TEHRAN – Iran U23 football coach Zlatko Kranjcar insisted that they will not underestimate Myanmar in the 2018 Asian Games.

On Monday, Iran will face Myanmar at the Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi, Indonesia.

Myanmar have a little chance of qualifying for the next stage.

“We had a good performance against DPR Korea but we are not allowed to underestimate any team. We will take nothing for granted against Myanmar,” Kranjcar said.

Iran started the campaign with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia.

The Persians defeated DPR Korea 3-0 in their second match.

Now, Iran will face Myanmar to determine the group winner.

Iran have a strong legacy in men’s soccer, having won gold on four occasions.

Zlatko Kranjcar’s footballers will look to end a drought that extends back to 2002.

TEHRAN – Iran U23 football coach Zlatko Kranjcar is satisfied with the goalless draw against Saudi Arabia in the 2018 Asian Games opener.

On Wednesday, Iran and Saudi Arabia shared the spoils in Group F at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Cikarang, Indonesia.

“Saudi Arabia were the better team in the first half but we controlled the game after the halftime. They had two scoring chances in the first half and we were lucky to come away without conceding a goal,” Zlatko Kranjcar said in the post-match news conference.

“We have a difficult task ahead since Saudi Arabia and North Korea have also a chance of qualifying for the next stage. We will have to defeat North Korea and Myanmar to advance to the next stage,” the Croat added.

“We played well-organized against Saudi Arabia and I am satisfied with the character we showed,” Kranjcar concluded.

Football at the 2018 Asian Games is being held from 14 August to 1 September 2018 in Indonesia.

Iran have a strong legacy in men’s soccer, having won gold on four occasions.

Zlatko Kranjcar’s footballers will look to end a drought that extends back to 2002.

TEHRAN – Zlatko Kranjcar has named his 20-man squad for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

Iran U23 football team played two friendly matches against Iran and have been also scheduled to face China on August 9 ahead of the Games.

Iran will fly straight to Indonesia from China to participate at the 2018 Asian Games.

The Iranian team have been pitted against DPR Korea, Saudi Arabia and Myanmar in Group F of the 2018 Asian Games.

The U23 tournament, which allows each country to field three overage players, will see 24 teams vying for honors.

The top two teams in each group along with the four best third placed teams will advance to the Round of 16.

Men’s football will be contested on August 14 to September 1 in Jakarta and Palembang.

Iran squad:

Mehdi Amini, Mohammad Aghajanpour, Mohammad Moslemipour, Mahdi Rahimi, Mohammad Soltanimehr, Alireza Arta, Younes Delfi, Mohammad Amin Asadi, Mohammad Mehdi Mehdikhani, Mohammad Reza Azadi, Mehdi Ghayedi, Shahab Adeli, Abolfazl Razzaghpour, Reza Jabireh, Ahmad Reza Ahmadvand, Amir Roustaei, Sina Zamehran, Shahin Abbasian, Mohammad Khodabandehlo, Aref Aghasi

TEHRAN – Ex-Persepolis and Sepahan coach has been named as new head coach of Iran U23 football team on Sunday.

The 62-year-old Croatian coach has also coached Croatia and Montenegro national football teams.

Ex-Iran captains Javad Nekounam and Ali Karimi, Foolad coach Sirous Pourmousavai and former Iran assistant Omid Namazi were also among the candidates to take charge of Iran U23 football team.

Iran, a powerhouse of the Asian football, has not been in the Olympics since the 1976 games in Munich.

The team is without a coach since parting company with Amirhossein Peyrovani.

Ex-Iran and Persepolis midfielder Hamid Estili had been already named as new technical manager of Iran U23 football team.