Mehdi Rajabzadeh told the sports reporter of Tasnim News Agency about the match between the Iranian national football team and the UAE in the final qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar: “In the previous stage of the tournament, we got extraordinary results.” We had some objections, which was normal given that Skocic had spent little time in the national team. We came out of these games proud and that helped us along the way. The national team has achieved the necessary cohesion, order and coordination, and it can be said that it is a head and neck higher than Asia.
“The players play very well in the national team and all of them are sympathetic,” he said. “People and the media also support the national team and we have ideal conditions.” This situation is not a guarantee for the defeat of the UAE, but we have good conditions and we have achieved acceptable results. The necessary ground is now ready to advance to the World Cup as the first team in Group A.
The former national football team of our country said about the match with the national team of South Korea: Iran and Korea are the first two powers in Asia and they have high quality players. South Korea has always been a tough opponent and sometimes we beat this team at home; Sometimes we lose to this team in Iran. The match between the two teams is not very predictable, and in addition to tactical issues, football events are also involved in the outcome. We beat Korea once in a situation where we did not have a good team, we scored in the second half and then we retreated.
Referring to the confrontation between Iran and South Korea in 2006, Rajabzadeh noted: “In one game, we had to score a lot of goals, which we equalized with Hashemian’s goal due to a blunder by the South Korean defender.” The players of Japan and South Korea play in the first level of the world and they take advantage of every opportunity. We should not make mistakes against these teams. Iranian players such as Tarmi, Azmoun and Gholizadeh have very good conditions and we have a solid team. The national team has a very good atmosphere and everyone works to advance the team’s goals.
Regarding Mehdi Monajati’s criticism of Skocic for not giving a chance to the players who play in our country’s Premier League, he said: “A coach may focus on legionnaires or domestic league players.” Skocic has done well and we have to let him do his job.
The former player of the Iranian national team praised the condition of the Iranian legionnaires and said: “Our legionnaires have been extraordinary and it has become difficult for Premier League players to enter the national team.” Of course, the way is open for them to be transferred to foreign leagues, and they can also be invited to the national team. Inside the country, we have capable players like Amiri and Torabi, who are also in the national team, but the legionnaires have better conditions and it is natural that they are Skochic’s priority.