Seven new players called for Iran clash

AFC – LEBANON temporary coach Mohammed Quweid has called up seven new players for the team’s final Asian Cup Group D qualifying match against Iran.

The Syrian coach have called up twins Ahmed and Sami Shoum, Husein Hamdan, Ali Mteirik, Husein Dikmak, Husein Sweidan and Ibrahim Husni. The players will fill in for injured players Yousuf Mohammed, Badawi Farah, Nasrat Jamal and Khodr Salameh.

Lebanon will however, miss the services of Mohammed Kassas and Khaled Hamiyeh after the duo had collected their second yellow cards of the qualifying process.

In addition, Abbas Ali Atwi, the player who was sent of in the last match against Iran in Beirut, will also not be available due to suspension.

"We will have to present a good show in Tehran," said Quweid. "I hope that we will be able to get a food result despite the 3-0 defeat in Beirut. I guess that the Iranian team will not play with their full power since they already qualified to the Asian Cup finals."

On the other camp, Iran Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic is likely to use the inconsequential game to test out new blood . Ivankovic may miss the talents of 2003 AFC Player of the Year nominee Mehdi Mahdavikia, Rahman Rezaei and Moharam Navidkia but is poised to push young starlet Javad Kazemian to the limits.

Ivankovic has named 24 players for the match against Lebanon and is likely to stick with the same squad when his team face Kuwait in a friendly game on December 3.

Lebanon Squad

Ziad Samad, Wahid Fattal, Mohammed Santina, Sami Shoum, Husein Sweidan, Usama Haidar, Marcelio De Silva, Husein Hamdan, Husein Dikmak, Ali Mteirik, Mohammed Halawi, Udai Attar, Yihya Hashem, Abbas Ahmed Atwi, Agob Donabidian, Ali Ahmed, Mahmoud Shahoud, Ahmed Itani, Ali Naserddine.

Iran Squad