since when did bainality and mediocrity become good images for our children?
or in our case the children of iran?
People on this board tell others to be proud. To be happy. We played well.
We played AVERAGE. We had some good instances but overall it was anything to be PROUD of. In the beginning it looked like the MExico match all over again; everyone treated the ball like a hot potatoe. This resulted in no offence, unless you call rezaei shooting the ball 80 yards the other way 53 times to the portugal defence.
NEvertheless, soon we started playing a bit more like the IRan we saw in qualification and against croatia. In the end though, our finishing ****ed us over. HOWEVER...
How can anyone be happy with these string of results? 5 goals conceded? 1 goal scored? This is supposedly the greatest Iranian team ever? please...
an argument can be made skill wise. We have alot of players who have high techinical skills. Unfortunately that doesn't decide who is the better team. In the NHL (National hockey league for people who dont know) the most important aspect of the game that is emphasized isn't defence or offence, passing or shooting; its HUSTLE. Its going after that defenceman, fighting for loose balls; the gritty nasty work that wins the ball, helps keep possesion, and ultimately helps you win the game. Other than Teymourian ( the only player i could find myself cheering for) barely anyone else showed this. In the mexico match, the players treated the game like a friendly, not wanting to do anything unless the ball was served to them on a silver platter. In the portugal match it got a bit better but still it was lacking. And what i want to ask is WHY? WHY IN GODS NAME?
This is the GREATEST TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD. it happens EVERY 4 YEARS. Why shouldnt you be treating each game as a matter of life and death. if we were the U.S., where soccer isnt big and that passion isnt there, we would have somewhat of a valid excuse. BUT WE ARE IRAN, We LOVE FOOTBALL. Each day kids DREAM of putting on that team melli jersey.
Yet the players often timed looked like they were being forced to play...for shame..
and before anyone comes out with any bull sh*t remarks like "IT WAS PORTUGAL, THE PLAYERS ARE IN BARCELONA CHELSEA etc" or "KARIMI WAS INJURED" remember this:
-in 2002 korea republic soundly defeated the portugal team. A portugal team that many believe was better than this one, just not as well coached. The portuguse had players in AC Milan, Real Madrid and so on. Korea had barely any players in top flight european leagues. Yet they HUSTLED, RAN AFTER EACH AND EVERYBALL, and with GREAT TEAM WORK beat them and moved on to the second round.
-Karimi shouldn't and isn't our only source of offence (even thouhg many think this). Just because he is injured we shouldn't throw in the towel and go, "Karimi's injured? okay we forfiet." We dont have the greatest depth but dam it man ONE PLAYER DOESNT DECIDE IF WE WIN OR NOT.
phew....im done with this team, maybe in four years time the players learn that they represent 70 million people that love soccer and they should be honoured instead of treating it like a chore...
or in our case the children of iran?
People on this board tell others to be proud. To be happy. We played well.
We played AVERAGE. We had some good instances but overall it was anything to be PROUD of. In the beginning it looked like the MExico match all over again; everyone treated the ball like a hot potatoe. This resulted in no offence, unless you call rezaei shooting the ball 80 yards the other way 53 times to the portugal defence.
NEvertheless, soon we started playing a bit more like the IRan we saw in qualification and against croatia. In the end though, our finishing ****ed us over. HOWEVER...
How can anyone be happy with these string of results? 5 goals conceded? 1 goal scored? This is supposedly the greatest Iranian team ever? please...
an argument can be made skill wise. We have alot of players who have high techinical skills. Unfortunately that doesn't decide who is the better team. In the NHL (National hockey league for people who dont know) the most important aspect of the game that is emphasized isn't defence or offence, passing or shooting; its HUSTLE. Its going after that defenceman, fighting for loose balls; the gritty nasty work that wins the ball, helps keep possesion, and ultimately helps you win the game. Other than Teymourian ( the only player i could find myself cheering for) barely anyone else showed this. In the mexico match, the players treated the game like a friendly, not wanting to do anything unless the ball was served to them on a silver platter. In the portugal match it got a bit better but still it was lacking. And what i want to ask is WHY? WHY IN GODS NAME?
This is the GREATEST TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD. it happens EVERY 4 YEARS. Why shouldnt you be treating each game as a matter of life and death. if we were the U.S., where soccer isnt big and that passion isnt there, we would have somewhat of a valid excuse. BUT WE ARE IRAN, We LOVE FOOTBALL. Each day kids DREAM of putting on that team melli jersey.
Yet the players often timed looked like they were being forced to play...for shame..
and before anyone comes out with any bull sh*t remarks like "IT WAS PORTUGAL, THE PLAYERS ARE IN BARCELONA CHELSEA etc" or "KARIMI WAS INJURED" remember this:
-in 2002 korea republic soundly defeated the portugal team. A portugal team that many believe was better than this one, just not as well coached. The portuguse had players in AC Milan, Real Madrid and so on. Korea had barely any players in top flight european leagues. Yet they HUSTLED, RAN AFTER EACH AND EVERYBALL, and with GREAT TEAM WORK beat them and moved on to the second round.
-Karimi shouldn't and isn't our only source of offence (even thouhg many think this). Just because he is injured we shouldn't throw in the towel and go, "Karimi's injured? okay we forfiet." We dont have the greatest depth but dam it man ONE PLAYER DOESNT DECIDE IF WE WIN OR NOT.
phew....im done with this team, maybe in four years time the players learn that they represent 70 million people that love soccer and they should be honoured instead of treating it like a chore...