World Cup stars on the move after shining in Brazil

Maktoob-news – Algeria outperformed Iran at the World Cup in terms of points collected and stage reached but for both teams there were plenty of positives to take away from Brazil.

Their players showed the world exactly what they are capable of and ensured they could dream of moves to bigger and better things in the big leagues of Europe. In this regard at least, Algeria currently has the upper hand over Team Melli.

Rumours of Karim Ansarifard moving to the Bundesliga are welcome. Iran needs more players in the top leagues and it comes in the wake of captain Javad Nekounam returning to La Liga and Osasuna. If the striker can go to Germany and play regularly, it may redress the balance somewhat after two of the country’s best players have made a step down in their club careers.

Ashkan Dejagah and Reza Ghoochannejhad, who both caught the eye at the World Cup, have swapped the English Championship for Qatar and Kuwait respectively.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F-qlb4nwSs

Dejagah was impressive in South America, working tirelessly to create openings and giving the defences of Argentina and Bosnia plenty to think about. And despite relegation from the English Premier League last season, the German-born attacker did enough to show plenty of potential suitors that he is a force to be reckoned with.

‘Gucci’ has a great goalscoring record the national team and grabbed his country’s only goal in Brazil. After spending the first half of last season at Standard Liege in Belgium, he moved to Charlton Athletic and the English Championship.

It took the speedy striker a while to find his jet-fuelled feet in London but he showed signs of settling by the end of the season, scoring a vital goal in the team’s escape from relegation.

It was hoped after Brazil that both would move and they have done, just not in the direction expected. Neither is looking forward to a season in the Bundesliga or England’s top flight but they are preparing for the Middle East.

Dejagah is gearing up for the new Qatari season with Al Arabi while Ghoochannejhad has joined Kuwait Sports Club.

Both moves are a little disappointing. The Qatari Stars League is improving but there is still a long way to go. Players who have just impressed at the World Cup, who are coming from strong European leagues and are at the peak of their careers should not be moving to Kuwait and Qatar – in playing terms at least.

It is obviously understandable in financial terms. The money on offer exceeds what the players could earn in Europe and the absence of income tax is another major plus. Yet there is always time for such moves.

For a 26 and a 28 year-old, another three or four years in Europe, at least, would have been be a better plan. While players have the right to go where they want and they have admitted the financial benefits of such a move, it is certainly not a great development for Iran.

Dejagah has said that he can always return to Europe at a later stage. This is certainly possible but he is much more likely to get a better destination coming off a good World Cup and Premier League experience. It matters little how he performs in Qatar, the move will be greeted with a certain suspicion by European clubs and it will be tough to move to the top level.

It also flies in the face of the preferences of national team coach Carlos Queiroz. The former Real Madrid boss had made no secret that he likes his men to be playing at the highest levels possible and this means Europe. He has also been active in ensuring that members of the country’s European-based diaspora have been given chances with Team Melli.

Two of his top players swapping Europe for the Middle East is not ideal especially with the Asian Cup on the horizon.

Contrast all this with Algeria. It is fair to say that the World Cup squad had a much greater European feel to it than Iran’s before it all started, partly because of its links to France.

Yacine Brahimi was one of the standouts for the Fennecs. The 24 year-old had barely returned home after the World Cup before he was signing a deal worth a reported $9 million to move from Granada to FC Porto. He will be getting his chance in the UEFA Champions League soon. This is the example that should have been followed by the Iranian pair.

Captain Madjid Bougherra is doing things slightly differently. The defender spent a few years in England and Scotland and was slipping down the leagues before a move to Qatari club Lekhwiya in 2011. After a fine World Cup, he is on the way to newly-promoted Fujairah in the UAE.

With his 32nd birthday approaching, it is an interesting move. It could actually be seen as a step up in class though with the strides made in Qatar of late, the divide in standards between the two leagues is probably not as clear as it was.

The same can’t be said when it comes to the big leagues of Europe however. For those at the peak of their careers, it is best to stay in the west.

John Duerden