say good bye to Iran. I have a feeling of belonging to this country and to the people." - Carlos QueirozComment
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Additional 1bn for FIFA from just the world cup from this decision. Highly doubt it will get reversed.Comment
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Qatar 1:1 Moldova - 82'
Moldova, the arab killers.
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Qatar played with most of their starters. Soria scored their goal. They had a 3 day camp which ended today. Doesnt sound like much of a preparation.
Only good player on Moldova is Gatcan from Rostov. No idea if he played or not.
Keep in mind Qatar dont have Abdelkarim Hassan Fadlalla against us due to suspension from the Iran game fight. We need to win and start handling the group. A win for Iran would end Qatars hopes of qualifying for 2018.
We have Hajsafi and Azmoun back. Our Russian legionnaires will be well rested.
6 pts in the next two games and Russia will be calling our name.Comment
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I don't care how bad Qatar is, against us they always play their best and we play our worst.
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And while they are playing friendlies to get ready to beat us, we are here being played by Brangoh (who is after TM head coach job) and some stupid PP fans (ho don't understand he doesn't care about PP, as he didn't care about TM when he was coach). He never did anyinterview to complain when he was TM coach.How can some fans don't get this?
No wonder CQ wants to leave really.Comment
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Uncle Saudi makes the phone call.Originally posted by Nokhodi View Post
"Make sure Iran lose! That's it, end of discussion!!"
Kind of reminds me of the villain from Inspector gadget. Always making demands while petting his cat. We never see his face in the cartoons.Comment
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World Cup 2018 Qualification Gets Under Way
Uzbekistan tied Georgia 2-2 a few days ago.Comment
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Syrian FA rejected Saudi FA's request to naturalize striker Omar Al Somah
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comm...as_request_to/
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Good. Ajab rooi daran.Originally posted by Team Melli Fan View Post
I'm sure they'll bribe enough judges to get their way.
And doesn't Al-Somah have any pride?Comment
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KSA has been at this for a while now....good to see they failed yet again. What a sell out this dude is....Originally posted by Team Melli Fan View PostTeam Meli Iran
Perspolis FC
Malavan Bandar Anzali
"I will never be able to say good bye to Iran. I have a feeling of belonging to this country and to the people." - Carlos QueirozComment
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Iraq - Australia will be played in Tehran
ESPN3 will show it:
http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/19...-vs-australia/
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"Simon Hill: PAS Stadium surface could be a problem for Australia in Tehran against Iraq – Fox Sports
ANGE Postecoglou and Radhi Shenaishel may hail from very different parts of the world, but if football is the common language, then the pair are almost kindred spirits.
Ahead of Thursday’s World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Australia in Tehran (Friday 12am Australian time), the two coaches are grappling with remarkably similar problems.
Like Postecoglou, Shenaishel draws his national team charges from all corners of the globe – his latest squad contains players based in Italy, Turkey, Norway, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar.
Initially, the United States was on that list too, before Donald Trump’s latest travel diktat made Justin Meram (Columbus Crew) rethink his decision to make the journey to Iran, although he will be in Jeddah for Iraq’s next qualifier against Saudi Arabia. Postecoglou meanwhile, admitted he may have called up Ruon Tongyik of Melbourne City, but red tape similarly prevented him from even having that choice.
Like Postecoglou, Shenaishel has key players who are struggling for game time at the moment. Ali Adnan, the 2013 Asian Young Player of the Year, hasn’t started for his Italian club team, Udinese, since August last year, while former Sydney FC midfielder, Ali Abbas, is on the outer at Pohang Steelers – he hasn’t featured at all in the K-League this season, and didn’t make this particular Iraqi squad.
While the Socceroos have recalled their most prolific scorer in Tim Cahill, Iraq have reinstated Hammadi Ahmed, whose 16 goals played a major part in his club team – Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya – winning the AFC Cup (the second tier club competition behind the Asian Champions League), last year. It also earned him runner-up spot behind Omar Abdulrahman in the AFC Player of the Year award.
And while he may be no Tom Rogic, Iraq will also be without one of their playmakers – Brwa Nouri was dropped from the squad after refusing to leave his Swedish club side, Ostersunds, early, in order to take part in a pre-qualifier friendly against Iran.
Trent Sainsbury ahead of the Socceroos World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Tehran, Iran. pic Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia
The decision to take Iraq’s home games to the capital of their traditional rivals looks rather odd from the outside. But with Baghdad unavailable, the Iraq FA hoped Tehran would make for easier access for their supporters. They had considered Beirut and Amman, after the early experiments with Doha and Dubai fell rather flat – but neither city was interested in hosting.
Iraq considered another Iranian city, closer to the Iraqi border, but FIFA refused, due to neither the hotel, nor the airport being close enough to the stadium. So, Tehran it is – not the cavernous Azadi, but the more modest PAS Stadium, where the pitch is regarded as being poor quality for international football.
Mark Milligan with a background of Tehran ahead of the Socceroos World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Tehran, Iran. pic Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia
If Thursday’s game is important for Australia, then it is utterly vital for Iraq. Six points adrift of Australia and UAE, and lying second from bottom in the group, Iraq simply have to beat the Socceroos to retain any hope of just a second World Cup qualification. Especially as their next games are against the Saudis (1st) and Japan (2nd).
Players warm up ahead of the Socceroos World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Tehran, Iran. pic Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia
Iraq has provided much more than mere nuisance value to Australia in the past, but the golden generation of Nashat Akram, Hawar Mullar Mohammed and Younis Mahmoud are long gone. Indeed, with Ali Abbas not selected, goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid is the only remaining member of the squad that lifted the Asian Cup, a decade ago.
Still, perhaps the bumpy pitch can act as a leveller against the current Asian champions, and provide the Lions of Mesopotamia with a genuine punchers chance to upset the ‘Roos. Particularly as Iraq had the boost of defeating Iran in that friendly by the only goal at the Azadi at the weekend – and of course, Australia aren’t exactly in great nick themselves at the moment.
Whatever the result, expect a warm embrace and firm handshake between the two coaches afterwards – Shenaishel and Postecoglou share a similar ethos. They both like their teams to attack, and only pick players on performance and fitness, not reputation. Both also signed long-term contracts, demand full control, and were the fans choice for the position.
But as things stand, neither is guaranteed a place in Russia, and games are starting to run out. All of which makes Australia’s first trip to Iran in nearly two decades, almost as crucial as the last."
http://www.sportal.co.in/football/si...aq-fox-sports/
"Portuguese coach on Australia's chances in Tehran
There is one man who knows the kind of challenge that Australia will face on Thursday night (AEDT) in the Iranian capital Tehran to take on Iraq in the latest round of matches in the third round of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Former Real Madrid, Portugal and Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz is not only the head coach of Iran but faced Iraq on Saturday in the city as part of preparation for both teams ahead of their upcoming games.
Iran is on top of Group A after five games and is on course to finish in the top two spots to progress automatically to the tournament to be held in Russia.
Iraq won the friendly game 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Saad Abdul Amir.
“It was a good warm-up game for us as we have not had any preparations," the Portuguese Queiroz told www.socceroos.com.au.
“We used our locally-based players as those in Europe are busy with their clubs. It was a good chance for our players to get a run out and to express themselves against quite an experienced team."
It was a strong Iraqi line-up and the former Real Madrid and Portugal boss has warned Australia to expect a tough match in tough conditions. “Iraq always has good players and they have been training in Dubai for some time,” said Queiroz. “Technically the team is good and they are very focused. They will be ready for the game with Australia.”
As well as the likes of Ali Adnan and Mohannad Abdul Raheem, there will be other problems for the Caltex Socceroos to deal with at the PAS Stadium in Tehran. “The pitch at the Azadi Stadium [where Iran plays] is good but it is the end of winter in Tehran, the other pitches are not in good condition. The playing surface may be a problem. “Also Iraq have been in the region for some time while Australia has to travel a long way to come and have all their players coming from different parts of the world.”
Despite the practical problems, Queiroz expects Ange Postecoglou and his men to take the three points in this Group B encounter, just as it did in Perth last September. “I believe that Australia is the better team. They have more experience and are more competitive. "It will be a tough game but they should be able to come through.” It is a matter of curiosity that since Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 it has never faced Iran, in a fixture of any kind either competitive or friendly, though there have been meetings in FIFA World Cup play-offs in the past. “We made a couple of attempts to arrange a game with Australia,” revealed Queiroz.
“It is not easy however. The problem is that Australia plans its national team games long in advance. In this part of the world [Iran], the decision-making culture is more last-minute and it is difficult for us to plan a year in advance. “I am sure we will meet before long. It would be an exciting occasion for Iranian fans.” "
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/...UIzSCi2VmTG.99Comment
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is so funny, iran is safe for aus and iraq to play in there, but not safe for saudi to come and play in iran, is a joke, pure pure jokeComment
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