Scotland to reject Iran friendly game!

[EverGreen]

[Rasputin]

Further to Iran’s invite to a challenge match Scotland manager George Burley has said 'the odds are very much against' Iran's offer of a game in Tehran being accepted by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). Scotland are due to play a friendly against Croatia on March 26th in their first world cup 2010 qualifier warm-up match and are looking to play a second friendly in late May but the May date is proving difficult to fill to Burley’s satisfaction, he has already turned down a match against England at Wembley and has now stated Iran’s invite is unlikely to be accepted by the SFA. The two sides last met in world cup 1978 with the match ending in a 1-1 draw but the much awaited rematch is unlikely to be played at this point.



Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers have already said their players will not be available in May as they are both planning overseas engagements, this means Scotland would not have their full squad for late May, they would certainly not wish to play England with anything but a full strength side, the Scots might well have been reluctant to travel as far as Iran with a depleted squad. It appears that Scotland are likely to play Northern Ireland in late May, Iran have other options and will be looking for another opponent.






Week 25 matches in Persian Gulf League have been postponed on Daei’s request in order to prepare Team Melli for their next world cup qualifier against Kuwait on March 26th. Iran will play a friendly match against the Persian Gulf Island of Bahrain in preparation for Kuwait on March 19th.