Iran squad: Queiroz opts for consistency

PFDC – TEHRAN, Carlos Queiroz named the exact same 23-men squad he had already called up for the recent 6-0 hammering of Bahrain in October for the upcoming two World Cup qualifiers in Bahrain and Indonesia.

That means neither Wolfsburg forward Ashkan Dejagah nor in-form St. Truiden striker Reza ‘Gucci’ Ghoochannejhad have been invited, though Queiroz had payed a visit to both countries to observe the possible Team Melli candidates.

No reasons were cited for the absence of the duo yet and it is unclear if the Portugese plans without them, the players refused to join the Iranian national team or the integration of the two has been postponed to next year.

Unfortunately still missing is Osasuna winger Masoud Shojaei, who underwent another foot surgery last week.

Iran currently lead group E of Asian World Cup qualification with seven points out of three games. Team Melli will travel to Manama for clashing with third-placed Bahrain on November 11 before meeting bottom-placed Indonesia in Jakarta four days later.

The final matchday in February will see Iran host Qatar. The top two of the group will advance to the final stage of the qualifiers.

Below comes the squad.

Goalkeepers: Mehdi Rahmati, Shahab Gordan, Alireza Haghighi

Defenders: Khosro Heydari, Hossein Mahini, Hadi Aghily, Jalal Hosseini, Pejman Montazeri, Ehsan Hajsafi,  Mehrdad Pouladi

Midfield: Javad Nekounam, Andranik Teymourian,  Maziar Zare, Pejman Nouri, Ali Karimi, Mojtaba Jabbari, Mohsen Mosalman

Strikers: Karim Ansarifard, Milad Meydavoudi, Mohammad Ghazi, Gholamreza Rezaei, Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari, Javad Kazemian