No surprises in final Team Melli squad

Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN, Iran’s roster for the World Cup qualifiers versus India and Oman (March 24 and 29, both in Tehran) was announced Saturday morning.

Perhaps the only surprise in Carlos Queiroz’s final 24-men-squad is the inclusion of 23-year-old Gostaresh Foolad midfielder Dariush Shojaeian.

Missing are goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi and captain Andranik Teymourian, who are both injured. Due to Haghighi’s injury and number 2 Alireza Beiranvand’s suspension against India, either Mohammad-Reza Akhbari or Rashid Mazaheri will debut in goal.

Iran lead their group three points ahead of Oman, with additionally much better goal difference, and, under normal circumstances, should be able to defend the pole position with either a win against India or a draw against Oman.

The group winner automatically qualifies for the next Asian Cup and the final round of World Cup qualifying, whereas the second placed team must be among the best runners-up of all groups to follow the first placed team.

Below comes the full squad.

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Naft Tehran), Mohammadreza Akhbari (Tractor Sazi Tabriz), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan Esfahan)

Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian (Persepolis Tehran), Vouria Ghafouri (Sepahan Esfahan), Seyed Jalal Hosseini (Naft Tehran), Pejman Montazeri (Umm-Salal, QAT), Morteza Pouraliganji (Al-Sadd, QAT), Ezatollah Pourghaz (Malavan Anzali), Ehsan Hajsafi (FSV Frankfurt, GER), Milad Mohammadi (Terek Grozny, RUS)

Defensive midfielders: Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal Tehran), Saeid Ezatollahi (FK Rostov, RUS), Kamal Kamyabinia (Persepolis Tehran)

Attacking midfielders: Ashkan Dejagah (Al-Arabi, QAT), Masoud Shojaei (Al-Gharafa, QAT), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar, NED), Mehdi Torabi (Saipa Karaj), Dariush Shojaeian (Gostaresh Foolad), Vahid Amiri (Naft Tehran)

Strikers: Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton Athletic, ENG), Sardar Azmoun (FK Rostov, RUS), Karim Ansarifard (Panionios Athens, GRE), Mehdi Taremi (Persepolis Tehran)