Queiroz: Iran ready to face a tough task

PFDC – BEIRUT, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz believes that the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier against Lebanon on Tuesday evening will be a tough match against highly motivated Lebanese players, who are ready to celebrate their first victory over Iran.

After several humble results in the past friendly matches against the African top squad Tunisia and the West-Asian lightweight Jordan, the former Portugal and Real Madrid coach will be warned not to underestimate the Lebanese national team who managed to catch the Asian powerhouse South Korea flat-footed with a 2-1 home victory during the third stage of the Asian World Cup qualifiers in October 2011.

“Despite the fact that our match against Lebanon is not going to be easy, we have a great chance to win. We can‘t underestimate Lebanon because they are a strong team especially when they play at home and therefore the task will not be easy”, Queiroz said in the prematch press conference.

“I watched Lebanon‘s match against Australia and I have formed a good idea about them. They are not easy to play against, but we must get the three important points from the match.”

Queiroz, who described Iran‘s next opponent as a good team with fighting spirit, stated that Iran will have to face the task without several players. Nonetheless, the Portuguese star coach is confident that his players are capable of getting a good result.

His German counterpart Theo Bücker pointed out that his side needs to be concentrated as “the result is really important and could determine our campaign in the qualifiers.”

His hopes rest with their star duo, former Hamburger SV midfielder Roda Antar and Mahmoud El Ali, who both missed the first three qualifiers against Qatar, Uzbekistan and South Korea.

Bücker already vowed to line up his team in a 3-5-2 formation with Antar playing behind the two strikers, whereas former FC Cologne defender Youssef Mohammed could find himself on the bench.

Meanwhile the Iranian national team will have to snatch a win without FC Fulham‘s Ashkan Dejagah, Persepolis’ Mehrdad Pouladi, Esteghlal‘s Mojtaba Jabbari and Khosro Heydari due to injury as well as Al-Kharaitiyiat and former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Andranik Teymourian due to a yellow card suspension.

While Sint Truiden striker Reza Ghoochannejhad’s FIFA player passport still hasn’t arrived, targetman Mohammad Ghazi, who had been plagued by a stretched ligament, could participate in Team Melli’s final training session on Monday.

Below comes Iran’s possible line-up:

Rahmati – Mahini, Aghily, Montazeri/Hosseini, Hajsafi – M. Nouri/Nazari, Nekounam, Karimi – Shojaei, Khalatbari – Ansarifard