Iran ready to beat Uzbekistan, coach says

Iran's soccer head coach Carlos Queiroz said Wednesday that his men are going to secure a win against Uzbekistan in the 2018 World Cup qualification in Group A.

"We will play against the best team in our group. Uzbekistan won its first two matches and is the leader in Group A. Nonetheless, my team will try to secure the win for the Iranian people," Queiroz said, according to Tasnim news agency.

"My team is clearly improving year on year. When I began to work in Iran we had only one player playing for a European side. Now we have 11 who are at various clubs in Europe," Queiroz said.

Iran will play the group leader in Tashkent's Bunyodkor Stadium on Thursday.

"Of course, Iran has star players. We are not a team of individuals," the Portuguese coach added.

On Tuesday, Queiroz also said that his men are going to book a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the second time in a row.

"Team Melli's (national team) history shows that despite boasting great players, coaches and presidents, Iran has never qualified for the World Cup games twice in a row," Queiroz said.

"My job, my goal, my mission and my dream is to make this happen," he said.

"If we learn from history, in order to make the impossible possible, we should not repeat the same mistakes or misunderstandings from the past."

Iran has been drawn along with South Korea, Uzbekistan, China, Qatar and Syria in Group A of the Asian Zone qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Iranian striker Reza Ghoochannejhad said that they will have a difficult task against Uzbekistan on the way to the World Cup, Tehran Times daily reported on Tuesday.

"We know Uzbekistan is a good team; that's why they sit top of Group A. In the past, we have played against them and lost to them in Tehran," he added.

Uzbekistan is leading the Group A with six points, with Iran and South Korea on second and third with four points each. Endit