Iran names 27-men squad for Asian Cup

AFC – TEHRAN, Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi has picked a 27-man preliminary squad for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 next month, according to Iran media reports.

The former Korea Republic assistant coach will have to trim the group to 23 by December 28th deadline.

Mehr reported that Ghotbi’s ambition is to build a team for the future. The coach is due to leave the national team after the AFC Asian Cup and join Japanese side Shimizu S-Pulse.

He was quoted as saying: “I am fully concentrated at the challenge ahead. I have worked over 20 months to build an exciting team, Iran can be proud of.

“This team has all the qualities to be the champion of Asia, and I am fully committed to make this dream a reality.”

Iran face United Arab Emirates, defending champions Iraq and DPR Korea in Group D of the AFC Asian Cup group stages.

Iran squad comprise:

Goalkeepers: Mehdi Rahmati, Ebrahim Mirzapour, Alireza Haghighi, Shahab Gordan.

Defenders: Khosro Heidari, Pejman Montazeri, Hadi Aghily, Mohamamd Nosrati, Jalal Hosseini, Farshid Talebi, Ehsan Hajsafi, Abouzar Rahimi.

Midfielders: Javad Nekounam, Andranik Teymourian, Ghasem Hadadifar, Pejman Nouri, Iman Mobali, Mehdi Kiani, Mohammad Nouri.

Forwards: Hadi Norouzi, Gholam Reza Rezaei, Masoud Shojaei, Karim Ansarifard, Arash Afshin, Mohamamd Gholami, Reza Norouzi, Mohammad Reza Khalatbari.

The Iran squad are due to leave for Doha on December 24 and play warm-up matches against Qatar and a Qatar second team. They will also face Angola on January 2.

The AFC Asian Cup is from January 7-29, 2011.