28 Mar 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (March 24): I am writing this "Saturday" article two days early, on Thursday morning in fact.

And there's a good reason.

This evening I am heading to Haneda Airport to join my first "Dangan Tour" with the Japanese fans.

Our destination, of course, is Tehran (well, I hope so).

Our flight does not leave Haneda until 3 o'clock Friday morning, five hours after our 10 pm meeting time, and we are not scheduled to arrive in Tehran until 9.40 Friday morning, Iran time.

Armed with our visas, travel bags and cameras, we should pass through Immigration smoothly before heading for a city centre hotel for a quick freshen up late morning.

Then it's lunch at the hotel, and the bus will leave for the stadium around 2.30 in the afternoon.

The kick-off is not until 6.05pm at the Azadi Stadium, but the Iranian fans like to arrive early...like three hours early!

So expect around 100,000 fans inside the stadium by mid-afternoon.

And expect the tension and excitement to mount in the hours, minutes and seconds leading to the kick-off.

As an English hooligan living in Japan, I am looking forward to observing the Japanese supporters from close quarters and also to standing/sitting with the fans, rather than in the Media Seats.

According to travel industry sources there are 800 Japanese fans visiting Tehran on the "Dangan Tour", with 450 in one plane and 350 in the other.

Interestingly, 20 per cent of them will be women, and they have been issued with a strict dress code for the Islamic Republic.

The two most important points are that the hair must be covered, and the clothes must be loose fitting to hide the shape of the figure.

Women don't usually enter the Azadi Stadium, although they can follow the game on TV, so I'm sure the Japanese fans will attract more than their fair share of publicity.

As for the game, well, of course it's going to be Japan's hardest in Group B.

Iran could only draw in Bahrain in their first game, as Japan were edging North Korea in Saitama, so the home team will be desperate for three points to get their qualifying campaign under way.

A draw for Japan would be a good result, and I think they can manage it.

My forecast is 0-0, which would suit Zico fine as Japan will not face Iran again until the sixth and final round of qualifying games on August 17, at home but no fixed venue at the moment.

If all goes to plan, Japan should have accumulated enough points by then to have already qualified for Germany, making the Iran match a celebration of sorts, just like the Singapore home game was last year but on a much lower scale.

After the match we head back directly to the airport, fly out of Tehran at 2am Saturday morning local time and arrive at Haneda around 9pm on Saturday night Japan time.

All being well, I should be at home in time for the Saturday night sports programmes, and catch all the highlights from the Azadi Stadium!

Enjoy the game!

ends