Iran's goal for WC2014

[faraz]

I work at a start-up as a Product Marketing Manager. If I've learned anything, it's that you cannot achieve anything without first setting a goal. And at my workplace in particular, we set incredibly lofty ones. And for every single project, we never believe that we'll actually achieve the goals we've set.

But then a funny thing happens...

We become obsessed with the goal. Then, the team starts really working together to prepare and push, and push, and push, and push...and then suddenly...we've hit it! And once we've hit it, we get this strange confidence that we can do even more. So we do more. And as bewildering as it is, we've suddenly surpassed the goal that we thought was impossible to reach.

Moral of the story - amazing things happen when you set the bar as high as possible.

In light of all of this - I think TM's goal should be to reach the 2nd round. Even though the groups aren't set yet, we should set the goal NOW so there aren't any excuses if we end up in a group of death. The players need to have a mission in mind starting NOW, so they can work hard to realize it when the tournament begins next year.

You can laugh at me if you want, but amazing things happen when people set goals - I see it every day.

[Doctor DOOM]

advance to the next round. enough of tourism.
(unless we fall in a group like germany, holland, spain, iran. then, I'd say just survive and prevent getting mauled)

but seriously, I think advancing is a very good, decent and maybe even achievable one, barring some bizzare grouping.

[K. Nader]

Again it fully depends on our group.

If we get a group along the lines of: England, Iran, Tunisia, and Switzerland, qualification to the next round will be a realistic (albeit difficult) target.

However, if we fall in a group such as: Germany, Iran, Ghana, and Chile, don't fool yourselves for one moment thinking we'll qualify.

Like everything, success in the World Cup takes time. Japan qualified for four consecutive World Cups and only in 2010, did they register their first WC victories away from home soil and qualify for the 2nd round. The same goes for S. Korea who won their first match away from home in 2006 (their 7th WC) and qualified for the 2nd round in 2010.

Not only do we need a favourable draw, we also need every single one of our players to be in top shape. Unlike 2006 when we had respectable replacements, we really don't have that many solid replacements at the moment. While our defence has been excellent, Dejagah and Gucci are 70% of our offensive power. Losing either before the World Cup would be a huge blow to the slim chances I believe we have.

If we're talking about goals, then I say we use 2014 as a building block for 2018. With Dejagah and Gucci still young, Davari and Haghighi in Europe, as well as future prospects in Azmoun and Jahanbakhsh, we need to get several more players in Europe (preferably defenders) in order pave the way for 2018.

While this team has a lot of heart, it's probably the least talented of the 3 post-revolution WC teams we've had. I'd even rate our 2002 squad above this one. Japan has been planning for years and it showed today in their match against Italy. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't get our hopes up; there's no short term secret to success for Asian teams when it comes to success at the World Cup.

[Doctor DOOM]

azmoun is too young. I think we put too much in store of names/titles (legionnaires)
the kid has a lifetime to get into TM. he's around 17. I think it is too much to expect him to be in 2014. he has at least 13-14 years anyway

more importantly, we must somehow find a way to revitalize (read man up) ansarifard

thankfully, with qualification, we're going to be better exposed for the world and european football and I estimate a few of the present team would find interests from european clubs

[Martin-Reza]

AW: Iran's goal for WC2014

I totally agree, what is the sense of going to WC if not aiming to get past the first round. Yet, as said, there are group constellations possible which might make advancing as good as impossible, still advancing just be the aim. Still, ruining everything we achieved after a failure, like in 2006, should not be part of the package.

[zzgloo]

There a whole year left ..and CQ could make TM even better..
If something is working why can n't we continue ?.....and one thing is brining new Iranian decent players from forign /European countries....they appear to be more efficient and professional...why not asking for example that player in Venezuela to come in ( what was his name ? )..or others...these players also are influencing our domestic players in a positive way,as well as giving them better psycological boost in an international arena .

[K. Nader]

As per Iran's goal at the World Cup, we should aim to acquire 4 points. The best we've ever done is 3 points at the 1998 World Cup. Four points may or may not be enough to get us into the round of 16 as the group runners-up but it will still be a step forward in our World Cup achievements.

[Kaiser Amir]

I just hope we won't self-destruct with this GOING TO THE 2ND ROUND objective, as we did in 2006.

Back then, people seemed to think its our god given right to defeat the likes of Mexico and Portugal.
I still remember reading so many nonsense, idiotic articles in which the author had the impression that if he'll write more, then he is on to something and Iran should beat Mexico and Portugal.

Here is how I see it:

While its good to aim high, we shouldn't SUFFOCATE the team with this idea of going to the 2nd round, as we did in 2006.
No one is saying to send Team Melli to Brazil to have a nice little holiday.
No.

However, everyone should remain realistic and don't forget where our football comes from:

Apart from lacking many things in terms of facilities and youth football, we have one other big problem as well:

Years go by without our national team facing ANY quality side in a friendly.
I'm sure no one here is naive enough to imagine that between today and next June we'll face France, Italy, Argentina and Germany in test matches.
Most probably, especially due to our political situation in the world, we'll get one or two decent opponents (from South America and Africa) and other mediocre sides like Costa Rica, Panama, etc.

And then we'll go to the World Cup to face:

*A world class side = Top seed
*A very strong opponent = Second seed
*A beatable team = Third seed


Now, can we, without proper facilities, youth programms, and systematic good preparation (for more than one year!) defeat these kind of sides on a world stage?

On theory, anything is possible.
In reality, very small chance.

Thats why I hope we'll achieve these goals in Brazil:

*Show decent performances like in 1998 and 2006
*Don't come home without a point
*Use the 2014 World Cup as a bridge to connent our local based players to Europe


Anything other that the above will be a BONUS for me.

[Dreamer]

Assuming (incorrectly so) that the exact same squad that played the last three games with the addition of Dejagah will go to Brazil, then I think in terms of sending players to Europe (and other parts of the world) we'll have a tiny problem.

Our keepers [note that the ages I list will be the age of the player during the World Cup], Ahmadi (33/34), Makani (27) and Haghighi (26) will probably have the best chance of securing a move to a European club, with Haghighi (if used or scouted) might have the opportunity to move to a Secunda Division club or 2. Bundesliga club since he already has experience with Rubin Kazan.

Ahmadi is the least likely to secure a move, unless he truly wants to move to a European club since goalkeepers tend to play till they are 38-39, some of them at least.

Defenders will be, Heydari (30 turning 31), Hajsafi (24), Hosseini (32), Sadeghi (32), Mahini (27), Montazeri (30), Khalilzadeh (25), Beikzadeh (30) and Khanzadeh (22).

Personally I don't think most of our older players have the ambition to make a move at 30+ to try and set themselves through into a team while they could stay comfortably in Iran. Hajsafi, in my opinion, if he plays like the South Korea game and his Asian Cup 2011 performance has the best chance of going to Europe, same goes for Mahini. Montazeri and Beikzadeh will have offers too in my opinion. The only shame is that players like Khalilzadeh and Khanzadeh probably won't have an opportunity to display their abilities, else they could make their way to lower placed teams as well.

Midfielders will be, Nekounam (33), Shojaei (30), Jabbari (31), Khalatbari (30), Teymourian (31), Nouri (31), Mosalman (23), Ebrahimi (26), Haddadifar (30-31).

Again, we only have Mosalman and Ebrahimi, who probably won't get much playing time and thus won't make a move anywhere unless we are lucky.

Strikers will be, Oladi (29), Rezaei (29), Ghoochannejhad (26), Hatami (30) and Dejagah (28).

I'm 100% sure that if Ghoochannejhad performs like he has been, even if we don't win a single game, he will get a ticket to a top tier European team. Whether that is Anderlecht, Tottenham, Fiorentina, or any other 4-5th placed team in the top European leagues, I'm sure he'll be spotted. The exact same goes for Dejagah.

As you can see though, most of our players are around 30. Unless Afshin (25), Rahmani (22), Ansarifard (24), Reza Haghighi (25), Yaghoub Karimi (22), Sadeghian (22) get their act together, I can't see any of our players settling themselves through to Europe. Perhaps Pouladi (27) will be able to bounce back from his injury.

Also, all the players that are mentioned are players that were invited by Quieroz recently. Oh and add around 2 years to everyones age, since its custom in Iran to show yourself as younger.

With that in mind, I think that as long as we secure one win and one tie (4 points), we've performed absolutely fantastic.

As for our groups, let's assume that all the teams at the top of their group in Europe will qualify right now. That would leave us potentially with:

Belgium, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Spain. Second placed teams are Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Albania, Russia, Greece, England and France.

From South America, there would be Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. + Brazil.

Africa -> Ivory Coast, Egypt, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Congo, Nigeria, Algeria, Libya and Senegal.

Honestly, a game against any of these countries is a tough draw for us. African teams outplay us physically, South American teams outplay us with their speed and technique. European teams outplay us tactically and technically.

With our new defensive minded setting settled in though, we actually have a decent chance of not getting scored on massively, albeit it'll be ugly and I don't think its the wisest way to go about it.

Anyways, with all of that said, I think a single win is a huge success for us. As long as we analyze the teams and play like ourselves, mark properly, and simply perform as a team, I'm happy whether we win or lose (not really but you get the idea.)

Honestly though, I would prefer Quieroz taking a risk and inviting more youngsters and team up Ghoochannejhad with a second striker. Our right wing will be very dangerous that way and if Khalatbari is in form, then perfect, we got a good chance of displaying a good performance.

[Doctor DOOM]

As per Iran's goal at the World Cup, we should aim to acquire 4 points. The best we've ever done is 3 points at the 1998 World Cup. Four points may or may not be enough to get us into the round of 16 as the group runners-up but it will still be a step forward in our World Cup achievements.

4 points is doubtful and very difficult for advancement.

5 gives us a little chance. which means we shd be able to get a win and 2 draws. That means we shd be able to withstand the pressure from the 2 big teams (hence my thread on counterattacking TM), but at the same time, we must bring in a few offensive players to help us win the game against the other minnow (hopefully) of the team.

I would say our target must be 5 points to give us a slight chance of advancing. 4 is basically a tourist status (unless we get 3 huge teams like a group of death. in which case I'm fine with any respectable performance)

[Prince of Fasa]

I believe that with the addition of a few new players, hopefully younger (so they could potentially move to europe), I believe our core team of players under Queiroz can qualify to at least the second round, I believe Queiroz strength not only lies in tactics but also the fact that he kicked out rahmati, aghili, etc. as to remove any chance of hashiyeh being created in the team, so I believe that this will mean no repeat of the hashieh we saw in 2006, we should aim for a win in every match, even if we don't succeed we should go for as far as possible