PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION | Iran vs. Iraq - Asian Cup 2015

[masoud nekounam]

Let's keep it in this thread in order to keep the actual match thread clean until it is actually game-time.

[Abtin]

Looking forward to wake up at 6:30 to watch a football match

[masoud nekounam]

My line-up:

Haghighi
Ghafouri - Hosseini - Pouraliganji - Pouladi
Teymourian - Nekounam
Dejagah - - - - - Shojaei - - - - - Hajsafi
Ghoochannejhad

Of course, the actual formation of TM changes throughout the game. Ando pushes up more then Neko during the press, and Hajsafi sometimes drops deeper to change to a 4-3-3 when defending. Also Shojaei and Hajsafi often interchange positions, even Dejagah goes to the left wing on occasion. But, these are the players I would start, same line-up as vs Bahrain. Some might prefer Azmoun to Ghooch, but Reza offers better defensive contributions, work ethic, and hold-up/combination play. Also, the runs he makes are more sophisticated and generally he is a more clinical finisher. Azmoun is a great sub around 70', he is better in the air and faster, which is best against a more tired defense.

Other than choosing between Ghoochannejhad/Azmoun for striker (there is zero chance that both will play), I wonder if anyone would prefer anything different for the other 10 players?

[CHaMiLLionaire]

I expect a similar disciplined approach against Iraq.

Iraq doesn't have a creative midfielder so they definitely won't be attacking towards the middle. We can't force them wide like we did with UAE since they have some dangerous aerial players upfront.

Otherwise, I dont see Iraq posing much of a threat in ball possession. Their only chances of scoring will come from set pieces or individual skill from Justin Miriam or Ali Adnan.

I really think this game is easier to execute than the game against UAE. Its going to be a tight affair so expect a 0-0 in the first half.

I predict a 1-0 or 2-0 win for Iran, if we are lethal on counter attacks.

I think the starting line up will be something along the lines of

Haghighi, Ghafouri, PAG, Hosseini, Pouladi, Neko, Ando, Hajsafi, Shojaei, Dejagah, Sardar.

The only question is really...if Gucci or Sardar will start.

[Z Joon]

PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION | Iran vs. Iraq - Asian Cup 2015

I expect a similar disciplined approach against Iraq.

Iraq doesn't have a creative midfielder so they definitely won't be attacking towards the middle. We can't force them wide like we did with UAE since they have some dangerous aerial players upfront.

Otherwise, I dont see Iraq posing much of a threat in ball possession. Their only chances of scoring will come from set pieces or individual skill from Justin Miriam or Ali Adnan.

I really think this game is easier to execute than the game against UAE. Its going to be a tight affair so expect a 0-0 in the first half.

I predict a 1-0 or 2-0 win for Iran, if we are lethal on counter attacks.

I think the starting line up will be something along the lines of

Haghighi, Ghafouri, PAG, Hosseini, Pouladi, Neko, Ando, Hajsafi, Shojaei, Dejagah, Sardar.

The only question is really...if Gucci or Sardar will start.

Ditto, I think TM is going to come into the match more focused than vs UAE and sharper on counters.
I would start Gucci instead of Sardar though. It's always a gamble to start Azmoun in important matches, especially in a knockout stage.

[CHaMiLLionaire]

Ditto, I think TM is going to come into the match more focused than vs UAE and sharper on counters.
I would start Gucci instead of Sardar though. It's always a gamble to start Azmoun in important matches, especially in a knockout stage.

Sardar runs out of gas quick...and if this game goes into extra time, we will need Gucci fresh.
I say start Sardar and sub him out around minute 60.

The other thing is, Iraq does not have the depth that Iran does. If they did, their starting forward would not be a clubless out of form grandfather.
They struggled to score against Palestine. Their goals came from a corner/cross and a mixup in Palestinian defense.

I truly doubt that they will be able to get past the wall of our defense. This is football though, if we don't finish our chances in attack, we might end up losing on a fluke or PKs.

[TM4LIFE]

PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION | Iran vs. Iraq - Asian Cup 2015

Gucci or Sardar to start?
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[K. Nader]

Against popular opinion, I wouldn't start Nekounam in this match. He is the glue that keeps this team together and a second yellow would render him out of the semi-finals (thanks to AFC's stupid policy). If he does start, this is the one match I'd like us to put away quickly. Nekounam, Hajsafi, Pouladi, Masoud, and Azmoun all sit on yellows and are at risk of missing the semi-finals should they accumulate a second card.

[Camran khan]

^I agree, but I'm not sure what we would do without him, I guess Omid Ebrahimi wouldn't be too bad, but still no Nekounam.

I hope we win with at least a 2 goal margin, nothing feels better than beating these cocky teams.

[Tehranto]

Sardar runs out of gas quick...and if this game goes into extra time, we will need Gucci fresh.
I say start Sardar and sub him out around minute 60.

The other thing is, Iraq does not have the depth that Iran does. If they did, their starting forward would not be a clubless out of form grandfather.
They struggled to score against Palestine. Their goals came from a corner/cross and a mixup in Palestinian defense.

I truly doubt that they will be able to get past the wall of our defense. This is football though, if we don't finish our chances in attack, we might end up losing on a fluke or PKs.

Palestine also had some real golden chances to score as well.

I think by all the games we've seen, UAE is by far the strongest Arab team right now.

[alaph]

Have we ever seen Reza and Sardar on the same starting 11? I don't that has ever happened.

[Camran khan]

We have faced stronger opponents than Iraq in our group.

[ehsan singapore]

Against popular opinion, I wouldn't start Nekounam in this match. He is the glue that keeps this team together and a second yellow would render him out of the semi-finals (thanks to AFC's stupid policy). If he does start, this is the one match I'd like us to put away quickly. Nekounam, Hajsafi, Pouladi, Masoud, and Azmoun all sit on yellows and are at risk of missing the semi-finals should they accumulate a second card.

all yellow cards are wiped out after the group stage, the asian cup format is different from fifa, in fifa the yellow card carry till quater then semi all wiped,in asian cup after group stage all wiped out

[Tehranto]

all yellow cards are wiped out after the group stage, the asian cup format is different from fifa, in fifa the yellow card carry till quater then semi all wiped,in asian cup after group stage all wiped out

I heard different, where did you hear this?

[Cataphract]

We have a few advantages compared to Iraq in the next match:

- We have 1 day more to rest
- Iraqi players seemed fatigued vs Palestine
- Iranian fans (Home advantage)
- Our main offensive players were rested in the last round
- Psychological edge over Iraq after our last matches where we won

Despite the fact that the stars seemed aligned in our favor, we should respect Iraq.

I predict a 2-0 win.


Asian Cup 2015: Iraq coach bemoans lack of recovery time for Iraq quarterfinal



http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1227191406495