Iran coach Qalenoei names squad for Jordan tournament
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei announced Iran’s 23-man squad for the upcoming friendly tournament in Jordan.
The Asian powerhouse will play the host at Amman International Stadium on Friday with the winner taking on Qatar or Iraq in the final.
Should Iran be pitted against Qatar, there will be will be a reunion with former Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, who left the Iran job after last year’s World Cup to take over at the reigning Asian Cup champion ahead of its title defense on home soil in January.
AS Roma striker Sardar Azmoun, who was absent for September’s friendlies against Bulgaria and Angola to recover from an injury, will make a return to the team.
Persepolis center-back Hossein Kan’anizadegan is also back in the squad after missing the previous two matches for disciplinary reasons.
Sepahan strikers Shahriyar Moghanlou and Morteza Asadi, who have been in flying form in the Iranian top flight this season, are not in the list, making way for Karim Ansarifard as the veteran striker receives a first international call-up since the cameo appearance against USA in the World Cup.
Three-time champion Iran will begin the quest for a first Asian trophy since 1976 when facing Palestine in Group C of the continent’s flagship international event – also featuring the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong – in Al Rayyan’s Education City Stadium on January 14.
The following is Iran’s full squad for the visit to Jordan:
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan), Seyyed Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal)
Defenders: Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Hossein Kan’anizadegan (Persepolis), Morteza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Mohammad Daneshgar (Sepahan), Amin Hazbavi (Al Sadd), Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens), Milad Mohammadi (AEK Athens), Sadeq Moharami (Dinamo Zagreb), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan)
Midfielders: Saeed Ezzatollahi (Vejle BK), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Ahmad Nourollahi (Al Wahda), Mohammad Mohebbi (FC Rostov), Mohammad-Javad Hosseinnejad (Sepahan)
Strikers: Sardar Azmoun (AS Roma), Mahdi Taremi (FC Porto), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Saman Qoddous (Brentford), Mehrdad Mohammadi (Esteghlal), Karim Ansarifard (Omonoia FC).