TEHRAN - Mehdi Pashazadeh, a former Iranian national football player and football expert, believes that the current attitude of the national team is not a good sign for the future.

Iran national team secured a 2-1 victory against Burkina Faso in their final friendly match before the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

“Team Melli have shown promise in friendly matches, and I'm optimistic about their performance in the Asian Cup," Pashazadeh said in an exclusive interview with Tehran Times.

“Nonetheless, it cannot be overlooked that Iran's planning, preparations, facilities, and support are relatively insufficient compared to other prominent teams in the continent. Iran's primary football problem, in my opinion, is a focus on results over everything else.

“In Iran, managers and coaches prioritize short-term results over long-term planning, both at club and national levels,” he added.

Pashazadeh also mentioned the national team's strengths and weaknesses with coach Amir Ghalenoei.

“Without a doubt, our team possesses a formidable attack. Iran's difficulty lies in the defensive aspect of midfield players and the uncertainty surrounding two central defenders,” said the former national team defender, who has experience playing in the 1998 World Cup.

Pashazadeh also pointed out Iran's higher average age compared to other teams in the 2023 Asian Cup.

“It would have been nice to see more young players in the national team squad and starting lineup, but prioritizing results often hinders their selection.

“Given this, it's understandable that the national team coaches rely more on established and experienced players,” Pashazadeh concluded.