Azmoun Returns to Iran Squad Ahead of Asian Cup Warm-Up Matches
Sardar Azmoun has returned to Iran’s national squad after a short but high-profile absence, giving head coach Amir Ghalenoei an experienced attacking option before two important warm-up fixtures and January’s Asian Cup.
The 31-year-old striker was left out of Iran’s World Cup selection in May following controversy around a social-media post that reportedly upset authorities during a period of regional tension. His exclusion ended a long international run, but a meeting with Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj on Sunday cleared the path for his recall.
Azmoun has been one of Team Melli’s most productive modern forwards, scoring 57 times across 91 caps. The former Bayer Leverkusen player responded emotionally after his inclusion was confirmed, reflecting on an international career that began in 2014 and included departures, omissions and returns. He said he had never regarded himself as disconnected from the national side, even while outside the squad.
The forward also stressed that he holds no resentment over his omission. Azmoun said he had missed representing Iran more than he had shown publicly, and described the feeling of being selected again as comparable to his first call-up. He said his focus is on playing wholeheartedly for his country rather than settling any personal score.
Iran seek greater cutting edge
Iran’s need for a reliable scorer became clearer during their World Cup campaign earlier this summer. Draws against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt left the side without a victory in the group phase, resulting in an early exit after a seventh appearance at the tournament. The failure to reach the knockouts prompted the coaching staff to reconsider their attacking balance.
Ghalenoei will now have the chance to reintegrate Azmoun in matches against Uzbekistan on Thursday and Russia five days later. Those games are part of Iran’s preparation for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, which begins on January 7, and will allow the coach to assess potential combinations in the forward line. Azmoun, restored to the group, will be looking to make an immediate case for a central role in that campaign.
