Sardar Azmoun, the renowned forward of Iranian football, may soon don the national team jersey again. The Iranian national team headed to the 2026 World Cup without Azmoun's name on Amir Ghalenoei's list, the team's head coach. His absence followed a controversial story posted during the days of war, which led to him being dropped from the initial roster and consequently unable to participate in this major global competition.
Efforts to Return to the National Team
After the World Cup, efforts were made for Sardar Azmoun's return to the national team, and it now seems he may be included in the new list. Amir Ghalenoei announced today the list of 18 Premier League players present in the camp, none of whom were forwards. Shahrivar Moghannlou, who was one of the reasons for his presence in the World Cup due to Sardar Azmoun's absence, has been dropped from the new list, and Ali Alipour, despite recording 3 goals and 3 assists and being at the top of the most effective players in the Premier League, has no place in the invited players' list.
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Choosing Legionnaires Instead of Premier League Forwards
This indicates that Amir Ghalenoei intends to invite legionnaires for the striker position, and under such circumstances, the likelihood of Sardar Azmoun's return will be high. Mehdi Taremi, who has joined Al-Wasl in the UAE this season, will definitely be one of the names on the list, and Denis Akret, after a good performance in the early weeks of the Belgian league, also has a chance of being invited. Alongside these players, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, who has shone in Lech Poznań in Poland, could be an option for the national team, although he has mostly played as a winger.
Given the current situation, Sardar Azmoun's chances of being in the national team seem very high, and perhaps with his presence in the new list, this forward's absence from the national squad will come to an end. Sardar Azmoun experienced a tough season last year and missed many matches for Shabab Al-Ahli due to injury. This season, he has recorded 1 goal and 1 assist in 6 matches and is still far from the scoring star who was the best player in the UAE league two seasons ago. However, consistent participation in Shabab Al-Ahli matches and the national team's camp could help Sardar Azmoun return to his optimal form.
The Importance of Sardar Azmoun's Return for the National Team
This event is of great significance for the national team's coaching staff ahead of the Asian Cup. Sardar Azmoun, as one of Iran's best forwards, can play a key role in the national team's success, and his return to the national team could keep hopes alive for fans and supporters of Iranian football. In this situation, it is expected that Amir Ghalenoei and the national team's coaching staff will make the best use of the available capacities to ensure the Iranian team succeeds in the upcoming competitions.
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