The easiest job on paper among all countries for Iran

[Hadi]

Which team in the world can claim has an easier job that Iran to qualify for Brazil?

we just need to beat Lebanon and Qatar in 4 games and we are there.

I don't remember Iran having an easier route, ever.
Lebanon doesn't even feature in the final 10 often and Qatar is traditionally a seed 4 or seed 5 team.

If we screw up this time, we really are something!

[Mr.Good]

The win against the uzbek set us on the road to brazil, but the moment we take it easy, then we will lose point even to lebanon. I dont think lebanon and qatar will be as easy as we may wish in their own turf. We should keep steady and accumulate points. And hope for draws for korea and uzbekesan in their games. Hopefuly by. The last game we will be qualified just like in 2006.
Actually this situation is exactly like 2006 qualifier. I remember after the first game and the draw in Bahrain, many were complaining, but that one point was the start of a perfect campaign.
I have a good feeling about this qualifier and we should come on top at the end. That if iranian media stays away from the team.

[KasraKhan]

While I agree with you that our qualification route is quite easy, Qatar has been a thorn in TM's side recently and shouldn't be underestimated.

The last 4 times TM has played them had 3 draws and 1 win for Qatar.

I predict a close win at home against them and a draw in Doha.

[KeonKish]

While I agree with you that our qualification route is quite easy, Qatar has been a thorn in TM's side recently and shouldn't be underestimated.

The last 4 times TM has played them had 3 draws and 1 win for Qatar.

I predict a close win at home against them and a draw in Doha.

But this team is better than THAT team. I am almost sure that rahmati let them score that last time in azadi. But besides conspiracy, I think this time, we have a fully fit dejagah, we have Ando, Our team has minimal injuries, Rahmati is in form, It is a formula for sucess, we need to win greatly against Qatar to boost our GD, like 2-0 or 3-0, it may come useful as it did for NK in 2010

[Hadi]

Talk about luck after luck.

With yesterday's result, it is now more clear then ever. 10 points from 4 matches versus minnow Qatar and Lebanon will get us to the world cup

[Nokhodi]

Talk about luck after luck.

With yesterday's result, it is now more clear then ever. 10 points from 4 matches versus minnow Qatar and Lebanon will get us to the world cup

That's always been the issue. Iran chokes against the small teams.

1998 - Iran 2 points from Kuwait and 3 from Qatar! 5/12
2002 - Iran 4 points from Thailand and 1 from Bahrain! 5/12
2006 - Iran 6 points from NK and 4 from Bahrain. This time they did almost perfect. 10/12
2010 - Iran 4 points from NK, 4 from UAE and 1 from Saudi. 9/16

So as you can see, Iran generally has been a team that loses the easy games.

[Paradigm]

That's always been the issue. Iran chokes against the small teams.

1998 - Iran 2 points from Kuwait and 3 from Qatar! 5/12
2002 - Iran 4 points from Thailand and 1 from Bahrain! 5/12
2006 - Iran 6 points from NK and 4 from Bahrain. This time they did almost perfect. 10/12
2010 - Iran 4 points from NK, 4 from UAE and 1 from Saudi. 9/16

So as you can see, Iran generally has been a team that loses the easy games.

^ Hopefully by now the lessons have been learned. I think the fact that nowadays many fans are able to pay close attention to the team's progress and scrutinize things is a big contribution/aid to them keeping the house in order. This was not quite possible 10 years ago. For instance I heard many accounts of the team melli guys (after the fact) spending the day before the big match with Bahrain in 2001 smoking shisha instead of practicing and focusing on the game. The results of course where disastrous.

[zzgloo]

The main problem is still Uzbakistan....Qatar and lebanon are already out in my opinion...
..
1- Qatar loss to South korea at home was big loss,specialy ....... giving up 4 goals..which will put them way back at the goal differentials.
2-Qatar is the only team now that playing 3 games in 9 days..ending against Iran ...with two travels to Lebanon and Tehran.
3-lebanon....after losing to south korea on tesday....is almost out of it...with thier toughest games ahead of them away !

[Paradigm]

I think South Korea is taken much for granted; they have weaknesses too which if exploited can put them on the margins. They still have to play their four important matches with Iran and Uzbekistan. This time I'd like to see Iran qualify at the top of the group. CQ and his technical staff should carefully analyze the recent matches of Spain-South Korea and South Korea-Qatar to find out where, when, why and how the goals came from and look for possible loopholes in the defense or midfield.

[zzgloo]

I hope I am more realistic than pessimistic....But,I have to say,Japan and South Korea have both excceeded our football.....they are now in a different league.....acctualy,Australia is more appraochable.....Japan and South Korea..are Asian Version of Spain......fast short passing game, That TM is way off of.

[KeonKish]

Japan and SK are consistent. The problem is TM has always been reliant on a few stars to carry the team on their backs. While in SK or JPN their teams seem very balanced to me.
No none of them have any special brilliance, yet they all know the basics of football and get results.
We on the other hand have individual talents but they fall flat on their face because all of them are used to being the star and getting assists from everyone,
and they are not professionally taught in iran.

For example. Hajsafi made it into the Uzbek box 4 times and hesitated to take a shot. While the koreans made one from OUTSIDE the box.

[Doctor DOOM]

Which team in the world can claim has an easier job that Iran to qualify for Brazil?

we just need to beat Lebanon and Qatar in 4 games and we are there.

I don't remember Iran having an easier route, ever.
Lebanon doesn't even feature in the final 10 often and Qatar is traditionally a seed 4 or seed 5 team.

If we screw up this time, we really are something!

hehe. looks like we are very much on the right path and n the process of proving "we are really something"

[Paradigm]

Which team in the world can claim has an easier job that Iran to qualify for Brazil?

we just need to beat Lebanon and Qatar in 4 games and we are there.

I don't remember Iran having an easier route, ever.
Lebanon doesn't even feature in the final 10 often and Qatar is traditionally a seed 4 or seed 5 team.

If we screw up this time, we really are something!

It is not going to happen as long as Ansarifard is the striker, and the team game plan, physical conditioning and motivation isn't improved. It is very clear that there are forces behind the scene which push a certain number of PP players into the national team and those forces are doing much damage and disservice to the nation. Let's not lower the severity of the event that happened today. In and of itself a tragedy for the Iranian football to lose to Lebanon; if Daie were on the ground, this would have not happened.

[faraz]

Which team in the world can claim has an easier job that Iran to qualify for Brazil?

we just need to beat Lebanon and Qatar in 4 games and we are there.

I don't remember Iran having an easier route, ever.
Lebanon doesn't even feature in the final 10 often and Qatar is traditionally a seed 4 or seed 5 team.

If we screw up this time, we really are something!

Definitely agree. I challenge someone to find another team with an easier route to the WC. I also think our loss to Lebanon is in the top 5 worst losses in the history of our football (after the 3-1 loss against Bahrain, maybe the AC04 penalty kick loss against China, or our AC9y loss against Saudi Arabia) - at least for as long as I've been watching (since the 90s).

[Doctor DOOM]

Looks like EACH AND EVERY coach we get ought to have at least one (in some ppl's cases like ghotbi and branko, more than one) REALLY SHAMEFUL, UTTERLY HUMILIATING loss to a minnow.

I cant remember one coach post-79 who didnt lose a game to an utterly piss-poor opponent
anyone? maybe parvin. majid jan, any recollection?