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| The China team will have to be at
their best to beat Iran on Tuesday night.
[Agencies] |
China will have to end a sorry run against Iran if the Asian Cup hosts are to advance to the final of
the continental championship
on Saturday.
Of the last 15 meetings, China have won just twice and were on the end
of a 4-0 hammering the last time the two met in 2001.
This record has become the inevitable backdrop to Tuesday's game in
Beijing, although coach Arie Haan believes these games have little bearing
on Tuesday's game.
"People can talk about previous games but this is not the same team or
the same players who have played in 2001 we shouldn't say that what has
happened in the past between in relevant now," said the man who was
offered the Iran coach's position back in 1994.
"In fact, you could say that the game in China between us and Iran in
the Olympics in March is more relevant because a lot of our players played
in that game and we won 3-1."
Haan, in a testy mood
following some hostile and inaccurate reports in a regional newspaper in
China and on a prominent website, said the key to winning the game
was by dictating the tempo of the game and not allowing Iran to try and
impose themselves, as they did against Korea Republic.
"You must not forget one thing," Haan said. "In this Asian Cup, China
is the boss, we are the hosts of the tournament.
"We must use the home field
advantage. So we must exert our will in the match and play
the match according to our rhythm."
Chin have certainly improved as the tournament has progressed, and
there is a growing feeling among the coaching staff that the team is
peaking at just the right time.
The squad is close to full strength and from the team which started
against Iraq only defender Wei Xin is missing. Xu Yunlong is likely to
deputise.
"I have no reason to change the team," Haan said. "They have done well
so far so there is no need to make changes."
The Dutchman expects the game to be very open and psychical and,
judging by his comments in the lead up to the game, China will concentrate
on pressing their opponents in midfield and getting the ball to Hoa
Haidong and Li Junyu as quickly as possible. Haan has also worked hard in
the last few days on set-pieces.
Iran's 4-3 win over Korea Republic in the quarter-finals has given the
previously demoralised squad a real shot in the arm.
Branko Ivankovic has yet to decide whether to play Ali Badavi and
Rahman Rezae, who are available after serving two-game bans for their
bust-up during the game against Oman.
Asked about the relevance of Iran's previous wins over China, Ivankovic
agreed with Haan that it was of little significance, but the Croat did
admit that it give his side a slight
edge.
"Mentally, we have a little bit of an advantage," said the 50-year-old.
"The players are aware of it which means that they less fear going into
the game. "China have the crowd; we have the history. We are even," smiled
the man who led Iran to gold at the Asian Games in 2002.
Iran's main threat will come not so much from striker Ali Daei, the
2000 AFC Player of the Year who has 95 international goals to his name,
but from the midfield.
Ali Karimi scored a hat-trick against Korea Republic and is now the
tournament's joint top scorer. Hossein Kaebi is a real threat down the
right with his speed, while reigning AFC Player of the Year Medhi
Mahdavikia strikes the dead ball well and knows when to play the killer
pass.
"We will try and play like we did against Japan and Korea but we know
that China are a very well balanced side which is playing better and
better.
"It will be a special day, I am sure of that."
The game kicks off at 21.00. The winners will meet either Japan or
Bahrain, who meet in Jinan at 18.00
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-08-03 10:28