KOREA TIMES: S. Korea thoroughly outplayed by Iran, as Tehran curse lives on

[chief]

I think Japan & Korea will be doing the 3rd place playoffs this time around.
It seem to me the power in Asia is shifting back to the Western part of the
continent after a long time.

[Nokhodi]

Group B has seen Australia and Japan under perform so greatly that it has made Saudi and UAE look half decent.

By the way where are all the Abdurrahman fans after the Saudi game? Saudi used the same strategy TM had against him - let him play with the ball as much as he wants - when it matters just out muscle him or block off all passing routes.

[Tehranto]

Group B has seen Australia and Japan under perform so greatly that it has made Saudi and UAE look half decent.

By the way where are all the Abdurrahman fans after the Saudi game? Saudi used the same strategy TM had against him - let him play with the ball as much as he wants - when it matters just out muscle him or block off all passing routes.

Disgustingly over-rated.

[Under Lahaf]

That mentality should be for every team. We shouldn't down play any of the opponents. Just because Syria has been at war for the past 5 years doesn't mean their team is not prepared for this, on the contrary it probably gives them more of a determination to come out and win.

I am ecstatic that we won against South Korea. I just wish that draw against China was also a win for TM. It would've been an amazing sight to see our team dominate the top of the group.

Reminds me of Iraq, winning the Asian cup after the invasion, yeah Iran was the better team but Iraq won!

[naderb94]

I think Japan & Korea will be doing the 3rd place playoffs this time around.
It seem to me the power in Asia is shifting back to the Western part of the
continent after a long time.

It is WAY too early to say that.. I honestly think Saudi Arabia has been getting lucky and once Japan/Australia play to their full potential, then Saudi will be doomed.
The next matchday will prove my point when Saudi travels to Japan and lose. Aussi should win as well which well bump Saudi back down to 3rd.
The 2nd half of Saudi schedule will be away...

The same goes for Uzbekistan in our group.. They have been barely getting by the easy teams in our group and should be very fortunate to have 9 points.. Even though I think Korea is not as good as years past, I think they will get their team back together and knock off Uzbekistan and manage to qualify..

I am expecting a Saudi vs Uzbekistan 3rd place playoff.

[Ali Doust]

Please God Don't send the 8-0ers to the world cup again. They are an embarrassment to our region.

[eerooni]

Korea's World Cup hopes dented by Iran
음성듣기
South Korea's Lee Chung-yong lies on the ground during the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match against Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By John Duerden

Iran defeated South Korea 1-0 on Tuesday in this big 2018 World Cup qualifier in Tehran, marking the Persians' fourth successive victory over the East Asians.

But this time was different. The other three games could have gone either way with Iran riding on luck on occasion. This time however, the victory was well-deserved. The host was dominant and is not only on top of Group A with 10 points and looking set for Russia, but will be asking how it did not win by more.

Korea was never really in the game, barely threatening the home goalkeeper. Playing in Tehran is never easy -- the fans, the altitude and the travel all add up -- yet in the past, the Taeguk Warriors have competed. On Tuesday, there was only one team that was going to win and it was apparent from the early stages.

Iran was everything Korea was not. The players knew their jobs and knew those of their teammates, and the team kept in shape and knew exactly what coach Carlos Queiroz wanted.

The former Real Madrid coach is perhaps the best tactician in Asian football and provided a master class. Iran was sharp and clinical as it showed in the first half when talented striker Sardar Azmoun put Iran ahead, demonstrating why many top European clubs have been watching him.

Perhaps his one mistake was to settle for a 1-0 win. Had Iran treated Korea with a little less respect, it could have been more.

It will be an uncomfortable journey back to Korea for the coach and those players still based in the Land of the Morning Calm.

In four games so far, Korea has collected seven points. The two wins were both 3-2 victories, one against China and one against Qatar at home in which the reds were hanging on for dear life at the end. The other was a poor 1-1 tie against Syria in neutral Kuala Lumpur.

For a team that is looking to qualify for a ninth successive World Cup, it is not too encouraging. Only the top two teams in the six-team group qualify automatically.

Iran has shown what can happen when a top-class coach gets time to build a team.

Nobody expects Stielike to be at the same level as Queiroz. Lee Yong-soo, the head of the Korea Football Association's technical committee who appointed the German, admitted that he is not a world-class coach but such people do not come cheap, if they come at all.

Yet after the 2015 Asian Cup in which Korea was unlucky to lose in the final to Australia, it became time for the coach to make a difference -- to know what his best team is and how he wants it to play. At the moment, it is not clear and it seems as if the players are unsure of what to do.

The next game is massive. In November, Uzbekistan comes to Korea. The Central Asians are two points ahead in second spot and if they were to win, the gap would grow to five. That would make automatic qualification unlikely.

Korea needs to improve and quickly.

john.duerden@gmail.com

Best

[eerooni]

Korea's World Cup hopes dented by Iran
음성듣기
South Korea's Lee Chung-yong lies on the ground during the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match against Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By John Duerden

Iran defeated South Korea 1-0 on Tuesday in this big 2018 World Cup qualifier in Tehran, marking the Persians' fourth successive victory over the East Asians.

But this time was different. The other three games could have gone either way with Iran riding on luck on occasion. This time however, the victory was well-deserved. The host was dominant and is not only on top of Group A with 10 points and looking set for Russia, but will be asking how it did not win by more.

Korea was never really in the game, barely threatening the home goalkeeper. Playing in Tehran is never easy -- the fans, the altitude and the travel all add up -- yet in the past, the Taeguk Warriors have competed. On Tuesday, there was only one team that was going to win and it was apparent from the early stages.

Iran was everything Korea was not. The players knew their jobs and knew those of their teammates, and the team kept in shape and knew exactly what coach Carlos Queiroz wanted.

The former Real Madrid coach is perhaps the best tactician in Asian football and provided a master class. Iran was sharp and clinical as it showed in the first half when talented striker Sardar Azmoun put Iran ahead, demonstrating why many top European clubs have been watching him.

Perhaps his one mistake was to settle for a 1-0 win. Had Iran treated Korea with a little less respect, it could have been more.

It will be an uncomfortable journey back to Korea for the coach and those players still based in the Land of the Morning Calm.

In four games so far, Korea has collected seven points. The two wins were both 3-2 victories, one against China and one against Qatar at home in which the reds were hanging on for dear life at the end. The other was a poor 1-1 tie against Syria in neutral Kuala Lumpur.

For a team that is looking to qualify for a ninth successive World Cup, it is not too encouraging. Only the top two teams in the six-team group qualify automatically.

Iran has shown what can happen when a top-class coach gets time to build a team.

Nobody expects Stielike to be at the same level as Queiroz. Lee Yong-soo, the head of the Korea Football Association's technical committee who appointed the German, admitted that he is not a world-class coach but such people do not come cheap, if they come at all.

Yet after the 2015 Asian Cup in which Korea was unlucky to lose in the final to Australia, it became time for the coach to make a difference -- to know what his best team is and how he wants it to play. At the moment, it is not clear and it seems as if the players are unsure of what to do.

The next game is massive. In November, Uzbekistan comes to Korea. The Central Asians are two points ahead in second spot and if they were to win, the gap would grow to five. That would make automatic qualification unlikely.

Korea needs to improve and quickly.

john.duerden@gmail.com

Best

I love this part: " Iran has shown what can happen when a top-class coach gets time to build a team.

Nobody expects Stielike to be at the same level as Queiroz" (!!!!)

[eerooni]

If UZBEK beats Korea then its game over for Korea!!! They will be fighting with an emerging Syria and Qatar for 3rd place!!! Come on Uzbeks !! you can beat this team!!!

[AIrani]

Reminds me of Iraq, winning the Asian cup after the invasion, yeah Iran was the better team but Iraq won!

What?

It was Kuwait, not Iraq.

[Kian Persepolis]

The other was a poor 1-1 tie against Syria in neutral Kuala Lumpur.

Why do all the news articles say it was a 1-1 draw? Wasn't it a 0-0 draw?

[Damavand]

Why do all the news articles say it was a 1-1 draw? Wasn't it a 0-0 draw?

Yes 0-0 confirmed by FIFA site.

[shahname]

If UZBEK beats Korea then its game over for Korea!!! They will be fighting with an emerging Syria and Qatar for 3rd place!!! Come on Uzbeks !! you can beat this team!!!

I have to admit, the prospect of not having SK qualify for one WC for once do please me a lot. Go Uzbekistan 😎👍

[Under Lahaf]

What?

It was Kuwait, not Iraq.

talking about 2007 Asian Cup