We are tactically the best team in ASIA

[littlepersia17]

We are tactically the best team in ASIA

My worry for TM is when we vs the big teams in the WC.

I feel like we miss a lot of chances (from what I've seen in WCQ matches), but can get away with scoring only one of those and winning the game.

I'm afraid we won't get the same against the bigger teams in the WC. What are we gonna do then?
Three draws, and back to Tehran?

[inarsenewetrust]

My worry for TM is when we vs the big teams in the WC.

I feel like we miss a lot of chances (from what I've seen in WCQ matches), but can get away with scoring only one of those and winning the game.

I'm afraid it won't get the same against the bigger teams in the WC. What are we gonna do then?
Three draws, and back to Tehran?

I agree to an extent. While it is true we can not get away like this against big teams, the reality is WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF CHANCES. There is nothing more that the team and CQ can do put ensure defensively we are excellent. and offensively we put our technical players in good enough areas to create dangerous situations: Then it is up to them. Taremi, Sardar, JAHANBAKHSH, even shojaei, all must be much more clinical in terms of finishing and final ball. I think this is where we miss dejagah the most and where a guy like Ghoddos could be beneficial...

[littlepersia17]

I agree to an extent. While it is true we can not get away like this against big teams, the reality is WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF CHANCES. There is nothing more that the team and CQ can do put ensure defensively we are excellent. and offensively we put our technical players in good enough areas to create dangerous situations: Then it is up to them. Taremi, Sardar, JAHANBAKHSH, even shojaei, all must be much more clinical in terms of finishing and final ball. I think this is where we miss dejagah the most and where a guy like Ghoddos could be beneficial...

I also think we really lack the ability to pass our way to a counter attack. We may pass, but we rarely do short attack-based passes.

Our chances usually result from some long through ball, deflection, or instinctual finishing.

This is where we Need a Centre Attacking Midfielder. We need someone to get out of tricky spaces, and not just shoot from 30+ yards when getting closed down by the opposition.

What I'm trying to say is where is Rafiei/Ghoddos in TM?

[Afat11]

I also think we really lack the ability to pass our way to a counter attack. We may pass, but we rarely do short attack-based passes.

Our chances usually result from some long through ball, deflection, or instinctual finishing.

This is where we Need a Centre Attacking Midfielder. We need someone to get out of tricky spaces, and not just shoot from 30+ yards when getting closed down by the opposition.

What I'm trying to say is where is Rafiei/Ghoddos in TM?

I think Ghoddos will be tested in the lead up to Russia, but I don't think in the WCQ matches. He is a strong player, and has potential, but as far as I've seen, he is not CQ's preferred type of player. Have you noticed how the likes of Khalatbari were phased out of the team, and most of our players are close to 6 foot tall? CQ seems to favor bigger, stronger players, particularly in attack. This is why I can see Tafazolli being called up in the near future to be tested, but not necessarily Ghoddos, whom may be the better player of the two. Tafazolli fits CQ's M.O. in terms of preferred player. Ghoddos would probably be a benefit on the counter, but I think CQ likes players who can get rough and win the headers. I'm not sure if Ghoddos can do these things, although he's probably a good player.

[euphory]

I think we have the firepower to score lots of goals, but because of the lack of proper preparation and friendlies our players are not quite molden into eachother. we just have to look at previous times under CQ in which we had a couple friendlies, or 3 consecutive matches for WCQ. i just cannot wait to see team melli perform when they have serious preparations.

CQ is also sooo right about caring if they really want to be remembered as a strong team or just another normal team to qualify. i hope we get atleast a week preparation before uzbek game.

[Z Joon]

Article by John Duerden

Iran – simply the best team in Asia

The win by that scoreline over China and Marcello Lippi keeps the team four points clear at the top of Group A with three games to go. A win over Uzbekistan at home on June 12 will be enough.

How can it be that you score six goals in seven games yet you dominate your World Cup group to the extent that you are not only going to be the first in Asia to qualify but likely to do so with two games remaining?

He has worked hard and it goes without saying that Team Melli are well-organised. The players know that the coach almost guarantees Russia and follow his instructions to the letter.

Strikers such as Sardar Azmoun and Reza Ghoochannejhad are the envy of much of Asia. Then there is Alireza Jahan bakhsh and the under-rated Mehdi Taremi.

Taremi is less eye-catching than the others and there were some mutterings about Queiroz selecting the Persepolis striker. Yet the 24-year-old works incredibly hard without the ball and when he has it, has found the net seven times during qualification so far.

He is part of a hard-working and fine-tuned unit with talented players led by a competent coach. That is why Iran are the best team in Asia at the moment. It is not just a team that is going to go to the World Cup but it is the one team in the continent at the moment that has what it takes to perform well in Russia.

This is the difference. If Australia, Korea and Japan qualify, there has been little so far to suggest that any one of these three has what it takes to reach the knockout stage.

Iran can. This is not just about getting there –they are going to be there –but what happens when you arrive. If Iran get to the second round in Russia thanks to a string of 1-0 wins, nobody will be complaining.

Iran are setting the standards and it is for the rest of Asia to catch up with the continent’s best team.
This is Iran on the road to Russia. This is a team that has yet to concede in 630 minutes of Group A football in the final round of qualification (look back to the second round and that extends to 928 minutes). This is a team that has recorded four 1-0 wins.

Yet this is no Asian version of the often-dour Arsenal that ground their way to to English success in the late eighties and early nineties.

It is a team that should have won most of them by more, because if they are guilty of anything, it is missing chances. This is despite having some of the best strikers in Asia. It is just that unlike many others, Iran don’t sweat it when the extra goals don’t come.

This is just one of the reasons why Iran are not just the highest ranked team in Asia according to FIFA and have been for the last four years. Iran are simply the best team in Asia.

It is not Australia, it is not South Korea and it is not Japan. It is Iran.

Another is Carlos Queiroz. The coach has been in charge since 2011. There have been a few resignations along the way and more threats to resign and run-ins with the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) but the couple always get back together.

They need each other. The IFF know that they are on the brink of a first-ever successive World Cup appearance and much of it is down to the coach. Officials may find him hard to deal with sometimes and he has a few enemies inside the body and at the Ministry of Sport.

But when he delivers such professional performances and such consistent results, then they will shake his hand again and again, while checking out flights to Russia.

The former Real Madrid coach complains about his employers too though in a much more public and open fashion. Yet the Mozambique-born manager loves the country, the fans and the team he has fashioned.

Earlier this year he announced he was leaving, accusing the federation of failing to back him after his public row with Branko Ivankovic, coach of one of Tehran’s giant clubs Persepolis.

He was never going to leave with Iran so close even then to a making history and qualifying for a first ever successive World Cup. Queiroz has come so far in Tehran and he is not about to give someone else a chance to lead the team to Russia and glory.

http://www.foxsportsasia.com/footbal...-team-in-asia/

[Mr.Click]

^ awesome article, gave me goosebumps
Go Iran!!!!

[PersianLegion]

^ awesome article, gave me goosebumps
Go Iran!!!!

Specially knowing that this particular dude had some less favoring articles about us previously. It is a long way for him to come up and praises Team Melli like this. Our doubters are changing their minds one after another and giving their due respect. This is good for our image.

[Nokhodi]

Specially knowing that this particular dude had some less favoring articles about us previously. It is a long way for him to come up and praises Team Melli like this. Our doubters are changing their minds one after another and giving their due respect. This is good for our image.

To be fair to Duerden he has generally been very kind to Iranian football, unless it involves Korea. Then he gets gheyrati, because I think his wife is Korean and he lives there too.

[littlepersia17]

I swear I will cut my shambool and send a piece to each PFDC member if we make the second round of the WC!

[Afat11]

I swear I will cut my shambool and send a piece to each PFDC member if we make the second round of the WC!

Oh no, the shoombool threats are back Can't we just say we'll donate $50 each to PFDC or charity if Iran makes the second round? I think that would be very productive instead of sending pieces of shoombool around the world haha.

[littlepersia17]

Oh no, the shoombool threats are back Can't we just say we'll donate $50 each to PFDC or charity if Iran makes the second round? I think that would be very productive instead of sending pieces of shoombool around the world haha.

Are you saying there is something more valuable for me to bet on than my manhood?

[Iranianarsenal11]

The Shambool threat is here!! Now wheres PersianGodFather calling us underdogs and Kiarash making the WC 2nd round gamethread?

[Iranianarsenal11]

Followed by a DJPedram poll

[Afat11]

Are you saying there is something more valuable for me to bet on than my manhood?

It's probably too important to make a bet on maybe start smaller, because depending on the group, Iran in its current form is likely to make the second round. Maybe do the old Bruce Jenner if we win the World Cup!

You don't bet the house when the odds are pretty good. If Iran gets a group Like Chile, Egypt, Iran, and Costa Rica, we will have an extremely high chance of making the second round.

Obviously if we get Brazil, Portugal, Iran, and Mexico, then I'll think your bet is reasonable