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AP - Once the dominant team on the continent,
Iran comes into the Asian Cup desperate to regain its pride and title.
A crushing 4-0 loss earlier in the month to Mexico, which also beat Iran 3-1
in last summer's World Cup, drew harsh criticism for manager Amir Qalehnoi.
Qalehnoi's decision to leave some well-known Iranian stars off his
preliminary roster in favour of Europe-based players added to the local
discontent.
And his insistence on discipline, sometimes at the expense of technical or
tactical advances, has also been condemned by critics.
None of that is likely to distract him.
"I don't care about critics. I have warned the players that if we achieve
collective order and discipline, we will reach all our demands," Iran's
state-owned daily newspaper quoted Qalehnoi as saying.
Iran may be ranked the No. 2 team in Asia, according to FIFA, but its No. 47
ranking worldwide means when comes to playing international powerhouses,
Iran is the underdog.
In effort to boost its depth and stature, Qalehnoi named five European-based
players to its Asian Cup training camp including Bolton Wanderers midfielder
Andranik Teymourian, Eintracht Frankfurts Mehdi Mahdavikia, Livorno defender
Rahmen Razaei, Hannover striker Vahid Hashemian and Bayern Munich's Ali
Karimi, who fans call the Maradona of Asia.
But much of Iran's media was critical of Qalehnoi's decision not to invite
longtime Iran soccer regulars goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour and forward
Mehrza Madanchi to the camp. Madanchi was recalled when Alireza Vahedi
Nikbakht was injured.
Inviting the players who have not played soccer for weeks and months as well
as ignoring the players who have been stars of their teams is surprising,"
independent Etemad Melli newspaper said.
"Contradictory explanations by Qalehnoi are not helpful to understand it."
Iran, which finished atop its qualifying group, knows it faces a tough field
this summer.
Japan and Saudi Arabia have each won three Asian Cup titles, and Australia
is making its first appearance at Asia's top tournament after switching from
the Oceania confederation.
"It is not a simple job to play in the competitions. Japan, Australia, Saudi
Arabia all run for the championship," Mahdavikia said.
Iran won the Asian Cup in 1968, 1972 and 1976 and took third place in 1980,
1988 and 2004.
It begins its Group C competition July 11 against Uzbekistan in Kuala
Lumpur, then has matches against China and Malaysia during the first round.
Qalehnoi plans to trim the 30-man preliminary team to 23 a week before
beginning of the matches.
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