Asian Cup: Iran out to end 35 years of hurt
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Loading...decades this month and revive the glory days of the 1960s and 1970s.
They clash with holders and arch rivals Iraq in a potentially explosive Group D which also includes World Cup finalists North Korea and the unfancied United Arab Emirates.
Afshin Ghotbi is the man charged with ending 35 years of hurt for Iran, an Asian powerhouse that is among the better sides in Qatar but which has seen its dominance of the region wane badly in recent times.
“I think for a country like Iran, with its history, we have to target always at the Asian Cup to win the title,” Ghotbi said.
“We’ve had to wait 35 years but maybe we can achieve it. I believe we have the quality to achieve it and history has always shown that.”
However, Ghotbi’s side goes into the tournament in patchy form that culminated in an uninspiring 0-0 draw with hosts Qatar in a warm-up match on December 28.
Ghotbi acknowledges the pressure is on the three-time champions, who won the tournament in 1968, 1972 and 1976 but crashed out disappointingly in 2007 in the quarter-finals to South Korea.
After the bore draw with Qatar, the under-pressure Ghotbi highlighted Japan’s poor form in the run-up to the World Cup in South Africa, where the Japanese impressed in reaching the last 16.
“Japan in 2010 during their preparation saw some bad results but they had good results at the World Cup,” said Ghotbi, who is to take over as coach of J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse in February.
He will be the first Iranian to manage in Japan but his decision to move there has led to accusations in football-mad Iran that Ghotbi is not entirely focused on the national side, which does not boast the talent of yesteryear.
“We have the team, we have prepared a good training programme here in Qatar which has been very good for us and I believe that we will be ready on January 11 and the game that comes against Iraq,” insisted Ghotbi.
Iran made it to the finals with ease, comfortably topping their qualifying group to ensure their participation in the Asian Cup finals for a record-equalling 12th time.
Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojai of Spanish La Liga club Osasuna are two of the star performers for Iran, while midfielder Andranik Teymourian figured in the English Premier League for Bolton Wanderers and Fulham.
Ghotbi believes Group D is the toughest at the tournament.
“We have Iraq who are coming here as champions and they have the confidence that comes with being champions and they have enough of the quality players who helped them achieve that championship still with the team,” he said.
“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 are the “dark horse” of the group, he said.
Iran take on North Korea on January 15 and UAE four days later.
