National Team has tough time without Daei

PLDC - Branco Ivancovic, head coach of the Iranian National Team, is both happy and upset. He is happy that his team has qualified to the quarter final leg of the 14th Asian Games and he has been spared the bitter criticism of the Iranian press and media.

He is sad that he does not possess his top player and team captain, Ali Daei. In an interview with the press and media yesterday, 6/10/2002, he commented on the Iran-Qatar match on Saturday (5/10) and other National Team matters, "Both teams played equally for most of the match and there was little difference between them."

"Iran tried to play an offensive match in the first half and prevented Qatar from attacking. We automatically pulled back in the second half as we wanted to control the game and it could not be helped."

"I tried to refresh the team with my player changes and I think that we gained suitable and realistic results. With the return of Daei, the National Team will become strong again. There are players in every team who are needed to pull it together, give it the power it needs and get results."

"From our point of view, Daei is very important and a key player. But he must decide if he wants to play for the National Team. His return will definitely refresh the team and make them more determined."

"I congratulate the National Team on this victory and their qualification. Our aim has always been to win and this was a little more difficult without the presence of Daei."