Was just thinking of similarities between our current team and the WC 98 team...

[Pouya]

Since the last world cup, I've started to get the same feeling for the current team as I had for the one back in 1998. That team was lacked advanced facilities and support compared to its era and included players with a lot of talent and potential; similar to the one now. That team eventually went on to change our state of football with the likes of Daei, Bagheri, Azizi and later on Mahdavikia, etc. exposing our football in Europe... kinda taking Iran back to the top within Asia. However, this time I feel like we are already at the top in Asia (at least the the top 5) and this new change will take Iran a level further...

Even in terms of players I see a lot of players that could potentially have a similar path to those in 98.. Here are some direct comparisons in terms of physique, style and vision that I can come up with.


Ezzatollahi & Bagheri
Sardar Azmoun & Daei
Haghighi & Nakisa (lol)
Pouraliganji & Pashazadeh
Jahanbakhsh & Azizi
and we potentially have the likes of Vooria Ghafouri, Amiri, etc. to follow the footsteps of Mahdavikia with more professionalism and training.

oh and I almost forgot to mention how much Torabi reminds me of Nikbakht Vahedi's style slow but effective and dirip zan...

[Pouya]

Oh and ofcourse, Jalal Talebi & Carlos Queiroz

[GolfePersique]

Daei and Kia were world class players. True legends in every professional aspect. I doubt any of current players would have that caliber, Although, I truly hope time will prove me wrong.

[AIrani]

Daei and Kia were world class players. True legends in every professional aspect. I doubt any of current players would have that caliber, Although, I truly hope time will prove me wrong.

I disagree. Several young players are world class, namely, Ezzatollahi. His stop, dribble, and goal, was world class.

[GolfePersique]

I disagree. Several young players are world class, namely, Ezzatollahi. His stop, dribble, and goal, was world class.

I don't deny their potential to reachthat level, but they are yet prove that degree of consistency.

[Karimi 8]

I disagree comparing the players now to those players is like comparing apples and oranges. Both are good sets of players (right now many of the players we have are young so they haven't shown their full potential) but they are getting compared to our legends. The only comparison that is on par is comparing Nekounam to Bagheri. I don't think any of these players will come close to Daei, Bagheri, Karimi, Mahdavikia etc but that doesn't mean that they aren't great with positive futures.

[Pouya]

Karimi 8 I agree with you that they are nowhere near what the likes of bagheri, Daei etc. became.. I'm comparing them to what they were at that time for the WC 98 qualifiers... that was the start of that era though their spark came off after Asian Cup 96, which by comparison we saw the spark of many new players at last Asian cup / world cup which weren't too far apart.

[Bijans]

Karimi 8 I agree with you that they are nowhere near what the likes of bagheri, Daei etc. became.. I'm comparing them to what they were at that time for the WC 98 qualifiers... that was the start of that era though their spark came off after Asian Cup 96, which by comparison we saw the spark of many new players at last Asian cup / world cup which weren't too far apart.

I actually think this team can be better than 98 teams.

Here is my reasoning:

The average age is of the team is low and we already have 5 players playing in Europe, three of them 21 and under. We have a much more solid defense compared to 98., We lack the finishing touch of Daei and Azizi but I think with more practice Azmoun and JB can get there. Overall I am excited about this team as long as the federation doesn't mess it up we have a good chance of being better than 98 team in 2018 WC.