I know we are all emotional human beings and feel pissed when we don't win against an inferior opposition at home and also fail to extend our clean sheet run. But we must not forget the big picture, which is extremely bright in so many aspects.
1) We qualified as the second team in the world, the first team in Asia, with two games in hands and eventually finished as the team with most points in Asia, the only unbeaten team in Asia and seven points clear of our nemisis South Korea. Absolutely amazing.
2) We are probably the strongest national team in the world when it comes to defense. Despite changing personell on all defensive positions we maintained a clean sheet until we qualified and even as ten men in big game afterwards. We had several games in which we allowed quality opposition no single effort on goal. And, not to forget, we broke a world record for most successive clean sheets in WCQ in between. Who would have ever thought that of Iran?
3) We have young team and for most positions we have at least one solid backup. We constantly changed players and still remained the strongest side in Asia. On some positions we really have too mane options, so that successful European legionnaires are not even called up at times. When you look back at other successful generations, like 1998 or 2006, that never closely was the case.
So cheer up. Much can happen, there is no guarantee for success at the World Cup. But chances are better than ever before. And hopefully for years to come.
1) We qualified as the second team in the world, the first team in Asia, with two games in hands and eventually finished as the team with most points in Asia, the only unbeaten team in Asia and seven points clear of our nemisis South Korea. Absolutely amazing.
2) We are probably the strongest national team in the world when it comes to defense. Despite changing personell on all defensive positions we maintained a clean sheet until we qualified and even as ten men in big game afterwards. We had several games in which we allowed quality opposition no single effort on goal. And, not to forget, we broke a world record for most successive clean sheets in WCQ in between. Who would have ever thought that of Iran?
3) We have young team and for most positions we have at least one solid backup. We constantly changed players and still remained the strongest side in Asia. On some positions we really have too mane options, so that successful European legionnaires are not even called up at times. When you look back at other successful generations, like 1998 or 2006, that never closely was the case.
So cheer up. Much can happen, there is no guarantee for success at the World Cup. But chances are better than ever before. And hopefully for years to come.
Team Melli
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