Dubai: Iran coach Ali Sanei has said his side must heed the lessons from the AFC Futsal Championship UAE 2012 as the deposed champions enter the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in the unfamiliar position as Asia’s third best side.

The ten-time champions defeated Australia 4-0 in a draining third-place playoff in which Iran needed four goals in the final four minutes to finally break down a formidable Futsalroos defence and get the better of the inspirational Aussie keeper Peter Spathis.

But for a nation that has won all but one tournament since its inception in 1999, third-place, and automatic qualification to the 2014 AFC Futsal Championship, is not nearly enough, with Sanei himself admitting that “the trophy was expected in Tehran.”

“Australia is a very physical side as we saw in this game and I think the shock of our defeat to Thailand inspired them in this match and they put pressure on us,” said Sanei, who felt that post-tournament post mortem must focus on a realistic assessment of their defeat to the ASEAN champions.

“This has been a warning for us and now we must ask ourselves the necessary questions before the World Cup.

“But with regards to the semi-final, I consider that game an ‘accident’ and I guarantee that if we played them ten more times we would not get that result.

“Maybe it was to do with my lack of experience as coach but remember that we also lost to them in 2008. We have lost to Paraguay and also to European teams. We have drawn with Belgium. These results happen from tie-to-time.”

Sanei added that he was uncertain whether or not he would be at the helm of Iran in the run up to the World Cup in Thailand later this year.

“My contract runs another two months and whether I stay or go depends on the Federation.

“Whether it is me or someone with more experience that coaches the team we must learn from what happened here in Dubai.

“But regardless of any changes we are still a strong enough side to be competing with top four at the World Cup.”