2018 WCQs matches and opponents

[PersianLegion]

This thread is for our opponents and the matches we need to play for WCQs.

I found this video about a matche between India and UAE in 2011. look at the quality of the pitch and how it may effect the game. The pitch is full of water. Is it usual for AFC to let this match be played under this condition?

[diz]

wow, it's like the ball is made of metal and the field is a giant magnet.

[aenima_8]

"To qualify for 2018 WC, India must play tight game: Bhutia
Apr 19, 2015, 04.00 AM IST

Former captain believes that it's not impossible for Stephen Constantine's boys to make the cut

India is ranked so low on the ladder of world football that every time the Indian team sets boots on the pitch in a competitive game, it's likely that it is against a team far tougher and accomplished team. It certainly will be the case for the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. India are drawn alongside Oman, Turkmenistan, Guam and Iran — the highest ranked team in Asia. The chances of making the next round are bleak at best.

But miracles happen and Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia does believe in them. The former skipper does believe it is possible. "Obviously it's a very tough group," Bhutia told Mirror on the sidelines of The Heineken Foosball league national finals in the city. "It's going to be tight, but not impossible for India to finish second. All the other teams are better than us. With Iran, the away match is going to be crucial. If they can draw matches away from home by playing a tight defensive game, they can make it possible.""

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/sport.../46971986.cms?

"The prospect of hosting Iran, who featured in last year’s World Cup and have been one of the most consistent sides in the continent, can prove to be the much-needed exposure for the Indian team. After playing just two matches in all of last year, the team will play eight matches between now and March 2016, which should provide an opportunity to the team to climb up the rankings."

http://indianexpress.com/article/spo...qualifiers/99/

"The Greenfield Stadium at Karyavattom is likely to host two home matches of India in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.



Talks regarding this have been held and the Greenfield Stadium, which hosted the opening ceremony and closing ceremony of the 35th National Games, is likely to stage matches against Guam (on November 12) and against Turkmenistan (on March 29, 2016).

Bengaluru or Mumbai could host India's matches against Oman and Iran."

http://english.manoramaonline.com/sp...alifiers-.html

Although venues and host cities have not yet been confirmed, here are the other two potential stadiums India could host the Iran match at:

Mumbai:



Bangalore:

[PersianLegion]

I read in the Indian soccer fans facebook account that they want to use the maximum advantage against Iran and Oman in their home matches. They want to choose one of the worst field just like the one with UAE and they are not ashamed. They said they have been treated badly by Nepal that made them to play in a shitty field to draw. They were justifying it by mentioning that game. So get ready for every possible tricks against us we might experience the lowest of the low something worst than our southern neighbors. They might pick a shitty field in a hot and humid city down south of India. Most likely we will be provided with no training field and be treated like shit. Team Melli should be really careful not let our key players get injured in that meaningless match.

[Z Joon]

I don't think it will be really intelligent to play "key" players in matches vs the likes of India/Guam/Turkmenistan anyways. This is an opportunity to test new players so we will probably use B/C teams in those matches.

[perspolis#1]

As Aenima_8 posted above the most likely location for the matches India plays with Oman/Iran will be in Bangalore. The stadium should be fine and the field tolerable. It's not like a broken up game suits India any better since TM can be one of the ugliest aliasghari push their way into the goal type of teams in the world if they want to. I agree that it isn't necessary to call up an entire A team for every single match but we need to get the balance right and make sure we dont drop points to weaker nations.

[OFFSIDE_1]

jokes aside ...... against India, I would send our A team and hope that we deliver a thrashing they will never recover from. Something to remind them who built the Taj Mahal, and where the darya eh noor is .....

[persepolisfan]

I wouldn't take too many chances against any team here. We need to crush all of our opponents

[teammelli91]

I think we will leave this group with 24 points.

[TheBoss]

They are going to get crushed

[littlepersia17]

2018 WCQs matches and opponents

Apparently Khomeini has Indian ancestry. That is the sole reason why I want Iran to thrash India for having a part in creating Iran's great satan.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ehsan singapore]

jokes aside ...... against India, I would send our A team and hope that we deliver a thrashing they will never recover from. Something to remind them who built the Taj Mahal, and where the darya eh noor is .....

darya noor is in iran, but i hope we beat them well

[Bessos]

Ooohh my gooood.

TM should now practice on shitty-rain-fields before going there.

[aenima_8]

Article about Guam and the Russia 2018 WCQs:

"Nearly every TV in China was turned to coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia second-round qualifying draws last week. Hundreds of millions of fans tuned in, waiting to learn the fate of the China men's national soccer team.

One was waiting for Guam. Matao head coach Gary White was vacationing in China after a pair of friendly matches his team had played in Hong Kong and Singapore.

He knew his team would be included in the draw -- they locked that spot up based on merit without having to compete in round one -- and knew that Guam would host four World Cup matches. The rest was out of his control.

The balls were drawn and the Chinese fans celebrated their placement in group C of the Asian Football Confederation.

Guam (ranked 175 in FIFA, 38 in AFC) emerged in group D, joined by Iran (40, 1), Oman (97, 10), India (147, 24) and Turkmenistan (159, 29).

Matao's first match will be against Turkmenistan on June 11, followed by India on June 15. Both matches will be held on Guam, the first time the island has hosted a World Cup match.

"It's really exciting stuff," White said. "It's historic."

Guam will now have a chance to advance to round three of qualifying and eventually a spot in the World Cup, but first it will need to win games and it'll be a challenge.

To advance, Guam needs to finish atop a group that includes the highest-ranked team in Asia, the second-largest country in the world and two wholly unfamiliar opponents.

"In my mind I had the perfect scenario for us. It didn't happen," White said. "You're always going to get tough games, it doesn't matter who you draw. ... There is no weak team at this level."

The games
Guam's first game is against Turkmenistan, a country that borders Iran and Afghanistan with a population of 5.24 million.

White said they're an under-seeded team -- their ranking would be higher with more recent games -- and he expects a physical, Euro-style match.

The second World Cup match, against India, will offer an entirely different challenge.

White and India head coach Stephen Constantine are old friends who regularly share advice and stories. India's style of play is vastly different from Turkmenistan's, White said, because of the team's hectic, quick movement. He expects both teams to be highly organized.

Matao captain Jason Cunliffe said his team will be ready no matter what it faces.

"At the end of the day you can look at film and it's nothing compared to getting out on the field and handling our business," Cunliffe said. "We'll do everything in our power to handle ourselves, and I think that'll be enough with the guys that we have now and the crowd behind us. ... I think we'll definitely come out from these two match days with six points."

Cunliffe said it's an honor to be a member of the first Guam team to host a World Cup match, but one that hasn't quite sunk in yet.

"Nowadays most things have already been done. It's 2015. It's not too often you get an opportunity to do something that hasn't already been done," Cunliffe said. "We need as many people as we can to come out there and support us and be loud and make it a hostile environment for these two teams.

"Everyone who comes out, whether they're a soccer fan or not, has an opportunity to come out and make history."

Matao will enter training camp at LeoPalace Resort on June 6 as it prepares for the World Cup.

Tournament matches have yet to begin, but White said he's got high hopes of keeping Guam in its place atop the standings of Group D.

The teams are ranked in alphabetical order until after the first game.

"It looks pretty good on my wall. I might take a picture," White said."

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20150...kmenistan-Guam

[perspolis#1]

If Guam beats either India or Turkmenistan there is no excuse we have to get at least 18 points in this group beating Guam India Turkmenistan twice.