Ghotbi targets AFC Asian Cup triumph

AFC – TEHRAN, Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi said on Sunday he is hoping to pilot his side to glory in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ which would be Team Melli’s first title in 35 years.

The draw for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™, to be played in Qatar from January 7-29, groups Iran, the Asian powerhouse of the late 1960s and through the 1970s, with defending continental champions Iraq, DPR Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

“My aim is for Team Melli (national team) to make it to the final after 35 years and become champions,” Ghotbi said, referring to Iran’s last triumph in 1976, when they beat Kuwait to become champions for the third time in a row.

“When one promises something he has to have control on all the circumstances, but when I cannot control many of the circumstances I cannot promise the championship,” he told reporters.

“But we will do our best to make 75 million Iranians happy,” he said.

“The atmosphere in the Team Melli camp is good, and our training is going in the right direction. So far we have achieved a good level of confidence in our away games,” Ghotbi said, referring to a 3-1 win over Armenia on August 11.

He praised the current team lineup, which includes Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei of Spanish La Liga club Osasuna, adding: “The door for other players to the national squad is not closed yet.”

Iran are to play more away friendlies, against China on September 3 and Korea Republic on September 7, as part of their AFC Asian Cup preparations, said the coach.

“I chose these two teams since they were the best teams available on those dates. China has been totally transformed, especially after not making it to South Africa 2010, and Korea will be a very good challenge.”

Ghotbi previously worked with the US national team before a long stint assisting Dutch coaches Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat and then Pim Verbeek with the Koreans.

Iran, with a current FIFA ranking of 65 that puts them behind Japan, Korea Republic and Australia, won the AFC Asian Cup in 1968, 1972 and 1976, and they hosted the continent’s biggest football event in 1968 and 1976.