Iran’s boss evaluates Asian rivals

PTV – TEHRAN, Iran’s head coach Afshin Qotbi has evaluated his side’s rivals ahead of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, which will begin in Qatar this Friday.

Reminding Iran’s 35 years of waiting to win the tournament’s title, Qotbi said that Team Melli has the quality to claim the title and history has always shown it.

The Asian powerhouse is in Group D, which also includes defending champion Iraq, World Cup finalist North Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Qotbi believes Group D is the toughest at the tournament, saying that the pressure is on Iran, the three-time Asian Cup champion.

“We have Iraq, which is coming here as champion, and they have the confidence that comes with being champion and they have enough of the quality players, who helped them achieve that championship still with the team,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.

“North Korea will make life difficult for every team, just like they did for Brazil at the World Cup in South Africa.”

United Arab Emirates is the “dark horse” of the group, the Iranian manager said.

Iran takes on Iraq on January 11, North Korea on January 15 and the UAE four days later.

Iran won the tournament in 1968, 1972 and 1976, but crashed out disappointingly in 2007 in the quarterfinal to South Korea.