2014 World Cup - IRAN - BOSNIA

[Doctor DOOM]

MASSIVE DISPARITY in terms of standards between the two teams.
But our world cup was not restricted to just one game against Argentina. And in our last game we needed something totally different. The situation was different, the opponent was different, the requisites were different too. This called for a different plan. And CQ more or less failed to show he had any plan B or a deviation from his ultra defensive approach.



In a game where we needed to win to finally achieve what we always dreamed about, we played the bulk of the game with a defensive mindset with the defense line staying back too close to the goal and our two DM, especially Nekounam never really opened up and stayed clued to our defenders. This put acres of space between 6 of our players and the other 4 playing slightly up front, who had the task of attacking and the responsibility to score the goals we needed.


Of those 4 in the front, Hajsafi Shojaei Dejagah and RGNwe NEEDED to score goals in this gameHeidari Khalatbari. It makes me gnash my teeth to think we left him while keeping the utter failure, Shojaei. What a mistake.



DEFENSIVE MIDS

AndoNekounam was a bit disappointing. Yes, inspite of his fantastic assist. He was too involved with defensive duties and failed to display his usual offensive (albeit infrequent) moves. He really underachieved in this WC, when he could have gone out magnificently.



DEFENSE

I feel terrible how the second goal was scored on us with both Montazeri and HosseiniPouladi Sadeghi and Haghighi were ok. Perhaps both, especially Haghighi could have done slightly better on the third goal. But cant really put too much blame on them.


SUBS

Both Jahanbakhsh and Ansarifard came too late and by that time we had already fallen behind by too much (score wise as well as motivation. Not to mention the amount of time remained). Maybe if we had brought these two at the halftime, we would have seen a different game. But it just proves that CQ had only one plan; DEFEND AT ALL COST. And was incapable of changing anything, even when we required totally different things.

[Doctor DOOM]

All in all, not a bad WC campaign.

Certainly rates higher and far more respectful than our 2006.
For me, the single Argentina game makes this one rate higher than our 1998 three pointer even.

I was satisfied with our first game. We played organized defense as it was sensible strategy, getting the games' crucial first step underway.
I was ecstatic with our second game.
I also didn't expect us to defeat the Bosnians by any big margin. I actually predicted a 1-1 draw. So in was under no illusions. But what disappointed me was THE WAY we failed to rise to the occasion. It was the way we failed in producing just about ANY inkling of a plan for offense. Hell, it was the way we showed we didn't even PLAN or DESIRE for an attack!

I would have taken a loss HAD WE AT LEAST SHOWED WE WENT FOR A WIN. But we didn't even 'show' that! We played as if we were defending a lead and needed to stay back and protect our goals! The lack of attempt to do something is what disappointed me.


It could have been worse though. We could have finished the campaign without a single goal scored. That would have been utterly shameful.
So blushes saved.

[Martin-Reza]

AW: 2014 World Cup - IRAN - BOSNIA

Barely have read such a down-to-earth and neutral post from you like the last. Damet garm.

[Doctor DOOM]

Eh?
You got to work on your sarcasm, matey.
It falsely comes as straight

[Ridi-Q-Lus]

First, I want to thank the players, coaching staff and especially CQ for their hard work. The Iran-Argentina game is a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

In my opinion, considering the (lack of) talent on the roster, CQ's tactics were spot on for the first two games (no I don't think we should have had a more attacking minded line up in the Nigeria game).

I think CQ made his first tactical mistake in this game. I actually disagree with Dr. Doom. I think we were not defensive enough in the first half. On the first goal, Montazeri was no where near the ball, because we had pushed forward and lost possession. CQ had set up the team to have a minimal amount of possession, defend in numbers and close down passing lanes; then try to score off of the few counters that came our way. After watching this game, all I am left with are questions:

1. Why push for a goal in the first half when you know your team can't risk falling behind early (knowing that there is no plan B)? The reason we played so well in the second half of the second game was because of the way we played in the first half. Those counters were successful because Argentina was so desperate to score.

2. Since we are on the subject, why was there no plan B? What would we have done if we conceded early in the other two games?

3. Why keep Ashkan on the left side, when you know he is more comfortable on the right and that Bosnia's "weakl-ink" (the leftback) has trouble with pace? Why put Shojaei on that side who has no pace?

I have many more questions, but there is no point in dwelling on the past. We have to concentrate on preparations for Asian Cup which is coming up in 6 months. I hope we can find an experienced coach that can fight for us the way CQ fought for us.

[Hadi]

i am not even mad at this loss because we deserved it. We would not have won this match even if we played it many times over.

not because we played bad. but because that is the best we can be. our players are worse footballers than Bosnians and there is nothing that can change that.

Could we have gotten a draw if we wanted? I think so. But our team is simply not capable of winning.

In fact, there is no team whose footballers are worse than iran's in every sense and if not for the big heart of our players, their hard worke and CQ's shrewd defensive tactics, we would have been an embarrassment.

There is no shame in saying we were the worst team in the world cup. at least we WERE THERE and we are one of the best in our continent. But compared to the passing, ball control, finishing etc of world class players, we are simply too far behind.

[Doctor DOOM]

If the loss had come from difference in quality of the players, I would have taken it easier.

But two goals from two very silly and avoidable mistakes (first, that failure shojaei. second, the montazeri Hosseini combo) is hard to swallow. A little more sense and maybe a different player in the first, and a little more focus and awareness of surrounding in the second would have prevented those two goals.

[zzgloo]

TM, is realy not as good as the game against Argentina, nor is it as bad as the game against Bosnia .