Bijan Zolfagharansab, in an interview with Tasnim Sports News Agency, about the two leading matches of the Iranian national football team against South Korea and Lebanon in the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers, said: “If we have a higher lead in our group, we will have a better position in the FIFA rankings.” It is true that we qualified for the World Cup, but it is not our ultimate goal. The main goal is to reach the World Cup for the first time in our group with ability and authority. It should be in the minds of all players and staff. This team has the ability to pass the first stage of the World Cup.
He added: “Although playing on Korean soil is difficult, we must play with authority against this team and Lebanon.” According to FIFA and their calculations, a goal can also affect the position of the team that has reached the World Cup.
The football veteran of our country, regarding the pardon of Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan from two official matches to two friendly matches, said: “Each federation has a series of discourses within the organization that do not broadcast the media.” Many countries make their decisions public, and some find it advisable not to do so. Canaanites may be harmed for six to one year because of what they did. From another perspective, the national team will also suffer. I have not been in the decisions of the Football Federation to know what happened. I do not oppose the deprivation of Canaanites, but only if they have warned and fined him.
Regarding the one-on-one draw between Persepolis and Esteghlal in Derby 98, Zolfagharansab reminded: “The derby was not bad in terms of quality, but a number of moral mistakes were made and it was a pity that such things happened.” I did not think the game was very interesting and the result was a fair draw.
Referring to Yahya Golmohammadi’s behavior towards the referee, he said: “I do not know what happened, but he did not expect his team to score that way in the worst possible conditions.” In any case, coaches need to be restrained.
Regarding Gol Mohammadi’s resignation from the post of head coach of Persepolis, our country’s football veteran said: “This issue has been polluted to some extent.” I do not know exactly what happened to make such a decision. The league is not over yet, although Esteghlal is closer to the championship in terms of tables.