After a level of criticism from media and fans alike, national team boss Parviz Dehdari had gone on a sickleave in time for the start of the World Cup qualification, and an interim solution in the shape of Reza Vatankhah had come in to guide the team through their first batch of qualifiers, trips to Thailand and Bangladesh, as well as the home fixture against the latter. 

Having featured in the 1978 World Cup, Iran had been banned from taking part in either World Cup campaign for 1982 and 1986, due to the ongoing war between them and neighbouring Iraq. This was a major opportunity for them to put themselves firmly back on the international football map. However, they would need to negotiate those six first phase group stage matches, where China were likely to provide them with the sternest shape of resistance. 

After Iran’s fourth qualifier, and fourth successive win, the eventual passing of the country’s religious leader ayatollah Khomeini, who had been sick for a period of time, saw to that the final two, decisive fixtures against China were postponed for a month. The country came to a stand-still in the wake of the ayatollah’s death. The Team Melli squad were away on a training camp in preparation for the cold which would face them in Shenyang, around 400 miles to Peking’s north east, a camp which they had to abandon due to the nation’s mourning. They would return to their camp in the Azerbaijani part of the USSR once the official period of grief was over. Read more →