Ghotbi expects another ‘classic’
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AFC – DOHA, Coach Afshin Ghotbi is expecting another “classic” encounter when Iran renew acquaintances with Korea Republic in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ quarter-finals on Saturday, but believes his side have the quality to maintain their bid for a record fourth continental title.
Fate has once again conspired to throw the two teams together in the last eight of the tournament for the fifth successive time.
Both sides boast two victories each with the most recent clash in 2007 going the way of the Koreans, who won 4-2 on penalties after 120 minutes of football could not separate the pair.
Ghotbi believes matches between Iran and Korea Republic are what the AFC Asian Cup is all about and the 46-year-old expects Saturday’s encounter at Qatar Sports Club Stadium to prove just as memorable as past meetings.
“Iran against South Korea is a fixture etched in stone at the Asian Cup,” he said.
“It seems that at every tournament the two countries meet and it will be a classic as always.
“We started this job 20 months ago with one target and that is to win the Asian Cup for the people of Iran.”
Ghotbi’s confidence of success in Doha has been clear to see throughout the tournament and he remains unwavering in his belief that Iran will be crowned AFC Asian Cup champions for the first time since 1976.
The former Persepolis (Piroozi) boss also has little doubt that Iran can emerge triumphant should the lottery of penalties be required to separate the two, describing his goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati as the best in Asia.
“It is advantageous for both Iran and Korea Republic to try and win the game in 90 minutes so they can recover for the semi-finals,” added Ghotbi.
“I have the best goalkeeper in Asia and I have penalty takers that are top class. I have no concern that if it goes to penalties, we will come out on top.
“The Korean team is very young and I believe if it goes to penalties, they will choke under the pressure.”
Much has been made of Ghotbi’s previous experience of working with Korea Republic with the Iranian having spent five years involved with the national team, first as a match analyst and then as assistant coach.
And he is confident that his inside knowledge of the mentality of the Korean players will work to Iran’s advantage.
“The Korean team has studied our team. They probably have a very good understanding of how we play,” continued Ghotbi.
“Having said that when you have lived in a culture as I did in Korea then I think personally I have an advantage as I know how they react on their good days and bad days.”
