Iran coach Ardeshir ‘Amir’ Ghalenoei
Doha, Qatar: Coach Ardeshir ‘Amir’ Ghalenoei has emphasised the importance of Iran’s dramatic victory against Japan in their Asian Cup quarter-final on Saturday, stating that it will mark a turning point for football in the country.
Ghalenoei’s men overturned an early deficit to orchestrate a thrilling 2-1 victory against pre-tournament favourites Japan at the Education City Stadium, advancing to the semi-finals for the second time in a row.
Hidemasa Morita had put Japan ahead in the 28th minute, but goals from Mohammad Mohebi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, with the latter coming just before the final whistle, secured their memorable win in front of 35,640 spectators.
The victory also served as a form of redemption against Japan, who had previously bested Iran 3-0 in the semi-finals of the last edition held in the United Arab Emirates.
Ghalenoei commended Japan for their quality and acknowledged the respect between the teams and their coaches. He noted that the tactical adjustments made at halftime that were crucial to overcoming Japan’s initial dominance.
“Asian football should be happy with this match,” Ghalenoei hailed the competitive nature of the fierce encounter.
“We should be proud of the performance of our players who gave everything for the fans,” said the veteran Iranian tactician.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who supported us along the way, thanks to my family for everything they endured in these years,” Ghalenoei said.
The coach also said that the match could be a turning point for football in Iran.
Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium on February 3, 2024. Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP
“This match can be a turning point for Iranian football, not just for the senior national team, but also for the U23s, U19s, and the whole football setup,” Ghalenoei said.
He also called for world football, especially European football, to keep faith in the abilities of Iranian coaches.
“I think everybody should have the belief in Iranian people. We had a lot of great Iranian coaches in history who never got the chance to coach in Europe,” he said.
Ghalenoei concluded by highlighting that Iran can reach new heights if proper plans and infrastructure are put to use.
“If we want to have a higher standard of performance, we should have a long-term plan, infrastructure, stadiums, and most importantly the support of the authorities in Iran,” Ghalenoei remarked.
