First team to announce their preliminary squad (24 names for now): Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Jasmin Fejzic (Aalen), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka) Defenders: Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke), Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Brumszwik), Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor), Toni Sunjic (Zorya Lugansk), Avdija Vrsajevic (Hajduk Split), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg), Ervin Zukanovic (Gent) Midfielders: Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhou Renhe), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Miralem Pjanić (Roma), Sejad Salihović (Hoffenheim), Senad Lulic (Lazio), Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray), Senijad Ibricic (Erciyesspor), Edin Visca (Istanbul BB), Tino Susic (Hajduk Split), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Anel Hadzić (Sturm Graz) Strikers: Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Vedad Ibisevic (Vfb Stuttgart)
Iran has invited 28 players for a training camp in Austria, including its European and foreign based players. From the list of players invited, one can surmise what the final list for Iran will probably look like. There are several players on this list which I definitely don't think are useful and several players left out that I would have liked to see invited. The majority of the players chosen, however, would be on my list as well. 1. Daniel Davari, GK, Eintracht Braunschweig, Germany 2. Rahman Ahmadi, GK, Sepahan Isfahan, Iran 3. Alireza Haghighi, GK, Sporting Covilha, Portugal 4. Sousha Makani, GK, Foolad Khuzestan, Iran 5. Pejman Montazeri, CD, Umm Salal, Qatar 6. Jalal Hosseini, CD, Perspolis Tehran, Iran 7. Amir Hossein Sadeghi, CD, Esteghlal Tehran, Iran 8. Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh, CD, Zobe Ahan Isfahan, Iran 9. Khosrow Heidari, FB, Esteghlal Tehran, Iran 10. Mehrdad (Steven) Beitashour, FB, Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada 11. Hashem Beikzadeh, FB, Esteghlal Tehran, Iran 12. Ehsan Haj Safie, FB, Sepahan Isfahan, Iran 13. Mehrdad Pouladi, FB, Perspolis Tehran, Iran 14. Ahmad Alenemeh, FB, Naft Tehran, Iran 15. Hossein Mahini, FB, Perspolis Tehran, Iran 16. Javad Nekounam, DM, Kuwait SC, Kuwait 17. Andranik Teymourian, DM, Esteghlal Tehran, Iran 18. Ghasem Hadadifar, DM, Zobe Ahan Isfahan, Iran 19. Reza Haghighi, DM, Perspolis Tehran, Iran 20. Bakhtiar Rahmani, CM, Foolad Khuzestan, Iran 21. Ashkan Dejagah, AM, Fulham FC, England 22. Masoud Shojaie, AM, UD Las Palmas, Spain 23. Alireza Jahanbakhsh, AM, NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands 24. Mohammad Reza Khalatbari, AM, Perspolis Tehran, Iran 25. Reza Ghoochannejad, F, Charlton Athletic England 26. Karim Ansarifard, F, Tractor Sazi Tabriz, Iran 27. Sardar Azmoun, F, Rubin Kazan, Russia 28. Mehdi Sharifi, F, Sepahan Isfahan, Iran
If we assume that the final roster will be chosen from this list (and I am not 100% sure that is correct), then 5 of these players will be cut. Of these 5, one will be one of the goalies, either Sousha Makani or Alireza Haghighi. Probably Makani. I am confident Khanzadeh will not make the final roster either, nor Mahini. These are 3 cuts that to me are obvious. IMO, one of Sharifi or Sardar Azmoun will be cut as well. I would cut Pouladi for sure, but I don't think Queiroz would do so. More likely, the final cut will be one of either Rahmani or maybe Reza Haghighi or perhaps Alenemeh (if Pouladi is kept).
I agree with all the cuts other than Azmoun. Why would you cut such a talented player? I'm assuming due to inexperience? But to me, the upside is enormous with this guy
Nigerian 30-man roster. Must say I'm a bit dissapointed with the amount of benchwarmers Keshi has decided to entertain and no callups for Taiwo, Iheanacho, Success, Dauda and so on. Still don't know who the third man in the midfield will be (Azeez? Uzoenyi? Mba?)...: Nigeria Preliminary Roster Goalkeepers - Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim, Daniel Akpeyi Defenders - Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami Midfielders - John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Gabriel Rueben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi, Michael Uchebo Attackers - Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Michael Babatunde, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Nwofor Uche
I didn't suggest Azmoun will necessarily be cut. Not at all and I am rooting for him to do well. But one of the forwards will be cut and the choice will likely be between two who are uncapped and hence unproven, namely Sharifi and Azmoun. Who will be cut between them will depend on which one will impress more in training and the chances they get in our upcoming friendlies. Azmoun will start with an edge due to having a better profile, considered one of our best young prospects, but he will need to prove himself in camp.
I'm fine with no Ideye. He's been crap for Nigeria for a long time. I do have an issue that from all the strikers called up only Emenike and maybe Odemwingie is actually consistently scoring goals and getting playing time. Dauda, Uche, Ezekiel, Martins - all strikers that are actually scoring goals, unlike Nsofor, Babatunde and the likes.
Our coach is not thinking well. He should call people who can score goals and two of our most fit FW are left out. Sadeghian and Mosalman would have made our attacking line a lot more appealing. If our coach could tolerate some attitude in the camp we could have Rahmati and Sadeghian. Both of them could boost our team in GK and FW positions significantly.
Thanks for clarifying. I am also rooting for his success. Your argument is a prima facie case that can be applied to all teams. However, I wanted to add the assumption that Azmoun or any player must fit into the scheme that Koroush is planning on implementing.
On top of that, we have an Uche Nwofor that plays for Herneveen's reserve team, Reuben Gabriel that cannot get consistent playing time for mediocre sides, and a Shola Ameobi that's so....... SHIT!!
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Mariano Andújar, Agustín Orion. Defenders: Ezequiel Garay, Federico Fernández, Pablo Zabaleta, Marcos Rojo, José María Basanta, Hugo Campagaro, Nicolás Otamendi, Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Mercado, Lisandro López. Midfielders : Fernando Gago, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega, Angel Di María, Maximiliano Rodríguez, Ricardo Alvarez, Augusto Fernández, Enzo Pérez, José Sosa, Fabian Rinaudo. Forwards: Sergio Agüero, Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Rodrigo Palacio, Di Santo. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/argentina-world-cup-squad-carlos-3536683#ixzz31d06S5tz
Nigeria Final 23 Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim Defenders: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami Midfielders: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel Strikers: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor I honestly don't know what Keshi sees in Ameobi...other than that it's not a bad squad. The defence is a bit meh, but that's not unexpected.
Does anybody need tickets to chile vs australia or russia vs korea or nigeria vs bosnia or japan vs colombia? I have 2 tickets for each of the first 3 games and only 1 to the last game. I had a sudden death in the family and can no longer go. Thanks you can email me at krupat23@gmail.com.