The best generation in IR Iran is hoping to advance past the group stage for the sixth time as they get ready to compete in their third straight FIFA World Cup campaign under the same manager.
Fans of Team Melli continue to be in agony over Mehdi Taremi’s missed opportunity. Iran miraculously advanced to the next round of the tournament of the FIFA World Cup out of a group that also included Morocco and 2010 world champions Spain. With the ball on his left foot, eight yards out, and only Rui Patricio to beat, the would-be Porto goal machine missed the target.
Four years later, Taremi and company are hungry to advance under Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz after earning one point in 2014 and four in 2018. If they can raise that total, they will likely advance to the round of 16 for the first time. Following the reappointment of Carlos Queiroz in September, players such goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, Vahid Amiri, Ehsan Hajsafi, and Karim Ansarifard are once again in demand.
In Qatar FIFA World Cup of 2022, Team Melli hopes to make history, so here are five players to watch.
Mehdi Taremi
Position: Winger
Age: 30 Years
The recent meteoric rise to stardom that Mehdi Taremi underwent has only been experienced by a select few athletes. The adaptable forward was playing in Iran’s second division of football in 2014, far from the national squad. In 2022, Taremi is a well-known figure in European football, having won the top scorer honour in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and being nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.
Azmoun Sardar
Position: Striker
Age: 27 Years
Sardar Azmoun, the Yin to Taremi’s Yang, has successfully led Iran’s attack for the past seven years. Azmoun utilises his combination of imposing physique and poacher’s instinct to convert chances while Taremi drifts wide and hovers around the box.
Since he had never played senior club football at home, Azmoun began his senior career with Rubin Kazan of the Russian Premier League, turning down offers from Esteghlal and Persepolis of Iran. Azmoun established himself as one of the most well-known goal scorers in European football during his nearly ten years playing in Russia, and he also became the Iranian player with with the most goals in the history of the UEFA Champions League.
Al-Rahman Beiranvand
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Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 30 Years
As the highlight of three heroic games in which Team Melli allowed just two goals in arguably the toughest group of the tournament, Alireza Beiranvand made history in Russia 2018 four years ago by saving a penalty kick from Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 1.96-meter-tall shot stopper has since had quite the journey after earning a move from domestic powerhouse Persepolis to Belgium, where he spent a season at Royal Antwerp before being loaned out to Portuguese team Boavista. His trip to Europe, however, didn’t last long, and by the beginning of 2022, he was back in Persepolis’ records.
Ehsan Hajsafi
Position: Left-back/defensive Midfielder
Age: 32 Years
Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi, who also returned from the relative cold under Queiroz, is expected to be one of the few athletes to play in their third straight World Cup after making his debut against Nigeria in 2014.
Being a left-back by trade, the AEK Athens player is one of Queiroz’s most dependable soldiers due to his knowledge and adaptability, which enable him to fill in at either the defensive or attacking parts of midfield as well as the left wing when necessary. These abilities have helped Hajsafi amass over 120 caps for Team Melli.
Karim Ansarifard
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Age: 32 Years
Ansarifard, 32, may be past his prime and may not start for Iran in Qatar 2022, but the seasoned attacker is still vital to the team both on and off the field. He recently proved that he is a man for the big stage with his goal for Cypriot club Omonoia FC against Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League.
Ansarifard, a seasoned journeyman, has played football in Spain, Greece, Qatar, Cyprus, and England, where he spent a brief time at Nottingham Forest in 2018–19.
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