Iran vs Syria Post Match Discussion

[AminGP]

So far we have lost 4 valuable points to the weakest teams of the group that we thought we would beat them. Qatar's game is a must win for us since Korea and Uzbekistan would be facing weaker teams of the group.

[Bi-honar]

My points on the match:

1 - I really don't understand all the AFC bashing...

Malaysia was picked by the Syrian FA to host all their matches after Macau refused to have them and not only their FA but AFC were scrambling to find them a suitable host just days before their 1st match in this round.

All other teams have to play in Malaysia as well (including Syria) and Monsoon season in Malaysia lasts from May to March so it didn't and doesn't create any advantage or disadvantage for any particular team. The weather in Macau was not going to be much better either.

And as far as field conditions today, ultimately the decision to postpone or cancel a match lie solely with the referee - it's like that anywhere in the world and for any team. I don't see any conspiracy here...

Yes, the match should have been cancelled but even if the ref. is to blame both teams played under the same conditions - both teams play a similar style (although we obviously excel in it).

2 - I said this after the Korea match that we have to wait and see whether we're going to adjust our tactics against weaker teams before we get really excited about how we're playing...

Yes, against stronger teams who fancy their chances against us and play a more open adventurous game, we're playing great.

But going in with the exact same tactics and a lone striker against teams that are defending with 8 players for most of the match isn't going to cut it as all 3 of our matches against the weaker teams in the groups have shown.

The conservative 4-2-3-1 is GREAT against stronger teams and I can honestly say we've mastered it. But it's not the right formation against weaker teams. We wither gotta go 4-3-3 or 4-1-3-2 as far as more modern formations go.

Personally, I think the 3-1-3-2 is much more suited to our style and players and is not a big stretch from our usual 4-2-3-1 because you simply replace a defensive midfielder with a striker. In today's match Ebrahimi would have been replaced with Gucci from the start and we would have had a striking duo.

3 - At the end of the day, a win here would have been great but a tie is not the end of the world... it just makes the remaining matches that much more exciting....

And going into the half-way break we're in first place in our group for the first time since the revolution... that should be enough of a positive to take away from the first 5 matches even if today (or the match against China) didn't turn-out the way we would have preferred.

And on top of that, we're also the best team in both groups with 11 points... better than Korea, Japan and Australia so for the next 4 months they can look at the two groups and weep as far as I'm concerned because we've once again cemented our spot as the top 4 teams in Asia (if not the top for the moment).

And on top of that, we're the only team in Asia with a clean sheet in the 3rd round! And guess who's in 2nd place? Syria, with 2 goals against - so perhaps a 0-0 tie is not as surprising as it would seem at first glance! All the other teams (with the exception of Uzbekistan - 3 GA) have been scored on at least one goal a game on average - including Korea, Japan and Australia!

And on top of that, aside from our VERY impressive unbeaten run, we've now gone more than 12 months without a single goal against in a competitive match - that's not an easy feat for even some of the best teams in the world - so let's just think about that and be proud of TM's performances and all the hard work by the boys and the coaching cadre.

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In closing, I think that if we adopt a more offensive formation against weaker teams this TM is by far the best one of all time and we not only will make it to the WC (consecutive world cups for the 1st time) but we're easily going to go past the group stage.

We just have to be a little more adventurous in offense and a little more disciplined and patient against anti-football teams, rather than passionate and zealous I think we can and we will.

I'm VERY proud of TM for finishing on top of all Asian teams at the half-way point and I'm going to enjoy that through the winter break and show off to as many people as I can!

[alireza0101]

Our rank is going to plummet after this unfortunate draw.

[mehdiKia15]

i didn't watch this game live but i got the final score.I was going to watch highlights of this but i wont waste my time.I can just imagine with the comments here it was another arab display of how not to play football.I guess we have to look forward to Qatar which wont be an easy game either in Qatar.

[Abtin]

i didn't watch this game live but i got the final score.I was going to watch highlights of this but i wont waste my time.I can just imagine with the comments here it was another arab display of how not to play football.I guess we have to look forward to Qatar which wont be an easy game either in Qatar.

At least it wont be played on a rice field.

[Omids]

You guys crack me up. Really. The reason Syria's home games are played in Malaysia is that that is where AFC HQ is located. Arabs have been trying to relocate it to an Arab country for decades and if they were successful the games would have been hosted by an Arab country instead. Then you would have cooked up another conspiracy theory if your game was held in September under 50 degree Celsius heat- Aussies had to endure that.
It is not just Syria but Iraq as well. AFC were trying to find homes to Syria and Iraq but things did not work out. Syria wanted to play in Iran and then Thailand or something and the latter declined to host. So as an AFC host country Malaysia was FORCED to accept the role. And the stipulation was that all games for each country should be played in the SAME stadium to minimize variation and maximize fairness to all opponents - barring some kinds of natural disasters like Typhoon or earthquakes. Heavy rain does not count as one as every reasonable person should agree.

I think you are ill informed. Who said Iraq is playing all its games in Malaysia? They just played their home game on the 11th of October in Tehran and beat Thailand 4-0. The only home game they had to play away from Iran was against S Arabia as the Saudis refused to come to Iran because their embassy was attached.

To make matters worst the game that Iraq played vs Saudis in Malaysia was played in Shah Alam stadium which is 10 times better than the one played at yesterday, the water drains and also it has seats and meets AFC own standards.
Check it for yourself:


Why wasn't Iran's game scheduled here??? I have to say that at the least AFC doesn't care about fair play and justice - leaving conspiracy theories behind...

[Keano]

If you are talking about the offside at min 2:30, I say that was way offside. If that is why you guys are upset I suggest you read the rule book. It is the moment that your teammate kicks the ball that counts. The Iranian has been offside for a good 1/2 sec even before that and by the time the ball was kicked to the "scorer" he was at least a foot in front of the second last defender.
In fact if it had not been called offside it would have ranked as the worst call of this 3rd round along with the Japanese offside goal against Iraq that gave them an undeserving victory.
Moreover the Syrian defenders stopped playing after it was called. It is not like a whistle was blown after the goal was scored. Even if it was called onside there is no guarantee he would have scored.

A huge majority on this board is upset with The AFC for having picked this stadium for such a WCQ match. It clearly lacks and fails all FIFA & AFC standards for hosting any official match. The horrendous pitch which can endanger the players health, plus the much lowered football evel as result of the terrible pitch are the main reason for PFDC members frustration. The questionable offside calls can happen in any match, as we're all human beings and error-prone.

My annoyance and disappointment is mainly the venue. This stadium fails in all aspects and levels of an official FIFA match!

[Abtin]

I think you are ill informed. Who said Iraq is playing all its games in Malaysia? They just played their home game on the 11th of October in Tehran and beat Thailand 4-0. The only home game they had to play away from Iran was against S Arabia as the Saudis refused to come to Iran because their embassy was attached.

To make matters worst the game that Iraq played vs Saudis in Malaysia was played in Shah Alam stadium which is 10 times better than the one played at yesterday, the water drains and also it has seats and meets AFC own standards.
Check it for yourself:


Why wasn't Iran's game scheduled here??? I have to say that at the least AFC doesn't care about fair play and justice - leaving conspiracy theories behind...

Okay, you just roasted him there.

[Doctor DOOM]

I think the ground watermarks(perhaps) are confusing you but if you know the optical physics of camera it should be clear that it is near the center of the lens and if you look at the side line where the linesman is standing the camera was not really turned that much. In other words the lateral lines you draw should not too much exceed the angle between the sideline and the bottom edge of the picture.
You probably do not understand any of this. LOL.
And it is any part of the body except the arms that counts. He had his shoulder in front and there is a comfortable margin that he was offside.

buddy, if I were you, I'd seriously stay away from anything that has something to do with geometry.

you can see the touchline. try ... I know it will be very hard for you (perhaps get some outside help, or someone who's attended a school and is above the age 6), but TRY to draw a perpendicular line to that touch line (means at 90 degrees. Not the acute 30 degrees you're trying to push here). Than you'll see if it was or not

[Sly]

but we're easily going to go past the group stage.

Behrou joon, I don't know about that but other than that, I agree with everything you said!

[Doctor DOOM]

at Bihonar,
Bro, you know, talking about tactics and formations and ... when we have such horrendous conditions (pitch, weather, ) is pretty moot at this point, right?
otherwise I'd be the first to write about it.
on that pitch, he very fact that we didnt come off with any injuries is a big win for me.

as for the venue, the whole point is it shd not have been even CONSIDERED, let alone closed on.

[Doctor DOOM]

I think you are ill informed. Who said Iraq is playing all its games in Malaysia? They just played their home game on the 11th of October in Tehran and beat Thailand 4-0. The only home game they had to play away from Iran was against S Arabia as the Saudis refused to come to Iran because their embassy was attached.

To make matters worst the game that Iraq played vs Saudis in Malaysia was played in Shah Alam stadium which is 10 times better than the one played at yesterday, the water drains and also it has seats and meets AFC own standards.
Check it for yourself:


Why wasn't Iran's game scheduled here??? I have to say that at the least AFC doesn't care about fair play and justice - leaving conspiracy theories behind...

brilliantly said.
My theory is maybe the AFC morons did offer this stadium, but the syrian bastards must have asked for the most f**ked up venue to affect any advantage we'd have away.
Now, we can question why AFC even agreed on this piece of sh*t stadium.

like I said, BOTH AFC and the syrian FA (f**kers association) are guilty here.

[shahabGAOL]

I am sad we play 0:0 against a weak Syria I really believed we would score 4 or more goals. We had not our real players for this game like Azmoun.
I am happy we not lost the game but we are now with 5 games 11 points and still we have +4 and 0 against are we already in the World Cup 2018?
We must make ready for Qatar game in 2017 if we win that we are in the World Cup 2018 with 14 points?

[mehdiKia15]

this game shouldn't of been played at that venue and it was.Iran according to Jahanbakhsh
Did have chances to score but they couldn't put it in the net which has been an issue for this team in this round. Bottom line is that by swearing at other countries and the AFC it won't change the 0-0 tie or give us the 3 points.No one said qualifying for the World Cup was going to be easy I mean look at some of the results today ie. Australia vs Thailand. Both groups are so close right now to be honest I am not sure who will qualify.Let's just remain calm and carry on.No need for these childish and racists comments.

[persiangodfather]

I am sad we play 0:0 against a weak Syria I really believed we would score 4 or more goals. We had not our real players for this game like Azmoun.
I am happy we not lost the game but we are now with 5 games 11 points and still we have +4 and 0 against are we already in the World Cup 2018?
We must make ready for Qatar game in 2017 if we win that we are in the World Cup 2018 with 14 points?

We have a long way to go Dadash we need 9 more points to get in from this 5 games to get in for sure