Iran national team skipper Javad Nekounam has hailed the team’s successful qualifying campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Iranian skipper scored six goals in the country’s successful qualifying campaign for the World Cup including two goals in the country’s final phase of qualifying, against Lebanon and South Korea but the player’s influence goes far beyond the goal scoring and assists that has made him a hero for the Iranian people since he made his debut for the national side. Having spent six seasons, in the Spanish League with Osasuna and returned from the FIFA World Cup with Iran in 2006, Javad Nekounam is not just any player but the midfield general for Carlos Queiroz and his team on the field.

The player hailed as one of the greatest midfielders the country has ever produced stated that the journey to the top has been long and hard for the team and filled with obstacles. However, he hailed the team work of the team and stated that it was the feeling of brotherhood and fraternity that have helped the team to qualify for next summer’s spectacle in Brazil.

He mentioned that the team has gone through a lot of ups and downs and had endured moments of elation and depression, but the team never lost confidence in their abilities and that had held them in good stead throughout the campaign.

He went on to add that as the skipper of the team, he would like to extend his gratitude to all the players, the coaching staff and all the associate members for the hard work they have put into the team and most of all, he hailed the fans of the team for the support they have given the team throughout the qualifying campaign and he feels proud to lead the team onto the field.