Iran coach Qalenoei rues ‘schoolboy mistakes’ in Uzbekistan defeat
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei lamented “schoolboy mistakes” by two players in his side’s 3-1 defeat to Uzbekistan in a friendly in Fergana on Thursday, apologizing for the loss but expressing confidence that the national team would improve.
Iranian captain Ehsan Hajsafi, who on the day equaled Javad Nekounam as Team Melli’s all-time most-capped player with 149 appearances, was to blame for the first goal, as his sideways pass was intercepted by Eldor Shomurodov before the Uzbek striker’s low drive found the bottom corner in the 10th minute.
Jakhongir Urozov’s own goal from a Ramin Rezaeian set piece drew Iran level four minutes into the second half, but Shomurodov restored the home side’s advantage from the spot nine minutes later after Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand punched Behruzjon Karimov in the head while attempting to clear the ball.
Khusain Norchaev added the third in the fourth minute of added time as Iran’s winless run against the Central Asian side extended to seven games since the 2023 CAFA Championship final.
“I apologize for this defeat and congratulate Uzbekistan and their good coach. It was a very good game,” Qalenoei said after the game.
The coach said Iran conceded its first two goals through individual errors while controlling the game.
“We conceded the first and second goals because of individual mistakes, at times when we were controlling the game,” Qalenoei said. “The first goal came from a very schoolboy mistake. In the second half, our substitutions helped us score, and we were trying to score a second goal, but an experienced player made another very childish mistake and our situation fell apart.”
Qalenoei said the large number of changes made to the team since its World Cup campaign in June had also contributed to an inconsistent performance, with several players making their international debuts.
“We made many changes and many players were playing in the national team environment for the first time,” he said. “We were satisfied with some of them, while others need more time and more matches before they can help the national team.”
The Iranian coach acknowledged Uzbekistan’s progress but said the match was primarily an opportunity to assess younger players.
He rejected suggestions that Iran’s problems were physical, saying the team had held only a few training sessions since the World Cup.
“The problem was not physical. You can only have two or three training sessions in such circumstances,” he said. “This was also the first FIFA international window after the World Cup, and I said yesterday that we have not yet reached our ideal condition. I am certain we will be in much better shape against Russia.”
Iran will then play Russia in Kazan on Tuesday, which will mark a third friendly between the two sides since Qalenoei was appointed to the national team job for a second spell in March 2023.
Qalenoei still accepted responsibility for the defeat, while saying mistakes were part of football.
“I accept that the schoolboy mistakes made by two of our players cost us the result,” he said. “The main culprit is me. Even though it was a friendly, we have to apologize to the Iranian people.”
With the Asian Cup approaching, Qalenoei also acknowledged the need for changes to the squad but said they would have to be made gradually.
“We want to make changes, but they have to be made in a way that does not hurt us too much,” he said. “Unfortunately, today we were hurt by two experienced players and conceded goals. That is part of football.”
Qalenoei concluded by expressing confidence in Iran’s recovery. “I am certain that the national team’s progress will resume,” he said.
Three-time champion Iran will begin its bid for a first title since 1976 when the continental showpiece gets underway in Saudi Arabia on January 7, where Team Melli is joined by China, Kyrgyzstan and Syria in Group C.