Wednesday 30 / April / 2025
MUSCAT: Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has asked his team to up their game ahead of their semi-final game at the Asian Cup, despite beating China 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
After the departure of favourites South Korea and holders Australia, Team Melli are one of the favourites to win the trophy for the fourth time. Standing in their way, however, are a team that have won the game on four occasions.
Japan are the most successful team in the history of the Asian Cup, and will surely be looking to make it five wins when they take on the Persians at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Monday evening.
The game kicks off at 6pm GST, but should the former Manchester United head coach and Real Madrid manager overcome the Samurai Blue, they could definitely have the advantage in the final, irrespective of whether they face hosts UAE or 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.
His task will be made easier with the absence of key players from the Japanese camp, including attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa, defender Gotoku Sakai, veteran goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and seasoned attacker Shinji Okazaki, while versatile midfielder Keisuke Honda has since retired.
Under heavy pressure to win Asian football's most coveted prize for the first time since 1976, Iran have swept imperiously through the tournament as some of their most feared rivals have faltered.
"We know the big sharks will come for us," said Queiroz after Iran thrashed China 3-0 in the quarter-finals, pointing to the Koreans, Japan and Australia -- two of whom ultimately lacked the bite to match the hype. What we did against China will not be enough."
However, there are still several key players in the Japan squad that know how to play football at the highest level. A new-look Japan side will be no pushovers as they look to extend their 10-game unbeaten run under Hajime Moriyasu.
"We need to be at it from the start," said Japan captain Maya Yoshida after the Blue Samurai beat Vietnam 1-0 thanks to a VAR-assisted penalty -- their fifth straight victory by a single-goal margin. If we can't get on the front foot early on, we're not going to win."
Iran have hit 12 goals in their five games -- four of them scored by the "Iranian Messi" Sardar Azmoun -- and conceded none. But the Japanese, who were only denied a World Cup quarter-final spot by an astonishing Belgian comeback from two goals down, have defied the odds at previous Asian Cups.
