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Jonathan White

Hong Kong return home for their second Fifa 2022 World Cup qualifier and, after a disappointing 1-1 draw away against Cambodia, they host Asia’s top ranked team, Iran.
While Tuesday’s game already has a make-or-break feel to it for Hong Kong in their effort to make it through to a first World Cup finals and qualify for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the same is not true for the opposition.
The heavy favourites to top the group will play their first game in this qualifying campaign when they visit Hong Kong Stadium.
There were fears the match would not go ahead after the Iranian Football Federation appealed for the match to be played on neutral ground because of the ongoing social unrest in Hong Kong.

However, Pasha Hajian of Iranian football podcast Gol Bezan said this was not an issue that made the news in Iran.
“There has not been much of talks from the Iranian football federation or the media in regards to the situation in Hong Kong. I certainly believed it would be a hot topic, but ironically no news,” he said.


While there was little coverage, Hajian understood the IFF’s appeal to the AFC and Fifa.
“I would assume Iran would have wanted to play Hong Kong elsewhere so there won't be any political disruption prior to the match. Iran has its own internal political issues as well and we are prone to these difficulties.
With the game going ahead as planned, Hajian said Hong Kong may have a chance on the pitch with Team Melli having slipped up in the past by failing to take seriously.

“In our past history, Iran has sometimes tend to “underestimate” its opponents. I highly doubt this will be the case as our new manager is keen to start the World Cup qualifiers with a win. It is a new era in Iranian football and the players want to impress the gaffer.”
That man is Marc Wilmots, the former Belgium manager who replaced Carlos Queiroz in June. The Portuguese left after a disappointing AFC Asian Cup in the UAE. They unexpectedly lost 3-0 to Japan in the semi-finals in a tournament many had tipped them to win.
“It was quite disappointing with the way we lost to Japan. Carlos Queiroz devoted eight fantastic years to our country, and it would have been ideal to see him leave with a trophy. This was not the case, but his legacy is forever part of our football. I can't thank him enough for all his work and wish all him the best with Colombia.”

Many congrats coach!! https://t.co/MHYdX6X1qp
— Gol Bezan (@GolBezan) September 7, 2019

His replacement has a lot to live up to, but he had performed well so far and appeared motivated, said Hajian.
“I have been impressed by Wilmots thus far. He has done a great job of immersing himself with our players and the Iranian footballing culture, which I assure you is quite a difficult task to do as a foreign coach. As his prior spell with Ivory Coast turned out to be a disaster, I am sure Wilmots wants to make a name for himself.”
Qualifying for Qatar 2022 from a group with Hong Kong, Iraq, Cambodia and Bahrain should not prove too problematic for Asia’s No 1 team, Hajian said.

The Gaffer pic.twitter.com/4lSanW6GHZ
— Gol Bezan (@GolBezan) September 3, 2019

“I believe Iran will qualify for the next World Cup with the players that we have at our helm. Although this may be the case, the Iranian Football Federation needs to start taking the initiative and start organising friendly matches.”
Iran last played in June with a 1-1 draw against South Korea following a 5-0 win over Syria, something Hajian fears could become an issue.
“We won't have a friendly prior to playing Hong Kong. These issues perhaps may cause Wilmots’ departure if he does not get what he wants.”


Mixu Paatelainen’s Hong Kong side will have their work cut out against a team ranked 23rd in the world, 116 places above them.
“A player that I believe will be a key figure for our next generation is Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, who signed for Fenerbahce. We have a new crop of players coming through, but time will tell as their futures unfold with our national team.”
At 18, Sayyadmanesh is the youngest of those and they are mixed in with an experienced squad that includes 100-plus cap Ehsan Hajsafi.
Not even Hajsafi was around when the teams last met in 1988, but the result might end the same. Iran have won four of the five meetings between the teams, and have a 100 per cent record over Hong Kong in competitive games.

Big loss for us as Mehdi Taremi is ruled out with an injury. Dejagah takes his place.

We will be doing a pod after our match vs Hong Kong
— Gol Bezan (@GolBezan) September 4, 2019

Iran squad to face Hong Kong
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Rashid Mazaheri (Tractor)
Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian (Al-Shahania SC), Majid Hosseini (Trabzonspor), Milad Mohammadi (Gent), Vouria Ghafouri (Esteghlal), Mohammadhossein Kananizadegan (Persepolis), Siavash Yazdani (Esteghlal), Morteza Pouraliganji (Al-Arabi), Mohammad Naderi (Persepolis)
Midfielders: Omid Ebrahimi (Al Ahli, Qatar), Masoud Shojaei (Tractor), Ahmad Nourollahi (Persepolis), Ali Karimi (Esteghlal), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Ehsan Hai Safi (Tractor)
Strikers: Ashkan Dejagah (Tractor), Sardar Azmoun (Zenit), Karim Ansarifard (Al-Sailiya), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (Fenerbahce), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Brighton)


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Fifa

Hong Kong vs Iran: Fifa 2022 World Cup qualifier is Team Melli’s first competitive game since shock defeat to Japan at AFC Asian Cup 2019

Iran’s Sardar Azmoun dribbles past China’s Feng Xiaoting in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final. Photo: Xinhua

Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Round of 16 - Iran v Oman - Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - January 20, 2019 Iran fans before the match REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

epa06840363 Players of Iran players react after losing the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Portugal at Mordovia Arena Saransk , in Saransk, Russia, 25 June 2018. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA-EFE/PAULO NOVAIS EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Sport

Hong Kong

Football


Iran football podcast Gol Bezan weighs in what Mixu Paatelainen’s side can expect from Asia’s No 1 side
Marc Wilmots takes charge of first competitive game since replacing Carlos Queiroz at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday



Iran football podcast Gol Bezan weighs in what Mixu Paatelainen’s side can expect from Asia’s No 1 side.


Hong Kong vs Iran: Fifa 2022 World Cup qualifier is Team Melli’s first competitive game since shock defeat to Japan at AFC Asian Cup 2019

Iran football podcast Gol Bezan weighs in what Mixu Paatelainen’s side can expect from Asia’s No 1 side Marc Wilmots takes charge of first competitive game since replacing Carlos Queiroz at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday

Iran football podcast Gol Bezan weighs in what Mixu Paatelainen’s side can expect from Asia’s No 1 side

Marc Wilmots takes charge of first competitive game since replacing Carlos Queiroz at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday