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Genuine Prospects for Iran’s U-17 Future

Genuine Prospects for Iran’s U-17 Future
Genuine Prospects for Iran’s U-17 Future
Taha Shariati, Younes Delfi and Mohammad Sharifi from Iran’s football team are among the top starlets, selected by FOX Sports Asia, from the Asian countries that participated in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India

Iran impressed observers in reaching the quarterfinals for the first time at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, although it lost to Spain which will meet England in the final on Saturday.

It may be the two European heavyweights that will contest the decider at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India, but countless others have lit up the stage throughout the tournament.

FOX Sports Asia has selected top starlets from the Asian countries that participated in the tournament including three from Iran: Taha Shariati, Younes Delfi and Mohammad Sharifi.

The website of the cable sports network described Shariati as a tall, lanky, ginger-haired central defender who is both composed in his reading of the play, strong in one-on-one challenges and also not afraid to stride out from the back in pushing forward into midfield to help give numbers in attack.

He is also proven to be a very strong target at set-piece situations and even when playing the final group match against Costa Rica with his hand heavily bandaged, he was still a strong physical presence.

Proving that he has composure at both ends of the pitch, Shariati also took and scored a penalty against Costa Rica in the group stage and was a key figure at the heart of an impressive Iranian back four.

Delfi is a lively right winger very much cast from the traditional mold of the position in that he loves to get up and down the touchline.

He is also a very adept dribbler in one-on-one situations, where he does not only rely on pace to beat his opposing defender but also a strong degree of technical capability.

In an Iranian side that was very much built from a defensive base, it was Delfi who was tasked with producing the bulk of the team’s creative output and he was solid in delivering crosses and also not afraid to look to cut inside and find opportunities to shoot. He is clearly a player who could be pushing for higher honors as he continues to develop.

Delfi came to the fore with his double in a 4-0 win over Germany, but perhaps more impressive was Sharifi, a 17-year-old playmaker who displayed plenty of poise, creativity and leadership.

Several Iranian teenagers emerged as genuine prospects that could soon be gracing top-level football in Asia, or even Europe.

 

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