News / Sports

Australia’s Socceroos keen to play soccer exhibition game against Team Melli

Tuesday, 20 June 2017 8:43 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 20 June 2017 9:59 AM ]

Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive David Gallop

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has reportedly entered into serious negotiations with the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) to arrange a friendly match between the Australian national soccer team and Iran’s football squad, domestically known as Team Melli, prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“We are talking to a number of excellent football nations from Asia and other confederations. Iran is one of them,” FFA chief executive David Gallop said.

He added, “The anniversary of that heartbreaking night at the MCG is a point to highlight. Many people, including me, remember it as one of the most devastating moments in Australian sport. It would be great to play a strong team in preparation for Russia but talks are at an early stage.”

A deal between FFA and FFIRI is yet to be done, and the friendly will most likely be held in March next year.

Australian and Iranian national soccer teams have not played each other in more than 20 years.

On November 29, 1997, retired talisman striker Khodadad Azizi scored a late goal for Iran to hold Australia to a two-all draw in the second leg of the 1998 FIFA World Cup AFC–OFC qualification play-off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, also known simply as MCG.

The result sent the Iranian national football team into the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

On June 12, the Iranian team, which has so far kept its clean sheet record unblemished at the third round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament, became the first Asian team - and the third squad after Brazil and hosts Russia - to secure its place at the quadrennial international football tournament.

Iranian national football team defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

Iranian professional footballer Sardar Azmoun, who currently plays as a striker for FC Rostov in the Russian Premier League, opened the scoring for the host team in the 23rd minute.

Taremi found the back of the net from inside the area in the 88th minute, and finished off the White Wolves.

This is the second time in a row that Team Melli has won the ticket for the FIFA World Cup finals under the tutelage of 64-year-old Portuguese head coach Carlos Queiroz.

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