Iran arrive in Doha for 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Al Annabi

IKOLI VICTOR
Doha
The Iranian national football team will warm up for Thursday's FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying match against Qatar at the Qatar Football Association's (QFA) Technical Development Department pitch in Al Thumama on Monday.
The Iranians arrived in Doha on Saturday as QFA announced the team's training plans and that of Qatar on Sunday.
The Iranian team is lodged at Westin Hotel and will be training at the Al Sadd stadium.
Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz is still in charge of the team after resigning multiple times in the past since taking up the job in 2011.
The former Manchester United assistant coach and Portugal coach was quoted as saying on the team's official Twitter account that Qatar has the advantage of adequate preparation for the game since they opened their training camp on March 3. "Knowing that our World Cup preparation was jeopardised, once again it is time to talk on the pitch. We know that in Qatar they really stayed behind their words fully committed to the national team's priorities. They are in the camp preparing for the game with Iran since March 3 and they only released National team players from the camp for AFC Champions one day before the match."
Before the trip to Qatar, Iran lost 1-0 to Iraq in a friendly match on Saturday.
A big omission in Iran's team to Qatar is injured playmaker Ashkan Dejagah of Vfl Wolfsburg. Dejagah signed for the German club on a free transfer from Qatar Stars League side Al Arabi in January but has not played for the team.
Fossati's team resumed training on Sunday and played a friendly with the national U-23 team on Sunday, who are preparing for AFC U-23 Championship China 2018. The Qatar Olympic team has been drawn alongside Syria, India and Turkmenistan.
Fossati has brought together players of the National Olympic and senior teams ahead of the side's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches this month. Qatar in the Asian Zone plays Iran in Doha on March 23 and Uzbekistan (away clash) on March 28.
Qatar's final official training is on Wednesday at Aspire Zone.