INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Iranian team have qualified for the FIFA World Cup in the last three editions but have never advanced to the next stage.In my opinion,
They have not yet learned the professionalism in the sport.Iran were the favorites to win the title in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup
book a place in the final but suffered a shocking 3-0 loss against Samurai Blue.The game was on a knife-edge but a misjudgement from Iran
defender Hossein Kanaanizadegan tilted it Japan's way 11 minutes after half-time.While he was protesting his innocence over an
edge-of-the-box challenge, Takumi Minamino played on and crossed to Yuya Osako, whose glancing header put Japan ahead.Iran conceded two more
goals and failed to qualify for the final.On Sunday, Iran booked a place in the 2023 AFC U17 Asian Cup and will have to meet Japan in the
semifinals on Thursday.Hossein Abdi will not have Abolfazl Zoleikhaei in the key match after the iconic defender received a yellow card in
the match against Yemen.He was shown a yellow card by the Korean referee after protesting the assistant referee in the final minutes of the
