Iran coach Qalenoei wary of complacency against North Korea, Kyrgyzstan
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei warned his players cannot afford to be carried away by the emphatic victory over Qatar when they face North Korea and Kyrgyzstan in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Team Melli takes on North Korea in Vientiane, Laos, on Thursday, before playing away to Kyrgyzstan at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek next Tuesday.
Sardar Azmoun and Mohammad Mohebbi scored twice apiece as Iran came from behind to hammer Asian Cup champion Qatar 4-1 in Dubai last time out in the qualifiers in mid-October.
A third win in four outings saw Iran overtake Uzbekistan on top of Group A on goal difference and, more significantly, open a six-point gap on third-place UAE in the six-team table.
With a top-two finish securing direct qualification for the 2026 finals, maximum points against the bottom two sides of the group will help Qalenoei’s men edge closer to a place in the showpiece in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“We are at a crucial stage [of the Asian qualifiers] with two important games ahead of us. Victory in those two games will all but secure the World Cup qualification for Iran. We can become the first team to qualify for the finals,” Qalenoei told the official website of the Iranian Football Federation before his team’s visit to Vientiane.
“I’ve already told my players to forget all about the match against Qatar. It has been nearly a month since that game, but, unfortunately, that is part of the Iranian footballers’ mindset as they keep basking in the glory of a triumph for too long,” added Qalenoei.
North Korea sits bottom of the group with two points, though Qalenoei believes their results don’t reflect the true quality of Thursday’s opponent.
“Our analysis of them suggests they are a hard-working team with high level of endurance. They held the UAE to a draw [in Al Ain] but were unlucky to miss a penalty in that game. That’s also what happened to them when they were beaten [1-0] at Uzbekistan.
“They will be tough opponents, but we will still deliver an attack-minded football and go all out for the three points,” Iran coach said.
Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, cost Iran all sorts of trouble when the two sides met in their Group A opener in September, with Qalenoei having a Mahdi Taremi’s first-half strike to thank for the hard-fought 1-0 win in Isfahan.
Despite a decent run of results, Team Melli has not been immune to criticism from some fans and pundits, but Qalenoei says his players can use this to their advantage.
“I believe the national team belongs to all Iranians, and we should respect every critic’s view. Team Melli has found its way, though I’m not saying we’re flawless and all scrutiny, as long as it’s not personal, can help us stay on track and continue moving in the right direction.”