ISP EXCLUSIVE- Interview with Vahid Hashemian

As you are aware, Iran Sports Press has been awarded accreditation by FIFA to attend the World Cup as official press. To celebrate this success and as a way of showing our gratitude to our visitors for making ISP what it has become today, we are bringing you a number of exclusive interviews as we build up to the World Cup. We brought to you an exclusive interview with Ali Manouchehri a few days ago. Below you can read the second of these interviews with Iran star striker, Vahid Hashemian.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Hi Vahid. Thanks for giving us some of your time. Tell us the latest about your injury, and when do you think you might be back in full training?
Vahid Hashemian: Unfortunately, I am still recovering from my knee injury. Since the first day of my injury, I have been working hard to maintain my physical fitness. Right now, I am working on the bike, and I can do some running, but I still cannot perform fast sprints. I expect to be able to play football again in about a week, and I hope to be ready for the friendly game against Croatia (on May 28). However, as I have said before, this kind of injury is unpredictable, so it is hard to estimate my exact recovery date. I hope I am 100% fit for Iran’s first game against Mexico.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Before asking about Iran, let us ask you several questions about Hanover 96. Why do you think your team performed so poorly towards the end of the season?
Vahid Hashemian: In the beginning of the season we were poorly prepared. Our previous coach was more defensive oriented than offensive. When Peter Neurorer came, our style changed and we started to play a better football. However, in crucial matches, such as against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, we were leading until the dying minutes, but couldn’t hold on to our lead. In recent games, our main goal has been to stay in the Bundesliga for next season.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: How the dispute between the coach and one of the players, Brdaric, has affected the team? What can you do to make such an atmosphere better?
Vahid Hashemian: Brdaric made some remarks about the coach during an interview, which Mr. Neurorer didn’t like. So this meant that Brdaric was placed on the substitute bench for some games, this might also have had some tactical reasons behind it, which I really don’t know about. But I have to respect the coach’s decisions no matter what.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Your long-time friend, Thomas Christiansen, will leave the team by the end of the season. Would that be a loss for you personally, as he was also your teammate in VFL Bochum?
Vahid Hashemian: Yes, very much. Thomas is not just a teammate, but also a very good friend. He had some bad luck when he came to Hannover. First he was injured and had to undergo surgery, and unfortunately soon after recovering he was injured again. Therefore, his contract will not be extended, which is very sad.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: When does your contract end with Hanover? Do you expect to move before that time to another team?

Vahid Hashemian: My contract ends in two years. Till then I want to do my best for the club. As I don’t know what the future will bring, I will wait and hope that with God’s help I can succeed with my current team.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Do you sometimes look back and think about your ex-clubs, such as Bayern Munich?
Vahid Hashemian: Well, I never look back in my life. I always look forward and try my best to climb the ladder. Do you remember what I told you a few years ago when I was leaving VFL Bochum? I told you then and I will tell you now again: whatever happened to my life was a great challenge and experience. With those achievements, I need to make sure that my next steps are better and more successful than the ones before. I had a challenging year and good experience with Bayern, and I don’t regret any days spent playing in Munich.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Lets concentrate on Iran now. With the World Cup approaching fast, do you think we are prepared enough? Don’t you think we haven’t played enough friendly games?

Vahid Hashemian: Yes, it is sad that we have not had many friendly games so far this year. Our federation seriously did its best to organize some games, but those invited teams changed their mind in the last minute and this meant we couldn’t play against them. World Cup is any players’ dream to play in, and I hope now we can focus on the task ahead of us and make sure we are fully prepared. In these important weeks before our first game, we need to train and listen to our coach. We have 2-3 friendly games coming up, and I can assure you that we are going to be ready.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: We had it in the news that Iran might play against Cape Verde. Do you think playing against such weak teams would actually help prepare for the World Cup?
Vahid Hashemian: I don’t think playing against weaker teams is pointless. Just look at other teams like Germany; they are going to play against a team like Luxembourg soon. After a training camp where players are pushed to the limit, we sometimes need to determine if the players have adjusted to the skills and tactics which the coaching team has been working on. Playing a weaker team would be perfect for this.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Looking at other teams in the group, such as Portugal, Mexico and Angola, don’t you think they are much better prepared than Iran, as they have had more friendly games?
Vahid Hashemian: Well, first of all, keep in mind that any team in the World Cup is strong and is capable of advancing to the second round. I don’t actually know too much about the preparation of other teams in our group, but I do know that they are very strong and have big potential. Also, Angola is a strong team, just look who did they beat to qualify to the World Cup. Nigeria is one of the greatest teams in Africa. As a matter of fact, Iran is also a great team and we have equal chances to win against any team, even though we have played fewer friendly games. I can assure our fans that we will work very hard on our game in the next few weeks before the World Cup and we will be as prepared as any team when we get to Germany.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Which team is your favorite team at the World Cup?
Vahid Hashemian: As I have said, all teams are stronger and better than before. We saw in Euro 2004, a relatively ‘small’ team such as Greece won the Cup, even though no one had expected them to win. Last time in Japan, who thought Turkey or even South Korea could head to the semi-final stage?

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Which team do you think will be the biggest surprise?
Vahid Hashemian: Why not Iran? We are no less than any other team. We have a strong desire to beat other teams. I also think that African teams will be very strong this year, and maybe one or two Asian teams can go far, too.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Have you thought about which team you would like to play against in the next round?
Vahid Hashemian: No, I havent thought so far ahead. First we have to qualify from our group.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Where do you see Iran’s strength?
Vahid Hashemian: I do believe that we are technically strong, as we have some gifted players. We have players that have unique skills and this can be useful when playing against our opponents.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Does this mean that players like Ronaldo or Deco need to watch out?
Vahid Hashemian: They should not take us any less seriously than anyone else. I do believe that they are strong, skilled players but we are also strong and we can use our best to conjure success.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: What about Germany as the host, do you give them any chances?
Vahid Hashemian: Germany is such an unpredictable team that you never know how they will perform in such a prestigious tournament. Even though they haven’t performed well in some of their recent friendly games, I do believe that you still can count them as one of the favorites. It is just a matter of preparation and team work.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Comparing Iran’s current team with the one in France 98, which one do you think is better?
Vahid Hashemian: I do believe that in 98 we had a strong team and a great performance. This time, we are also good. Both teams have some of the same qualities and skills and we just should learn from our past experience to play a better game.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Which player do you miss from 98 that you would like to have in our current team?
Vahid Hashemian: A player like Abedzadeh is missed very much.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: If Ivankovic picks you to play left wing, would you accept that position?
Vahid Hashemian: No matter what, I will listen to whatever the coach wants me to do and this should also be the case for everyone else, too. I do prefer to play in the offensive middle position though, as that is my favorite position.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Which is your most memorable game when playing for Iran?

Vahid Hashemian: Without doubt the game against Qatar. If I hadn't scored in the last minute, we would not be going to Germany now. Of course, the game against Japan was also important, since we won such a crucial match during our Persian New Year celebrations.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Which national player do you think will come out as a great player, who might even get a chance to play in a European team?
Vahid Hashemian: Iran has many talented and great players. Pointing out someone special is not fair and not my responsibility. I do think that if a player does his best for the team, he will end up as a star. Playing well for your country can always open the door to Europe for any player. 

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Recently we heard in the news that the Iranian National team fears terrorist attacks during the World Cup. How do you confront this situation?
Vahid Hashemian: In our current way of life, the risk of being attacked by someone is existent for everyone, no matter what type of status you have in society. Even fame won’t protect you much or minimize the risk. However, I am most confident that we, as a great nation, will protect ourselves from any outside influence and we will have to show everyone that we are here to play great games with fair play in mind. As you are aware, Iran won the fair play trophy in the World Cup 1998 in France.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Do you have any messages for our great and beloved fans, inside and outside the stadium?
Vahid Hashemian: Yes I do. Please let us all show that we are united when it comes to sports and fair play. Let us all show that we want Iran to win, and that with sportsmanship we can bring people from diverse cultural backgrounds together to celebrate such a great tournament. Politics and economy should have no influence in sports. We have to praise our cultural identity to everyone, with harmony and peaceful action, we can show the flag of the great Iranian nation. So let us all celebrate together and cheer for our national team and show everyone that we are indeed a peaceful nation.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Thank you so much for your great and wise words. We hope you recover quickly, as we all would love to see you shine at the World Cup.
Vahid Hashemian: Thank you for the interview and giving me the opportunity to speak to you.