Iran needs tougher tests, Qalenoei insists after Palestine win
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei said the country’s young internationals need to be tested against top-level teams in friendly matches to develop the experience required for the major tournaments ahead.
Qalenoei made the remarks after Team Melli defeated Palestine 2-0 in the first of its two matches at a four-team friendly tournament in Basra, Iraq, on Saturday.
Iran enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and created several clear-cut chances but still had to wait until the 77th minute to break the deadlock against the world No. 92 side, which had been reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute following a second booking for midfielder Ameed Sawafta. Sardar Azmoun volleyed home Hossein Goodarzi’s cross into the bottom corner.
Iran’s second goal was a replica of the opener, as Goodarzi, making his international debut, found his Esteghlal teammate Saleh Hardani in the box before the latter’s sliding volley sealed the victory with six minutes remaining.
“It was a very good game. Palestine had enjoyed a decent run of results in its previous 10 matches, suffering only one defeat. They are a very good, well-organized team with a good goalkeeper, who could even have been named the man of the match.
“We could have scored at least twice in the first half and early in the second, but the Palestine goalkeeper made some excellent saves,” the Iranian coach said.
Against the backdrop of criticism he has faced in recent years over his aging squad – the second-oldest at June’s FIFA World Cup – Qalenoei has injected fresh blood into the roster for the Basra tournament, with Al Wasl striker Mahdi Taremi and Tractor center-back Shoja Khalilzadeh among the high-profile absentees during the November international break.
“During this international window, we decided to give young players more playing time, and I think they passed the test. However, a team like Iran, which wants to give more opportunities to its youngsters, needs to play against stronger opponents,” Qalenoei said.
Qalenoei and his new-look team will face a more formidable test next when they take on familiar foe Iraq in the tournament on Tuesday.
“The match against Iraq will provide us with a good opportunity to give young players a chance to perform in front of a large crowd and under difficult circumstances,” he said.
Qalenoei also explained the significant changes to Iran’s starting lineup compared to the previous international window in September, when Team Melli suffered back-to-back defeats against Uzbekistan and Russia.
“These matches are about giving younger players opportunities, so the result comes second. The result matters, of course, but we must use this opportunity to usher in a new generation of players for the national team,” he said.
Asked about the decision to field debutant goalkeepers Mohammad Khalifeh and Habib Farabbasi against Palestine, he said: “It was part of the many changes we made for this match. Our two goalkeepers made their international debuts and performed well. With two matches ahead of us, we wanted to give both of them an opportunity.
“The teams taking part in the Basra tournament are good sides. We want to face greater pressure in our matches and, as will be the case against Iraq, play in front of large crowds.
“Every team needs to face top-level opposition to see how its young players respond. We played Belgium and Egypt at the World Cup, and before the Asian Cup, we also need to take on major opponents in front of 70,000 to 80,000 spectators.”
The Iranian coach recalled Iraq’s friendly against Spain ahead of a previous World Cup, saying his team needed similar tests.
“I remember Iraq played Spain before the World Cup. We need matches like that, too. The national team should be a blend of experience and youth.
The Basra tournament was intended to form part of Iran’s preparations for next January’s AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, before the flagship continental competition was postponed by 11 months due to security concerns in the region.
“Before heading into the Asian Cup, we need to play high-profile matches to assess our players’ capabilities in terms of tactical understanding. Our team is in good shape, and I believe we can be among the teams that perform better than they did in the previous edition.”