Teymourian targets 2007 atonement

Having experienced heartache in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup four years ago, Iran midfielder Andranik Teymourian is confident of a more positive outcome for his country in this year’s tournament in Qatar.

Teymourian was an ever-present for Team Melli during their campaign in Kuala Lumpur in 2007 when he played alongside former Asian Players of the Year Ali Karimi and Mehdi Mahdavikia as well as experienced campaigners like Rahman Rezaei and Vahid Hashemian.

The talented Iranians topped their group, finishing ahead of Uzbekistan, China and Malaysia, but their progress was halted in the last eight when they were beaten by Korea Republic in a penalty shootout after the game had finished goalless.

Four years on and the team, now coached by Iranian-American Afshan Ghotbi, is much changed with Teymourian, Mohammad Nosrati and captain Javad Neknounam the only survivors from the side that started the match against the Koreans in the Malaysian capital.

Now a senior player for Team Melli, Teymourian believes that they can turn the table on the Koreans when they meet in their fifth consecutive AFC Asian Cup quarter-final clash at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium on Saturday.

“In the last Asian Cup, it was a very different team and we were very unlucky to be knocked out by Korea Republic because we lost on penalties,” the 27-year-old told www.afcasiancup com.

“Most of the players that were with us then are not with us this time, but we still have some players with really good experience in this team. I’ve brought all of my experience from Europe along with some other players and we also have really good young players that can make a good impression in this Asian Cup.

“As a team, I think that we’re playing really well and we are getting better every single game even though the coach hasn’t always been able to pick the best players from the 23-man squad for his starting line-up because of injuries or illness.

“But I would say that with the good combination of young players and experienced players that we have on this team, Iran can win the tournament.”

Iran were the only team to finish the group stage with a perfect record and Teymourian feels that Ghotbi has done a good job instilling a winning mentality in the team after their disappointing failure to qualify for last year’s World Cup in South Africa.

“We are playing more organised football and we have a good mentality,” he said.

“Everybody is thinking positive in the training session and in the matches, and nobody is thinking negative. That’s the only way you can win the tournament.

“It’s not that other teams aren’t thinking positive as well but with the team that we have now, I think that everybody’s ready to win the trophy.”

Teymourian has added incentive for a good tournament as he is eager for a move back to European club football. He spent four years at English Premier League clubs Bolton and Fulham but returned to Iran Pro League side Traktor Sazi last year after his application for a work permit to play for Blackburn Rovers was rejected.

“I miss Europe but I hope that I can play really well in this tournament. Nobody knows what’s going to be happening in the next couple of weeks or who’s going to win this tournament and I hope that we can be one of the teams in the final and that we can win the trophy.

“That’s all that the coach and the players are thinking about on our
team – that Iran can win the tournament and bring some joy and change
the lives of the Iranian people.”