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Iranian veteran striker Ali Daei has once again silenced his critics with a display of awesome power on the pitch for his club and country, in the last three weeks Daei has scored for Iran against Chinese Taipei in the Asian Cup 2007 qualifier, scored against world cup 2006 finalists Costa Rica in a warm-up match, scored for his club Saba Battery twice against Al Gharafa of Qatar in the Asian Champions League with two stunning long range efforts from outside the penalty area before settling back into the Iranian Premier League with a late winner against Shamoushak last Sunday, business as usual for Daei who will celebrate his 37 th birthday on March 21 st only hours into the Iranian New Year.
Daei with 109 international goals for Iran under his belt has once again come under criticism from some fans and media. After every single game Team Melli play Ivankovic comes under attack from some fans and media for not dropping Daei from the team or for not substituting him. Whilst I agree no player should be guaranteed a first team place let alone playing the full ninety I wonder on what basis a player who does his job effectively should be dropped from the team! One also wonders about accusations made against Ivankovic for not having the authority to drop Daei from Team Melli!
In Team Melli's recent match against Chinese Taipei we saw both Akbarpour and Khatibi tested with Akbarpour missing several clear cut chances against a weak opponent, Khatibi showed potential but did not seem to like letting go of the ball and was consequently dispossessed several times. At this level playing for the national side weeks away from participating in the world cup a new player might only get one chance to prove himself.
I recall Esteghlal striker and IPL top scorer Gholamreza Enayati getting his chance to shine in Team Melli against Macedonia last November in the Tehran Cup. Enayati came on for Iran in the second half with Iran trailing 1-2, he was gifted a golden opportunity to score and bring Iran level in the match courtesy of an excellent Mahdavikia pass but Enayati missed and failed to score, Enayati buries such opportunities in IPL no questions asked but he missed the one that mattered to perhaps secure his place in the national side, we have not seen Enayati in Team Melli ever since. At this level you might only get one chance to shine.
Vahid Hashemian had no problems returning to the national side and securing his first team place after a three year self imposed exile. He played a crucial role in Iran's 0-2 away win against Jordan in the world cup 2006 qualifier. Competition for a place in the team is fierce at this level, Hashemian only needed one chance to show his worth, I think we should look at the both sides of the coin, maybe Daei's presence in Team Melli has nothing to do with Branko's lack of authority to remove him, maybe the strikers who have had the chance to topple Daei have failed to shine when it mattered leaving Branko with no choice but to select the best all-round players he has available to him up front.
Daei with 109 international goals for Iran under his belt has once again come under criticism from some fans and media. After every single game Team Melli play Ivankovic comes under attack from some fans and media for not dropping Daei from the team or for not substituting him. Whilst I agree no player should be guaranteed a first team place let alone playing the full ninety I wonder on what basis a player who does his job effectively should be dropped from the team! One also wonders about accusations made against Ivankovic for not having the authority to drop Daei from Team Melli!
In Team Melli's recent match against Chinese Taipei we saw both Akbarpour and Khatibi tested with Akbarpour missing several clear cut chances against a weak opponent, Khatibi showed potential but did not seem to like letting go of the ball and was consequently dispossessed several times. At this level playing for the national side weeks away from participating in the world cup a new player might only get one chance to prove himself.
I recall Esteghlal striker and IPL top scorer Gholamreza Enayati getting his chance to shine in Team Melli against Macedonia last November in the Tehran Cup. Enayati came on for Iran in the second half with Iran trailing 1-2, he was gifted a golden opportunity to score and bring Iran level in the match courtesy of an excellent Mahdavikia pass but Enayati missed and failed to score, Enayati buries such opportunities in IPL no questions asked but he missed the one that mattered to perhaps secure his place in the national side, we have not seen Enayati in Team Melli ever since. At this level you might only get one chance to shine.
Vahid Hashemian had no problems returning to the national side and securing his first team place after a three year self imposed exile. He played a crucial role in Iran's 0-2 away win against Jordan in the world cup 2006 qualifier. Competition for a place in the team is fierce at this level, Hashemian only needed one chance to show his worth, I think we should look at the both sides of the coin, maybe Daei's presence in Team Melli has nothing to do with Branko's lack of authority to remove him, maybe the strikers who have had the chance to topple Daei have failed to shine when it mattered leaving Branko with no choice but to select the best all-round players he has available to him up front.
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