AFC Asian Cup: Iran seek first final in 48 years but coach questions choice of Kuwaiti as referee
- Last chance for Iran’s veterans to win this tournament, coach Amir Ghalenoei says before semi-final against holders and hosts Qatar
- Ghalenoei questions organisers’ decision to appoint Kuwait’s Ahmad Al Ali as match official
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei told his players to forget their historic quarter-final win over Japan and focus on booking a place in the Asian Cup final for the first time since 1976 by securing victory over hosts and defending champions Qatar on Wednesday.
The 2-1 win was Iran’s first over the Japanese in five attempts at the Asian Cup and avenged a semi-final loss five years ago that prolonged Iran’s continental frustration.
Once the dominant force in Asian football, with three consecutive title wins from 1968 to 1976, Iran’s meeting with the Qataris will be their seventh Asian Cup semi-final appearance since 1980. All have ended in defeat.
“The game against Japan belongs to history now,” Ghalenoei said. “I’ve asked the players the last two or three days to show more quality and more effort. This is what we need to show against Qatar.
“I’m sure the players will perform so that we can make it to the final for the first time in nearly 50 years. These are professional players. I’ve always said that if they have a good day these players can beat anyone, as they showed against Japan.”
The quarter-final triumph was achieved without Mehdi Taremi, who was suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the last-16 win over Syria, but the prolific Porto striker will be available for selection for the semi-final.
While Taremi’s return ensures Ghalenoei will have an enhanced squad to select from, the coach questioned the decision by the Asian Football Confederation to appoint Kuwait’s Ahmad Al Ali to referee the semi-final.
“Having a Kuwait referee for this game is something the AFC needs to address,” said Ghalenoei, who also claimed his team had been the victim of poor decision-making by VAR officials.
“People all over the world are watching this game and they want to see justice and fair play. Fair play should apply in every aspect.”
With many of Iran’s key performers approaching the latter stages of their careers, Ghalenoei admitted time was running out for them to deliver the country’s long-awaited fourth Asian Cup title.
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“The generation we have in the national team, some of them have played four times, three times in the Asian Cup,” he said. “Probably some of them will never play again at this stage, so they need to take the opportunity in the best manner.”
Qatar’s progress to the semi-finals has been low key despite their status as defending champions, with a penalty shoot-out win over Uzbekistan in the previous round taking Marquez Lopez’s team into the last four.
“We have the passion to reach the final again and to be crowned champions of this tournament,” the Spaniard said. “We are eager to get to the final but I wouldn’t call it a failure if we don’t.”
