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BUSAN, South Korea, Oct 14 (AFP) - Iran
are hoping their fourth Asian Games gold medal football triumph will set
the stage for a sustained bid to become the undisputed rulers of the sport
on the continent.
Iran beat Japan 2-1 in Sunday's final to clinch a fourth Games football
gold and now they want to see that success translated into long-term
achievement instead of the boom-bust which has dogged the national set-up.
"Iran loves football and the people are very sensitive to
results," said their Croatian coach Branco Ivancovic.
"But the team's failure to reach the last World Cup was felt as a
huge disappointment throughout the country."
The national team missed out on the 2002 World Cup finals when they tamely
surrendered their domination of the Asian zone to find themselves muscled
out in a play-off by the Republic of Ireland.
Four years earlier, Iran had reached the finals in France while their
under-23 team won the Bangkok Asian Games gold later in the year.
"Our win will create more enthusiasm
for the team and interest will rise," added Ivancovic after a title
secured against all odds.
Missing the grieving Ali Daei, who had flown home following the death of
his father, as well as the suspended Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht and Eman
Mobali, it was unheralded duo Javad Kazemeyan and Mohsen Bayatiniya who
grabbed the glory with the two decisive goals.
Bayatiniya was only in the team because of Daei's absence, but Ivancovic
stressed that his skipper's problems had served as a cooling effect on
what can often be an explosive combination of players.
"We were handicapped by not having important players so to win the
tournament with such an inexperienced line-up is a great acheivement,"
added the coach.
Despite the defeat, Japan coach Masakuni Yamamoto said that even reaching
the final had been a bonus for a team made up of under-21 players.
"I didn't expect us to get through
six tough matches here but I think that we can take great comfort from the
fact that we have established the next generation of players," said
Yamamoto who saw his side commit two defensive howlers which presented
Iran with victory.
Striker Satoshi Nakayama, who scored five times in the tournament, said
that Japan, who were playing in their first ever Asian Games final, can
take heart from the way they played.
"Iran are a good side but I didn't see a big difference between the
two teams," said the Gamba Osaka striker.
"We displayed some good aspects and were very solid. This is not the
end for us - now we can aim much higher." |
