Iran’s Dejagah Among Top Five Midfielders in Asian Cup
TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Iran midfielder Ashkan Dejagah has been chosen by some media among five top midfielders in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup group stage
The 32-year-old veteran is reaching the twilight of his international career, but what a way it would be to end it by lifting Iran’s first Asian Cup title in 43 years.
The Tractor Sazi midfielder has looked up for it in the early stages of the tournament being a physical presence of right side of the Iran midfield. He has already scored one goal in Team Melli’s 5-0 thrashing of Yemen.
The 32-year-old has made two starts in the tournament and but has played in 10 crosses in that time — more than any other Iran player.
Tom Rogic from Australia, Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi, Javokhir Sidikov from Uzbekistan and Japanese Genki Haraguchi are four other top midfielders in the group stage.
On Sunday, Iran are to take Oman in AFC Asian Cupp Round of 16 tie at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Oman national football team skipper Ahmed Al Mahaijri says that they not daunted with the prospect of facing Continent's top ranked team Iran.
"Iran is a very strong team but so are we. We played Japan and Uzbekistan and we showed that we can hold our own against teams who are ranked much higher than us," said Al Mahaijri.
"We have already created history by making the knockout stage but we are not satisfied with just that. We want to create more history," he added.
Oman advanced to the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams, qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time in four appearances.
"What we showed in all three matches is that we will fight till the final second. We are a team and we complement one another very well," said the midfielder.
"Playing Iran is something that we are really looking forward to. These are the kind of games we want to play. It will be a difficult match for us but we will make it difficult for Iran too. We want to give more joy to our fans and we are aiming to do just that," Al Mahaijri said.
The 32-year-old veteran is reaching the twilight of his international career, but what a way it would be to end it by lifting Iran’s first Asian Cup title in 43 years.
The Tractor Sazi midfielder has looked up for it in the early stages of the tournament being a physical presence of right side of the Iran midfield. He has already scored one goal in Team Melli’s 5-0 thrashing of Yemen.
The 32-year-old has made two starts in the tournament and but has played in 10 crosses in that time — more than any other Iran player.
Tom Rogic from Australia, Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi, Javokhir Sidikov from Uzbekistan and Japanese Genki Haraguchi are four other top midfielders in the group stage.
On Sunday, Iran are to take Oman in AFC Asian Cupp Round of 16 tie at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Oman national football team skipper Ahmed Al Mahaijri says that they not daunted with the prospect of facing Continent's top ranked team Iran.
"Iran is a very strong team but so are we. We played Japan and Uzbekistan and we showed that we can hold our own against teams who are ranked much higher than us," said Al Mahaijri.
"We have already created history by making the knockout stage but we are not satisfied with just that. We want to create more history," he added.
Oman advanced to the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams, qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time in four appearances.
"What we showed in all three matches is that we will fight till the final second. We are a team and we complement one another very well," said the midfielder.
"Playing Iran is something that we are really looking forward to. These are the kind of games we want to play. It will be a difficult match for us but we will make it difficult for Iran too. We want to give more joy to our fans and we are aiming to do just that," Al Mahaijri said.