Venezuela friendly cancelled, Queiroz approves

PFDC – TEHRAN, The friendly match between Iran and Venezuela scheduled for June 6 in Tehran was cancelled, Iranian news agency “ISNA” reports on Monday.

Team Melli team manager Abbas Torabian explained the match, which would have been the first game as Iranian headcoach for newly appointed Carlos Queiroz, was called of for two reasons.

The first reason being that the Iranian Hazfi Cup now will take longer than initially planned and will prolong the season for the players, the second being the fact that Queiroz himself believes the players rather need rest after a long and exhausting season than playing a challenging friendly match.

Iran’s next game therefore will be the July 17 friendly against Madagascar in Tehran’s Azadi stadium. Team Melli will then take on the Maledives in Tehran (July 23) and Male (July 28) in World Cup qualfication round 2.

Additionally Queiroz’ men will hold training camps from May 23-25 in Tehran and June 27 – July 9 in a yet undefined place in Europe.

The Portugese announced to call up his first squad on May 22.

The third stage of World Cup qualification will then kick off on September 2 and last until February 2012, with August 10 being the only FIFA matchday before that. Iran haven’t yet set a friendly match for that date.