Captain Dejagah wants Iran colleagues to focus on next game
TEHRAN, IRAN - OCTOBER 11: Ashkan Dejagah of Iran and Oh Jaesuk in action during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Iran and Korea at Azadi Stadium on October 11, 2016 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)
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Loading...AFC – TEHRAN, Islamic Republic of Iran captain Ashkan Dejagah has warned his Team Melli colleagues to focus on one game at a time despite holding top spot in Group A of Asia’s qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after their impressive win over Korea Republic.
Sardar Azmoun scored the only goal of the game despite a dominant showing by the three-time Asian champions, who now stand one point clear of second-placed Uzbekistan with 10 points from their first four games.
“I think we have had two difficult games, two tough games against Uzbekistan and Korea but we have to think step-by-step and the next game is a hard game, it’s in front of us against Syria,” the Qatar-based forward, who missed the 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in Tashkent last week due to a calf injury, told the-AFC.com.
“They’re also not an easy team to play and we have to focus on the next game and hopefully we can play the same way as we did against Korea. I think we’re in a good position but there are still a lot of games and a lot of points. We have to think step-by-step and the next game is against Syria and it will be difficult too.”
Syria have picked up just one win – against bottom-of-the-table China on Matchday Three – in their first four matches and the game will be played in Malaysia on November 15.
Should Carlos Queiroz’s side show form similar to that on display in their performance against the Koreans, who they stifled throughout the game and denied a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes, then Iran will be difficult to defeat.
“I think we played well from the first minute to the last minute,” said Dejagah of the win at the Azadi Stadium. “I think it’s always difficult for Korea against us because we always play as a team and are compact and we did that again. We’re happy with the three points.
“We have a team with a lot of young players and they need a little bit more experience but we are trying our best and I think since the first game we have improved a lot.”
