Posted by John Duerden
AMAZING Goal Scored By Andranik Teymourian For Esteghla Iran vs Buriram Thailand – 2013 AFC Champions League.
Andranik Teymourian of Iran celebrates qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
There was the ball bouncing in the penalty area, there was a blur streaking past surprised defenders and suddenly, there was Andranik Teymourian, pony-tail swaying and old school wristbands flying. “Ando” he shouted by way of warning and claim, his nickname just one legacy of his days in England, and he was there and there was the ball, now nestling in the back of the net. His fellow Iranians clapped and the training session restarted — whatever the situation, wherever the location, the midfielder puts heart and soul into it.
• Iran book World Cup 2014 spot
From Bolton to Barnsley to Brazil and then who can say? Teymourian helped Iran on a roller-coaster ride through qualification for the 2014 World Cup and is all set for the festival of football next summer and the challenge of taking Team Melli to the Promised Land. This is a country with a rich and ancient history, but reaching the knockout stage is something it has never done.”It was a great experience and I learned a lot and I am hungry to experience it again. I really hope to stay in the team and go to Brazil. In Iran, we don’t have many players who have the experience of two World Cups and the motivation for me to play for the national team at the 2014 World Cup is very big. The World Cup is the highest level of football and it is a great opportunity to compare yourself to the best players and the best teams in the world. It is a challenge that every player wants.”
There are reasons to be cheerful. This Iranian team maybe does not have the flair or creativity or even the swagger of the 2006 vintage and preparations are not exactly going smoothly but it is solid, organized and well-drilled under former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz. Team Melli will be tough opposition next summer.
“We will have to wait and see what happens in the draw but all of the players are talking about which teams they want to play,” he smiled. “For me, it is Spain. I would love to play against Spain. It would be a wonderful challenge.”
On and off the pitch, Andranik Teymourian has never shirked one of those.