{"id":27918,"date":"2017-05-03T17:06:00","date_gmt":"2017-05-04T00:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=27918"},"modified":"2017-05-03T17:06:00","modified_gmt":"2017-05-04T00:06:00","slug":"swiss-test-looms-large-for-in-form-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2017\/05\/03\/swiss-test-looms-large-for-in-form-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiss test looms large for in-form Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

AFC – NASSAU, The Islamic Republic of Iran will fly the flag for Asia in the quarter-finals of this year\u2019s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas, with Switzerland standing between themselves and a spot in the last four.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having seen both Japan and the United Arab Emirates fall by the wayside at the end of the Group Stage, Iran will now carry the hopes of a continent when they face their European opponents on Thursday (local time) at the National Beach Soccer Arena in Nassau.<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Head coach Mohammad Mirshamsi\u2019s side booked their seventh appearance in the global finals by capturing last month\u2019s AFC Beach Soccer Championship in Malaysia, comfortably accounting for United Arab Emirates with a 7-2 win in the final.<\/p>\n

Iran scored an impressive 50 goals at the Kuala Terengganu event, 12 of them coming from tournament MVP Mohammad Mokhtari, and they are now targeting a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup semi-final appearance after reaching the last eight in the two previous tournaments.<\/p>\n

On both occasions, Iran\u2019s competition came to an end in narrow defeats to teams which went on to reach the final. In 2013, they lost 6-5 to eventual champions Russia, while two years ago in Portugal they were eliminated 5-4 by a Tahiti side which fell only to the host nation. It is a measure of Iran\u2019s progress that they defeated both sides at last November\u2019s Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup.<\/p>\n

Their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 story<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iran 3-2 Mexico:<\/strong> The Iranians defeated Mexico 3-2 in the competition\u2019s opening game. Goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini scored the first goal of the tournament and made a crucial save at the end of the match to give the Asian champions all three points in the Group B opener in Nassau. Iran goalscorers:<\/strong> HOSSEINI 19’07”, AKBARI 28’06”, AHMADZADEH 30’19”<\/p>\n

Italy 5-4 Iran:<\/strong> Iran then suffered their first defeat after losing 5-4 to Italy in in a wild, back-and-forth Group B encounter. The Italians took the lead through Gabriele Gori, who guided in a close-range effort with his chest. The Asian champions responded with three unanswered goals, the pick of which was Moslem Mesigar’s spectacular overhead kick that gave the Iranians a 3-1 lead. It was not meant to be however. Iran goalscorers:<\/strong> AKBARI 8’25”, AHMADZADEH 10’13”, MESIGAR 17’04”, MOKHTARI 35’10”<\/p>\n

Iran 4-4 Nigeria:<\/strong> (aet. Iran win 2-1 on penalties): Iran held their nerve to beat Nigeria 2-1 on penalties and advance to the quarter-finals. With the two sides level at 4-4 following extra-time, it was the Iranians who remained firm to emerge with the one point for a win via penalties and – in the process – seal a place in the last eight as Group B runners-up. With Switzerland awaiting the winner, Ali Nazem and Amir Akbari both converted their penalties before Ogodo rattled the bar with his spot kick to send the Iranians through. Iran goalscorers:<\/strong> AHMADZADEH 7’53”, 20’05”, MOKHTARI 15’30”, 32’47”<\/p>\n

Switzerland<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Swiss set up their clash with Iran after they finished top of Group A. They booked their ticket to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup by finishing as runners-up during the European qualifiers. This is the country\u2019s fourth World Cup appearance and they finished second in 2009.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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