Nekounam: Fans booed us in Saudi Arabia match
Tehran Times Sports Desk

TEHRAN - Iran’s football captain Javad Nekounam said the crowd booed them during the Iran – Saudi Arabia match at the Azadi Stadium in protest to Ali Karimi’s absence from the national team.

Iran’s coach Ali Daei didn’t call up Karimi to the national team despite the vast majority of fans request to invite the iconic player to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the 2010 World Cup.

In support of Ali Daei, who was axed from the national team after being beaten by Saudi Arabia in late March, Nekounam noted, “I do not think that Daei was the only person to blame for the failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. We advanced to the 2002 World Cup with Branko Ivankovic because we were well organized.”

The Osasuna midfielder got linked to some of La Liga’s clubs such as Villa Real during the summer window but stayed in Pamplona. Of course he said he will keep working hard to wear jersey of a great Spain club.

“I am not dreaming about anything. I am going to join Barcelona and will make an effort to do that,” Football Iran quoted Javad Nekounam as saying

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