Bring Azizi For Match Against Jordan

It can be said that the Iranian National Team now faces it most important match in recent history. World Cup Qualification and thus the World Cup is the most prestigious football tournament in the world, period. More important than winning the Asian Cup, Asian Games, and WAFF combined. These are only continental tournaments, matters of importance to Asia only. The World Cup is a spectacle viewed and revered throughout the world.

At this critical juncture in TMs history we need the spark of Khodadad Azizi to do for us what he did the last time we were in WC qualifying jeopardy. He singlehandley sent us to WC98 and he can do it again for us for WC2006.

Other leaders have emerged, such as Karimi and Mahdavikia, new prospects have been tried, Kaabi and Nekounam, ineffective players still held on to, Daei, yet the brightest light in recent TM history has not even been given a chance.

Clearly, we now await the most important game for TM within the past 4 years. The match with Jordan will decide our fate. A loss eliminates us completly, a win keeps our hopes alive. Yet while inefficient players upfront such as Daei still will get the call, Azizi the MVP of the past IPL league will not even get a call. This is the injustice that exists in the IFF, and its main propenent is the Croatian boss, Branko Ivankovich.

Two Croatian coaches have now refused to call upon the services of Azizi. Blazevich before him through his personal dislike of Azizi, followed by his student Ivankovich.

And still Branko claims that it is Azizi's attitude that is his keeping him off the team? If Branko knew anything about displine and attitude he would learn how to control two of his main players from embarrassing Iranian football more than ever imaginable.

Or maybe its the claims that he has no space for Azizi, even on the bench. Yet it still insists on inviting four goalkeepers, countless other youngsters who still remain unproven, and keeping an ineffective striker on the field for 90 minutes. Khodadad Azizi in recent interviews has said it would be his honor even to sit on the TM bench!

Let's see, maybe it's the final excuse that there is no room for Azizi as a playmaking forward in Branko's current system. In the past this excuse could be given a little consideration knowing the fact that Branko uses the single striker formation. Yet in the recent TM matches Ivankovich has switched his formation to one with two strikers with startling results. Judging that the two striker formation fits Iran much better, the continual absence of Azizi is a question mark.

What Iran needs is that final spark, the kind of spark Karimi gave to us win against Korea in the Asian Cup. The kind of spark Azizi has been providing Iran for the past 10 years. The energy we know he is still capable of, as witnessed by his MVP status in the IPL.

Mr. Branko Ivankovich -- We need Azizi in the game against Jordan, and we need him now!