Iran facing ‘last dance’ in Asia Cup

Doha – Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said several of his ageing stars are facing “the last dance” as they prepare to meet hosts and holders Qatar in today’s Asian Cup semifinal.

Iran are trying to lift the trophy for the first time since 1976 and reached the last four after beating pre-tournament favourites Japan 2-1.

Ghalenoei will welcome back Mehdi Taremi from suspension after the Porto striker was sent off in Iran’s last-16 win over Syria on penalties.

Taremi is 31 and could be playing at his last Asian Cup, with team-mates Saman Ghoddos, Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh all of similar age.

Ghalenoei urged them to “use the opportunities that you have (left)”.

“For some of the players, maybe it will be the last dance,” said the coach yesterday.

“We are standing at a very sensitive part of history – we have a very good chance to make history for Iranian football and the Iranian people.

“We have to use the opportunity and give everything to beat Qatar and reach the final.”

Iran came roaring back from a goal down in the quarterfinals to beat Japan.

They won it with a 96th-minute penalty after Iran’s relentless attacking unsettled the Japanese defence.

Ghalenoei urged his players to “forget about Japan” and focus on 2019 champions Qatar.

“We have to be even more concentrated than we were against Japan and we have to cover even more distance,” he said.

“I hope we can reach our first final in almost 50 years. I have big belief in our players that they can do this.”

Like Iran, Qatar breezed through the group stage with three wins. They then beat Palestine inside 90 minutes.

But they had to go to extra time and penalties to see off Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals, and coach Tintin Marquez said the semifinal will be “a complex game”.