Just 6 days after Dragan Skocic was sacked as Iran coach, a Football Association official returned on Sunday to announce that the Croatian coach will continue to lead the team for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Members of the Iranian Federation voted to sack Skocic, who took office at the start of 2020, on July 11 following a loss to Algeria in a friendly in June and reports of dissension within the team.
In the latest episode of the Iranian team’s chaotic preparations for the World Cup final, which will be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, Iranian Football Federation spokesman Ehsan Osuli said today, Sunday, after a meeting of the board of the federation. directors, change of position in the decision to dismiss Skocic.
“The result of the meeting was that Dragan Skocic will continue his position as technical director of the Iranian national team and remain it,” Osuli said, adding that “his contract has been extended until the end of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.”
The Iranian Federation called to line up behind the team, while Skocic remained in his position.
“We ask the national team players, the media, former players and everyone else to come together for a common goal of raising the name of Iran,” Osuli added.
Skocic led Iran to the World Cup final at the end of January for the sixth time in its history and for the third time in a row.
The World Cup in Qatar brought the Iranian team to the second group, which has a political connotation, as it includes the Islamic Republic, the United States, England and Wales.
The Iranian team hopes to miss the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar for the first time in its history.
Source: agencies