Fox Sport: How are Asia’s hopes shaping up for the 2018 World Cup? [Iran]

Fox Sports – HONG KONG, Less than two weeks out from the start of the FIFA World Cup things are far from plain sailing for Asia’s five representatives.

Shambolic preparation, cancelled practice matches, late coaching changes, controversial squad selections and poor collective and individual form are all setting off alarm bells as to how the record number of AFC nations will fare at the global showpiece.

How Iran, Saudi Arabia, Korea Republic, Japan and Australia fare will determine in the minds of many just where Asian football is at, and it may likely have a real impact on how many slots the AFC is awarded at the soon to be expanded World Cup.

With so much at stake, it’s fair to be concerned with just how preparations have gone thus far and FOX Sports Asia takes a look at the issues at hand and what needs to be fixed for torchbearers to meet or exceed expectations in Russia.

— Iran —
Iran will have to get past Spain or Portugal if they are to have any chance of reaching the Round of 16.
Preparation: Asia’s strongest nation should be the continent’s best hope of progression but they drew the toughest group of all and as usual their preparation has been nothing less than chaotic.

Things started with the controversial omission from the squad of veteran defensive leader Jalal Hosseini and then continued through to the reported threat – for the 5000th time – of coach Carlos Queiroz to quit his post.

A planned friendly against Turkey in Greece was cancelled due to political tension, then Kosovo was named as a replacement only for issues around the game to be played behind closed doors to see that match also cancelled at the last minute.

It leaves Team Melli with only a match against Lithuania prior to their opening World Cup fixture with Morocco and it’s frankly astonishing that this car-crash preparation has once again happened at a nation that has extensive prior form in the area.

Issues to address: In the only real hit-out that the team has had, Iran fell 2-1 to Turkey which, aside from the result, posed as many questions as had answers arriving.

Queiroz made some curious squad selections that started with Rouzbeh Cheshmi struggling mightily as Hosseini’s replacement and stretched through to the odd sight of Masoud Shojaei lining up as a defensive midfielder.

Further forward, there’s no question that the team possesses a wealth of attacking riches but the question now comes as to how the coach will manage to fit these into a workable system and have them pulling together as one.