Tehran – Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Sunday named a 24-man squad for the World Cup, pending the elimination of one player from the official final line-up because of injury worries.
The list published on the Iran Football Federation website contained few surprises, but Queiroz dropped Mohammad Reza Khalatbari, the Persepolis striker who was a first team regular during qualifying.
Iran are in Group F against Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Nigeria in the first round in Brazil.
The Islamic republic’s final 23-man squad has been delayed because a medical report is awaited for defender Hashem Beykzadeh, who hurt a calf muscle in a warm-up match against Montenegro.
The final list is due to be made public Monday, but according to the federation even if Beykzadeh is declared fit his potential replacement Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh, of Zob Ahan Isfahan, will also travel to Brazil.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig/GER), Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan Isfahan), Alireza Haqiqi (Sporting da Covilha/POR)
Defenders: Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Amir Hossein Sadeqi (Esteghlal), Hashem Beykzadeh (Esteghlal), Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft Tehran), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal SC/QAT), Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Zob Ahan Isfahan)
Midfielders: Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan Isfahan), Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad), Javad Nekounam (Kuwait SC/KUW), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan Isfahan)
Forwards: Khosrow Heidari (Esteghlal), Karim Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton Athletic/ENG), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC/NED),Masoud Shojaei (UD Las Palmas/ESP), Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham/ENG) – Sapa-AFP