FRANCE 98 – Iran – J. Talebi: “We don't fear anyone”
Jalal TALEBI, IRAN team coach (Group F)
News from SAINT-ETIENNE, Saturday 13 June.
- Could you give us the starting line-up of the team that will meet Yugoslavia tomorrow?
“At the moment the line-up is not definite. I will name my team on Sunday June 14 after training which will end at 11:00 am. Only two players are uncertain – goalkeeper Ahmad ABEDZADEH has only a 30% chance and midfielder Reza SHAHROUDI has a 90% chance of playing in the match.”
- How will you approach this match?
“Despite a certain nervousness, which is always the case for an opening match in a World Cup, everything will sort itself out after the first quarter of an hour. We are lucky to have a good team spirit, we don’t fear anyone and we fully intend to show what we are made of. The most important thing is to play a great match, to participate. The players just can’t wait.”
YUGOSLAVIA can be good or not so good. This match will be the same as any other.
- What are your impressions of the pitch at the stade Geoffroy-Guichard in SAINT-ETIENNE?
“It’s a small stadium, with a short pitch which means the players will have less space to manoeuvre themselves. However, it is very well laid out.”
- What are you hoping for from this World Cup?
“Like all the other teams, we are hoping to get through to get to second round, but beyond that, we’ll have to think about the future. This World Cup should be a good thing for the whole group and the players ought to get a maximum amount of experience for the next international competitions.”