The Blue-Shirt boys of Uruguay played a very gritty and determined match and at the end it was them that got their tickets to go through.

But, let’s remember that our boys made history. No other Iranian football team, of any age group, had ever made it past the first round of a FIFA World Cup tournament. These boys got their names hacked into the history of Iranian football, and years from now will always be remembered as the team that paved the way through.

Congratulations to you young heroes for a fantastic tournament, and have a safe trip home.

Team Melli will play friendly matches with Iceland on November 10 and Macedonia on November 18.

Iran is currently at the top of Group 5 of the 2010 Asian Cup qualifying groups.

Goalkeepers:
Mehdi Rahmati, Vahid Taleblu, Misaq Memarzadeh, Sosha Makani

Defenders:
Mohammad Nosrati, Seyyed Jalal Hosseini, Amir Hossein Sadeghi, Hadi Aghili, Farshid Talebi, Hossein Kabi, Hashem Beikzadeh, Khosro Heydari

Midfielders:
Javad Nekounam, Masoud Shojaei, Andranik Teymourian, Mohammad Reza Khalatbari, Javad Kazemian, Majid Gholamnejad, Pejman Noori, Amir Hossein Feshangchi, Farhad Majidi, Mohammad Noori, Iman Mobali

Strikers:
Ehsan Hajsafi, Milad Meidavudi, Arash Borhani, Karim Ansarifard, Amir Mohebi, Mehrzad Madanchi, Mojtaba Zarei

A football freak South American friend mine told me that the Colombians were a better team, so since we fared well against them, we should do fine against Uruguay. I am not sure that I agree with that. I think Uruguayans are a very tough team. I have always had a soft spot for them too; a tiny country between two football giants, and yet such football pedigree. How can you not admire that?

Anyway, game day is Thursday, November 5. Click here for the schedule of the Round of 16 matches.

They defeated the European heavyweights Netherlands 1-0 to win the group. They now await the results of the other group matches to see who their opponents for the next round are. Their second round match is scheduled for November 5.

Our boys will go against one of the third place teams in groups A, B, or F, that are Germany, Brazil, or Uruguay in that order.

Our boys played a goalless draw against a very talented Colombian team under torrential rain in Calabar.

I did not see the game, but talked to a couple of friends who did. I think the general agreement is that both teams did well under the impossible conditions; however, it can be argued that the soggy condition of the field played in Iran’s favor. The Colombians are highly talented players and their on the ball skills are commendable. However, they could not show their stuff because the field did not favor individual ball handling skills.

Iran now leads the group thanks to goal difference. The Colombians are second, followed by the Dutch and Gambians in that order.

Iran will close against Netherlands on Saturday, November 31. The winner is guaranteed to go through.

Ghotbi who is dealing with one of the least talented pool of players in recent years may be desperate to bring back some of the veterans in the hope to inject some quality into this team. 

Karimi’s last competitive match with Team Melli was against Korea Republic earlier this year in which Iran managed a draw and lost a chance to compete for a spot in South Africa.

Our U17 boys who won the Asian Championships last year are showing signs of promise.

The boys, who are in Nigeria to participate in U16 World Cup, won their first match against Gambia. They Gambians are a very talented team, but our boys showed patience and maturity and pulled a 2-0 upset.

There are a few talented young men on that team who may make an impact on the senior team in three or four years’ time. One of them is their Captain Payam Sadeghian who scored one of Iran’s two goals against Gambia.

Iran will play against Columbia on Wednesday.

In an interview with Reporters Taj told reporters that he thinks new and younger players need to be recruited into Team Melli.

“I am generally happy with the progress that is being made in the senior team, but I think we need to bring in new players. If you look back at our 80s and 90s generation, you’d agree with me that we had a much stronger pool of talent” said Taj. “We just have to work harder at developing new talents.  Coach Afshin Ghotbi is making good progress, but he only can draw from the pool of talent that is available within our domestic league, and I am sure you’d agree that our domestic league is not the strongest in Asia.”

“I am very happy with our U16 program. We spent a good amount of resources on developing it. I think the results of this work will show its impact on the senior side in about four years” continued Taj.

When asked what are the goals set for the U16 in the U16 World Cup tournament in Nigeria, Taj responded, “Making it passed the first round”

It is not unusual for any nation’s national team coach to become the target of other coaches. There are many reasons for such behavior. It could be honest professional disagreement with the direction the national team coach is taking, or it could be the old club vs. country rivalry amongst other things. But there is also professional jealousy.

In case of Nader Faryadshiran it is hard to tell what prompted his attack on Ghotbi, but it was certainly unprovoked.

In an interview scheduled to cover Saipa’s upcoming match against Perspolis Faryadshiran started by criticizing the tight schedule that is typical of a World Cup year. He then went on to criticize the way his players were often called to the national team training camp.

“We went through the same thing last year when many of our players were called into national duty and ended up with various injuries”, the Saipa Coach told reporters. “Of course we would not object if the Team Melli got the results that we all hoped for, but that clearly was not the case.”

“Afshin Ghotbi told us that he knew Korea Republic team as he knew his own backyard, and promised us a trip to South Africa and did not deliver. If we had to depart with 10 players for the sake of qualifying and qualify, no one would object, but who is accountable now that we have not?” continued the coach. “If I got the Italy, or England job, I could promise Championship, but what if I failed? Would I agree to collect only a portion of my contract? As if the unfulfilled promises of making it to South Africa was not enough, they are now promising winning Asia.”

Faryadshiran went on to promise to make Ghotbi a gift of a brand new Peugeot automobile (Manufactured by Saipa Corporation).

Ghotbi, who has been observing the U17 over the last few days, told reporters that he had enjoyed watching the camaraderie and positive energy of the boys and the coaches.

“Watching the healthy atmosphere throughout the workouts has convinced me that this team has the potential to go far in this tournament”, said the coach. “I am sure that after the World Cup tournament these players will become positive additions to Iranian football”

The coach added, “I am hoping to gradually introduce many of the players on this team to the senior side. This generation has a lot to contribute to the betterment of our football”