TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran national soccer team need positive energy to compete at the remaining matches of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Team Melli head coach Dragan Skocic said on Saturday.

"First of all, I would like to say it's a great honor for me to be appointed as Iran coach. I have good knowledge of the Iranian football and players and want to bring an injection of positive energy, something the team and players desperately need," Skocic said at his first news conference.

"We want to celebrate qualifying for the World Cup for the sixth time, that's why I am here," Skocic told reporters.

The 51-year-old Croat was appointed as Team Melli head coach last week as a replacement for Belgian coach Marc Wilmots who left Iran in early December.

Iran will have four must-win matches in late March and early June in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Iran will host Hong Kong on March 26 in Tehran and meet Cambodia five days later in an away match. They will face Bahrain and Iraq on June 4 and 9, respectively in Tehran.

"I think Team Melli are not on the right track and I want to change the situation. From now on, I will be in contact with the clubs 24 hours a day to reach our goal. I am familiar with the Iranian players and know the way they think," Skocic said.

"The door is open for any player and the best players will be invited to the national team no matter which club they play," he added.

"I am a hyperactive coach and like attacking football but we also are ready to play defensive football. Before that, we need good relationship between the players and coaching staff. The good relationships will help boost team morale and improve collaboration at work," he noted. Enditem

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