Fromer Ireland Coach Mick McCarthy on WCQ 2002 Playoffs vs. Iran

[Bi-honar]

Just a small correction. Since KSA won their last match, a DRAW would not have seen us through. Only a victory.

That Ireland team was the best they have had in their history (they nearly eliminated Spain in the round of 16, losing only on penalties at WC 02) YET we still managed to defeat them, A TASK that Neither Portugal or Holland could manage to do during the WCQ .

And as mentioned already, had one of those chances by Karimi gone in Dublin, it would have been us in Korea-Japan.

Yeah, definitely one of the best, if not the best Ireland team(s) of all time. If I remember correctly, they were unbeaten in something like 14 or 17 games when we played them.

In fact, that loss in Tehran not only broke their impressive unbeaten streak, but it was the only loss they suffered during their entire WCQ and WC campaigns in regulation time!

Our own campaign was almost flawless as well other than having Bahrain as a thorn in our side and falling apart in that last game in Manama. We lost only a single game in our 12 AFC qualifying matches - less than all the three qualification campaigns in which we've qualified for the WC since the revolution!

[PSGman#19]

this 2002 miss killed our momentum. We were starting to be known internationally after 1998 and our several exports. We had some very good players emerging (Karimi for example).

a 2002 WC participation would have help us to export more players, make iran name no joke (while Korea and Japan started having good results), having a decent sponsor, and all this just before the nuclear BS and all the sanctions appearing.

And a small notice : I don't know what happened but european clubs are more hesitant to buy WC exotic revelations now than before. If I am not mistaken, Costa Rica didn't have so many good transfers after their WC14 impressive performance.

[KC McElroy]

this 2002 miss killed our momentum. We were starting to be known internationally after 1998 and our several exports. We had some very good players emerging (Karimi for example).

a 2002 WC participation would have help us to export more players, make iran name no joke (while Korea and Japan started having good results), having a decent sponsor, and all this just before the nuclear BS and all the sanctions appearing.

And a small notice : I don't know what happened but european clubs are more hesitant to buy WC exotic revelations now than before. If I am not mistaken, Costa Rica didn't have so many good transfers after their WC14 impressive performance.

Well that's because most of their starters are already in Europe.

[PSGman#19]

Well that's because most of their starters are already in Europe.

Don't know their squad well but it seems they didn't manage to get better clubs after that

[babak_iran]

i dont think anyone will ever forget the bahrain game that we lost 3-1 when we needed a draw to make the world cup. Probably the worst loss of TM all time.

[Kiarash]

Fromer Ireland Coach Mick McCarthy on WCQ 2002 Playoffs vs. Iran

i dont think anyone will ever forget the bahrain game that we lost 3-1 when we needed a draw to make the world cup. Probably the worst loss of TM all time.

For me the elimination from this Asian Cup was the worst thing I witnessed so far as a fan. I am still depressed when I think about it because we had everything to become champions in Australia, it took one referee to rob an entire nation from their dreams. Simply disturbing, disgusting and depressing...I don't think I can get over it for a long time. The Argentina late goal comes second.

[AminGP]

i dont think anyone will ever forget the bahrain game that we lost 3-1 when we needed a draw to make the world cup. Probably the worst loss of TM all time.

We needed a win to make it to the world cup not a draw

[babak_iran]

We needed a win to make it to the world cup not a draw

your right my mistake.

[babak_iran]

For me the elimination from this Asian Cup was the worst thing I witnessed so far as a fan. I am still depressed when I think about it because we had everything to become champions in Australia, it took one referee to rob an entire nation from their dreams. Simply disturbing, disgusting and depressing...I don't think I can get over it for a long time. The Argentina late goal comes second.

For me the bahrain game was more depressing. One of our best teams missed out on da world cup, where the saudis went and became the 8-0ers. Fuck Ben Williams, but Iran mentally broke down in the iraq game as well, they could have managed better. Argentina game definitely up there cuz we were so close, but no one was expecting it.

[PSGman#19]

For me the elimination from this Asian Cup was the worst thing I witnessed so far as a fan. I am still depressed when I think about it because we had everything to become champions in Australia, it took one referee to rob an entire nation from their dreams. Simply disturbing, disgusting and depressing...I don't think I can get over it for a long time. The Argentina late goal comes second.

It is logical, you were only 7 when the bahrain fiasco occurs. but it was more hurtful than the Iraqi 1/4 as we had to beat SK and Australia to win the cup this year (possible but not guarantied). The China semi final (AC2004) in 2004 & SK late equalizer in 2010 were something too.

[perspolis#1]

I was 9 when the Bahrain-Iran game happened but I remember it to be far worse than the Iran-Iraq situation. In the Iran-Iraq game, we know which team is better. In Azadi, we will beat them easily 2-0 or 3-1. Bahrain fought like their lives depended on it and held the Saudi flag after and it felt like Iran was conquered by Arabs all over again. Such a strong team losing to Bahrain and seeing the Saudi's celebrate, made me sick as a 9 year old. I still watch the Germany8-0 Saudi game sometimes for fun. They gave up 12 goals in 3 games and scored none. They lost 3-0 to Ireland.

I think there is an axis of teams for us these days, Saudi/Qatar/Bahrain. These teams are always mental trouble for us. If we can avoid them in qualifiers, we will qualify to the World cup much more easily.

[AminGP]

I was 9 when the Bahrain-Iran game happened but I remember it to be far worse than the Iran-Iraq situation. In the Iran-Iraq game, we know which team is better. In Azadi, we will beat them easily 2-0 or 3-1. Bahrain fought like their lives depended on it and held the Saudi flag after and it felt like Iran was conquered by Arabs all over again. Such a strong team losing to Bahrain and seeing the Saudi's celebrate, made me sick as a 9 year old. I still watch the Germany8-0 Saudi game sometimes for fun. They gave up 12 goals in 3 games and scored none. They lost 3-0 to Ireland.

I think there is an axis of teams for us these days, Saudi/Qatar/Bahrain. These teams are always mental trouble for us. If we can avoid them in qualifiers, we will qualify to the World cup much more easily.

It was probably one of the worst games Iran has ever played against any team. I have no idea what exactly happened that we performed that way that night but it was a really really sad day indeed.

[Nokhodi]

The worst player in those qualifiers was Karim Bagheri. Something was very wrong with him. Particlularly in the Bahrain game.

[AminGP]

The worst player in those qualifiers was Karim Bagheri. Something was very wrong with him. Particlularly in the Bahrain game.

Yes a lots of people criticized him and I think that's why he decided to no longer play for TM at age of 28.

[Adesor Vafaseya]

he was selfish, trying to dribble through 4 or 5 guys, rather than creating opportunities for the rest of the players

agree with you 73%.