TEHRAN, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's national soccer team coach Carlos Queiroz said on Thursday that Iran's first game in AFC Asian Cup against Yemen is an important match.
"We are concentrating on our first match against Yemen. The first game is always the most difficult game in these kind of competitions. It's a game we need to win. It's a crucial game," Queiroz was quoted as saying by Tehran Times daily.
Iran have not won the AFC Asian Cup for 43 years and Queiroz says they will have a difficult task to end the title drought.
"I have to emphasize once again that Japan, South Korea and Australia are the favorites to book a place in semifinals and we will also do our best," he stated.
Iran had a training camp in Doha for two weeks since Dec. 17.
Iran have been drawn along with Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam in Group D of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
The competition will be held in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1. Iran will start the campaign with a match against Yemen on Jan. 7.
