"He is a good player," the then Tianjin coach told the Korean visitor about Kwon. "He is capable of playing in European leagues. It would be the national team's loss should he not be called up."

It is little known how much of his advice was taken into account. But sure enough, Kwon earned his first national team cap a couple of months later, debuting in a friendly against Russia during which he was on target.

Just last week, the Tianjin centre-back was named in Shin Tae-yong's 28-man provisional squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, an interesting inclusion for a relatively new face who has just four international appearances to his name.

After another day of double sessions at their pre-FIFA World Cup training camp in Turkey, Socceroos attacker Andrew Nabbout has spoken about the influence Bert van Marwijk and his coaching staff are having on the squad.

It’s not just the training intensity that has impressed the players, but the attention to detail the Dutchman is imposing on the squad in every session.

Lee sustained the injury during a K League 1 game against Gyeongnam FC last Saturday.

Though Lee was stretchered off the field, his K League 1 club initially said the injury wasn't serious and he'd be able to compete in the FIFA World Cup. But further tests revealed more severe damage, and Lee has joined a few others on the Korea Republic injury list.

It's the latest injury blow to head coach Shin Tae-yong, who was already without Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors defender Kim Min-jae, who would have been a first-choice centre-back if not for a stress fracture in his right leg.

Also ruled out was Suwon Samsung Bluewings midfielder Yeom Ki-hun, a crafty playmaker who is nursing a broken rib. Kim and Yeom weren't picked for the 28-man provisional roster announced on May 14.

Rouhani was handed replicas of the Iran national football team No 12 jerseys and he wished the team well ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia preparations.

“I would like to express my happiness to participate at Team Melli’s farewell ceremony. I want to thank you because you made Iranian people happy by booking a place in the 2018 World Cup,” Rouhani said.

Talismanic Japan forward Keisuke Honda and playmaker Shinji Kagawa were included by Nishino among a group of 27 players.

Nishino, who took over from Vahid Halilhodzic after the latter's firing last month, is scheduled to name his final 23-man World Cup squad on May 31.

"Of course I expect to pick the World Cup squad from these 27 players," Nishino said.

"Honda and Kagawa have been core players of the national team and I've called them up in the hope that they will be able to contribute."

The win was a morale booster for IR Iran ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia campaign where they are drawn in Group B alongside European champions Portugal, Spain and Morocco.

Saturday's win at the Azadi Stadium was IR Iran's fourth consecutive triumph over Uzbekistan, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.

Queiroz has named a training squad of 35 players and Saturday's friendly against Uzbekistan and the May 29 tie against Turkey will be the final avenues for the players to prove their selection worth. The final squad will be named by June 4.

IR Iran will open their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 15 before taking on Spain (June 20) and Portugal (June 25).

The Green Falcons will feature in the World Cup’s Opening Match against the hosts on June 14, before further Group A outings against Uruguay on June 20 and Egypt on June 25.