TEHRAN – Iran national football team striker Reza Ghoochannejhad has retired from international duty on Wednesday.

Ghoochannejhad, nicknamed ‘Gucci’, was a member of Iran national football team in the 2018 World Cup but remained an unused substitute in three matches against Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

He made his senior national team debut on 16 October 2012 in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Korea, where Team Melli edged past the Korean team 1-0.

Ghoochannejhad also scored Iran’s only goal at the 2014 World Cup against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He did not play for Team Melli in Russia, while Carlos Queiroz’s team lacked the cutting edge in three matches against Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

“To wear Iran jersey was a dream which came true for me but I think it’s time to bid farewell to Team Melli. I would also like to thank all my coaches and teammates for helping me grow as a player in the previous six years and wish them all the best,” the Heerenveen striker wrote on his Instagram account.

Ghoochannejhad won 44 caps for Iran national football team and scored 16 goals.

Reporting by Masoud Hossein

TEHRAN – Iran international striker Reza Ghoochannejhad believes “nothing is impossible” for Team Melli at this year’s World Cup in Russia.

Team Melli have been drawn in Group B of the 2018 World Cup along with Spain, Morocco and Portugal.

The Iran national football team will open the campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15.

Team Melli, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on June 20 before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saransk five days later.

“We have been drawn in a tough group but nothing is impossible for Team Melli. We will prepare ourselves with three warm-up matches against Uzbekistan, Turkey and Greece,” Ghoochannejhad said.

Iran are a strong team in frontline with Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun, Karim Ansarifard, Saman Ghoddos and Mehdi Taremi, however, they can’t yet be sure of a starting place.

“It doesn’t matter who plays in the main team. Team Melli will participate at the 2018 World Cup to book a place in the knockout stage for the first time. That’s really important for us,” the Heerenveen striker concluded.

Ghoochannejhad scored Iran’s only goal at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

TEHRAN – Iran national football team striker Reza Ghoochannejhad says that they learn from defeat against Tunisia and get stronger and improve.

Team Melli suffered a 1-0 loss to Tunisia at the Stade Olimpique de Rades on Friday.

Milad Mohammadi scored an own goal in the 71st minute.

“Iran played a warm-up match against Tunisia and will meet Algeria on Tuesday. I think the friendly matches will be good tests for us in preparation for the 2018 World Cup,” Ghoochannejhad said in an interview with Iran Football Federation’s website.

“Tunisia are a strong team, who have similarities with Morocco. I think we must learn lessons from the defeat against them. These kinds of the matches will enable us to see the areas of strength and weak points,” Ghoochannejhad added.

“Iran have qualified for the World Cup for the second time in a row and we are going to book a place in the knockout stage, that’s why we will travel to Russia.

“Iranian players must focus on their abilities in the competition and pave the way for advancing to the next stage. We are going to make the Iranians happy in the World Cup,” the Heerenveen concluded.

(Reporting by Masoud Hossein)