Media fools in Iran are at it again with their malicious agenda ridiculing Team Melli's 9th of October friendly opponent. You can read the article here
In reality who is the most isolated national football team in the World? Is it Team Melli or Russia?
In the past several years, didn't Russia play Cameroon, Serbia in Moscow and for this year is going to host Zambia and Nigeria? and unlucky for them their match with Paraguay last year got cancelled due to terrorist attack in Moscow.
We all know that the only time Paraguay played Team Melli was at 2002 LG Cup in Tabriz. Cameroon played two friendly matches with TM back in 1992 in Azadi Stadium. Zambia played TM in Tehran back in 2008. Serbia has never played TM, and Nigeria has only faced TM in 1998 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong and 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Cameroon was not even their regular starters from 1990 World Cup or their current team at the time. Why hasn't FFIRI been able to bring Serbia, Paraguay, Cameroon, Nigeria, Zambia to Iran for friendly match these past several years?
The strongest non-AFC opponents Islamic Republic managed to bring to Iran were Germany in 2004, Paraguay in 2002, Senegal in 2009, Russia in 2023, Slovakia in 2002, Hungary in 1998, Poland in 1990, Costa Rica in 2006 & 2008, Zambia in 2008.
Empire of Iran, also struggled to bring strong opponents to Iran. The best they managed were Czechoslovakia in 1974, Soviet Union in 1978, Turkey in 1965, Hungary in 1975 & 1977, Yugoslavia in 1978, Romania in 1976 & 1977, Wales in 1978, Bulgaria in 1978.
All others strong opponents faced Team Melli abroad in friendlies or friendly tournaments (not counting World Cup and Olympic Games obviously).
- Brazil in 2010, in Dubai, UAE
- Argentina in 1977, in Madrid, Spain
- France in 1978 away
- Portugal in 1972 Independence Cup in Brazil
- Croatia twice away in 1998 & 2006
- Uruguay in 2003 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong, and 2022 in neutral venue in Europe
- Mexico in 2000 friendly in USA, and 2007 away
- Sweden in 2015 away
- Denmark in 1999 away
- Austria in 2000 away
- Chile in 1972 Independence Cup in Brazil, 1998 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong, and 2015 in neutral venue in Europe
- Nigeria in 1998 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong
- Ukraine in 2002 away
then ofcourse for the teams that had managed to bring to Iran, there were these away or neutral venue matches as well
- Senegal in 2022 friendly in neutral venue in Europe
- Russia in 2010 friendly match in UAE, away match in 2017
- Turkey in 1950 friendly, 1969 RCD Cup, 2018 friendly all three away, and 1967 RCD Cup in Bangladesh
- Slovakia in 2001 friendly away
I did not count matches with Ecuador, Tunisia, Algeria, or some other European, African and Latin American teams. Since they are not known as superpowers in Football.
Conclusion: Team Melli has struggled to bring very high profile teams to Iran for friendly matches. It was an issue back in Imperial period as well as Islamic Republic period. Currently, to be honest Team Melli is perhaps the most isolated team in the World.
In reality who is the most isolated national football team in the World? Is it Team Melli or Russia?
In the past several years, didn't Russia play Cameroon, Serbia in Moscow and for this year is going to host Zambia and Nigeria? and unlucky for them their match with Paraguay last year got cancelled due to terrorist attack in Moscow.
We all know that the only time Paraguay played Team Melli was at 2002 LG Cup in Tabriz. Cameroon played two friendly matches with TM back in 1992 in Azadi Stadium. Zambia played TM in Tehran back in 2008. Serbia has never played TM, and Nigeria has only faced TM in 1998 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong and 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Cameroon was not even their regular starters from 1990 World Cup or their current team at the time. Why hasn't FFIRI been able to bring Serbia, Paraguay, Cameroon, Nigeria, Zambia to Iran for friendly match these past several years?
The strongest non-AFC opponents Islamic Republic managed to bring to Iran were Germany in 2004, Paraguay in 2002, Senegal in 2009, Russia in 2023, Slovakia in 2002, Hungary in 1998, Poland in 1990, Costa Rica in 2006 & 2008, Zambia in 2008.
Empire of Iran, also struggled to bring strong opponents to Iran. The best they managed were Czechoslovakia in 1974, Soviet Union in 1978, Turkey in 1965, Hungary in 1975 & 1977, Yugoslavia in 1978, Romania in 1976 & 1977, Wales in 1978, Bulgaria in 1978.
All others strong opponents faced Team Melli abroad in friendlies or friendly tournaments (not counting World Cup and Olympic Games obviously).
- Brazil in 2010, in Dubai, UAE
- Argentina in 1977, in Madrid, Spain
- France in 1978 away
- Portugal in 1972 Independence Cup in Brazil
- Croatia twice away in 1998 & 2006
- Uruguay in 2003 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong, and 2022 in neutral venue in Europe
- Mexico in 2000 friendly in USA, and 2007 away
- Sweden in 2015 away
- Denmark in 1999 away
- Austria in 2000 away
- Chile in 1972 Independence Cup in Brazil, 1998 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong, and 2015 in neutral venue in Europe
- Nigeria in 1998 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong
- Ukraine in 2002 away
then ofcourse for the teams that had managed to bring to Iran, there were these away or neutral venue matches as well
- Senegal in 2022 friendly in neutral venue in Europe
- Russia in 2010 friendly match in UAE, away match in 2017
- Turkey in 1950 friendly, 1969 RCD Cup, 2018 friendly all three away, and 1967 RCD Cup in Bangladesh
- Slovakia in 2001 friendly away
I did not count matches with Ecuador, Tunisia, Algeria, or some other European, African and Latin American teams. Since they are not known as superpowers in Football.
Conclusion: Team Melli has struggled to bring very high profile teams to Iran for friendly matches. It was an issue back in Imperial period as well as Islamic Republic period. Currently, to be honest Team Melli is perhaps the most isolated team in the World.
Comment