Team Melli defeated Thailand in its final AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifier in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. The victory came thanks to a last minute goal by Javad Nekounam. 
(Click here to read the match report and see the highlight video) 
Iran dominated the match and Thailand had very few good looks at Iran’s goal, but that was [...]

Yesterday after his team defeated Esteghlal of Tehran in the Hazfi Cup, Hamid Estili, Steel of Azin Coach criticized Team Melli coach Afshin Ghotbi for leaving out his star defender and and Team Melli veteran Hossein Kaebi. 
A day earlier Zob-Ahan of Isfahan coach Mansour Ebrahimzadeh did the same thing in his post match interview. “I [...]

In a move designed to put an end to all the rumors regarding Team Melli Coach Afshin Ghotbi’s qualifications and the terms of his contract, the Iranian Football Federation (IRIFF) published copies of his coaching certification and copy of his contract on their website.
Based on the released information, the terms in Ghotbi’s contract are very [...]

Team Melli has qualified for the Asian Cup 2011 tournament, but the pressure on Afshin Ghotbi is increasing. Earlier this week a member of the Iranian Parliament suggested that they should look into other options, and immediately after that, as if it was a queue, a number of other coaches and so called football experts [...]

Team Melli fans, I am finally glad to be the bearer of some good news for you! After over three years of mediocre soccer at best, and all sorts of record setting losses, we finally won one that mattered. Yes, we defeated Singapore to make it to Asian Cup 2011 tournament.
OK, fine; Singapore is not [...]

John Duerden of goal.com is one of the few non-Iranians that can speak with authority about Iranian football. Over the years he has amassed a lot of knowledge about the current and historical aspects of Iranian football. He knows the players and personalities, recognizes the games that they play, and understands the drivers behind everything.
His [...]

Finally a marker in the win column for Team Melli!
Team Melli defeated South Africa bound Korea DPR 1-0. This time I managed to watch the entire match. I was happy with what I saw in the first half. The boys kept good ball possession with short passes and created two or three good chances, and [...]

Team Melli dropped its second match in Qatar international tournament. This time the defeat came courtesy of Mali.
Iran took the lead early in the second half but Mali came storming back shortly after.
Read the match report here.
I am not too concerned over the outcome of this match as it was obvious that Coach Ghotbi was [...]

……… Woosh! We drop even further down!
Iran lost its opening match of the Qatar International Tournament to the hosts.
I watched parts of the game. Our defending was dreadful, but there was a stretch after 30th minute and then another towards the end of the game, Qatar’s third goal not counting, that the [...]

Team Melli is in Qatar to play in Qatar’s friendly tournament. On schedule are Korea DPR, Mali, and Qatar.
Coach Ghotbi has been under sever criticism in the media; some fair and mostly not. The big question is will he survive this tournament if his team does not get convincing results?
Team Melli will be playing 4 [...]