Queiroz names preliminary Iran squad

PFDC – TEHRAN, Carlos Queiroz named a preliminary 37-men squad for the friendly match against Jordan and the World Cup qualifier against Qatar.

Iran will face Jordan in a friendly match in Dubai on February 23 without any of the legionnaires. The foreign based players will then show up three days before the final World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Tehran on February 29.

After the Persian Gulf Cup matches this week, the list will be reduced to 27 men. The Esteghlal Tehran players will join the national team’s camp with some days delay, due to their Asian Champions League playoff match against Branko Ivankovic’s Al Ettifaq next Saturday.

Vfl Wolfsburg winger Ashkan Dejagah was named among the players and reportedly will finally join Team Melli for the Qatar game, however, too often in the past his arrival had been reported prematurely, so it is still an uncertainty if the Tehran-born former German Bundesliga champion will wear the Iranian national team jersey.

Another possible debutant from abroad, St. Truiden striker Reza Ghoochannejhad, is currently sidelined injured, and therefore never was an option for this occassion. Long-time injured Masoud Shojaei of Osasuna is of course also missing from the list.

Noteable absentees from Queiroz’ list are injured Esteghlal midfield wizards Andranik Teymourian and Mojtaba Jabbari. Instead of them, veteran playmaker Ferydoon Zandi and recovered Ghasem Hadadifar received call-ups.

While promising youngster Omid Alishah of Rah Ahan had to be crossed off the list also due to injury, some interesing young players were named. Goalkeeper Mohammad-Bagher Sadeghi, who replaced Shahab Gordan as Zob Ahan’s number one keeper is one of them, alongside Mes Kerman defender Shoja Khalilzadeh and Fajr Sepasi midfielder Reza Haghighi.

Iran have already qualified for the final stage of Asian World Cup qualifiers, only aiming to consolidate their group win against second placed Qatar and their good FIFA ranking, which would make them entering the draw in March as fourth seed.

Below comes the squad list.

Goalkeepers:
Mehdi Rahmati – Esteghlal Tehran
Alireza Haghighi – Rubin Kazan, RUS*
Sosha Makani – Naft Tehran
Mohsen Forouzan – Tractor Sazi Tabriz
Mohammad-Bagher Sadeghi – Zob Ahan Esfahan

Defenders:
Hadi Aghily – Al Arabi, QAT*
Jalal Hosseini – Sepahan Esfahan
Mohsen Bengar – Sepahan Esfahan
Pejman Montazeri – Esteghlal Tehran
Alireza Noormohammadi – Persepolis Tehran
Shoja Khalilzadeh – Mes Kerman
Khosro Heydari – Esteghlal Tehran
Ali Hamoudi – Esteghlal Tehran
Hossein Mahini – Zob Ahan Esfahan
Ehsan Hajisafi – Tractor Sazi Tabriz
Mehrdad Pouladi – Persepolis Tehran

Midfielders:
Javad Nekounam – CA Osasuna, ESP*
Pejman Nouri – Emirates FC, UAE*
Maziar Zare – Persepolis Tehran
Ghasem Hadadifar – Tractor Sazi Tabriz
Reza Haghighi – Fajr Sepasi Shiraz
Ali Karimi – Persepolis Tehran
Mohammad Nouri – Persepolis Tehran
Ferydoon Zandi – Esteghlal Tehran
Mohsen Mosalman – Malavan Anzali

Wingers:
Ashkan Dejagah – Vfl Wolfsburg, GER*
Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari – Al Wasl, UAE*
Gholamreza Rezaei – Persepolis Tehran
Mohammad Ebrahimi – Tractor Sazi Tabriz
Mehdi Rajabzadeh – Fajr Sepasi Shiraz
Amir-Hossein Feshangchi – Persepolis Tehran

Strikers:
Mohammad Ghazi – Zob Ahan Esfahan
Karim Ansarifard – Saipa Karaj
Reza Norouzi – Foolad Khuzestan
Arash Borhani – Esteghlal Tehran
Mohammad Gholami – Damash Gilan
Mehdi Seyed-Salehi – Sepahan Esfahan

* Unavailable for the friendly match against Jordan on February 23.